USA > Maryland > Montgomery County > Sandy Spring > Annals of Sandy Spring history of a rural community in Maryland, Volume II > Part 15
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Eleventh month, 5th. Frederick and Pattie R. Stabler celebrated their silver wedding by a family tea-party. About this time some delicious strawber- ries were picked at Oak Hill, which Frederick Stabler called the "Ruth Cleveland" variety, "Baby" McKee having suffered temporary eclipse by the advent of a political rival. It is more than probable, however, that all the volunteer berries gathered after November of this year will be named for the national grandchild.
Eleventh month, IIth. John H. Janney and Sallie Randolph Turner, of Fauquier county, Va., were married. The bride having been educated at Rock- land, did not come as a stranger to her new home, "Brooke Meadow." The election caused some local interest and excitement, owing to the fact that several of our people of the sterner sex had been nominated for various offices. The opinion, however, seemed to prevail that their families could not possibly spare them, and they were unanimously elected to stay at home.
Eleventh month, 17th. The mercury fell to twenty degrees. The ground was frozen, and the careful farmer, who takes even ice by the forelock, secured a few loads as the foundation of a greater yield to follow.
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Eleventh month, 23rd. Light rains through the morning were succeeded shortly after noon by a hur- ricane; some trees were laid low, windows broken. and one small house below Ashton demolished. We fortunately escaped the full fury of this wind, as in other parts of our county immense damage was done, and there was some loss of life.
About the last of November the ever-aspiring Nim- rods, undeterred by little game, scanty fare and the gigantic floods of other years, again braved the dan- gers of starvation and the elements, and disappeared in the trackless wastes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, emerging after a week with good appetites, no pelts, and the most startling "hunters' chorus" that ever vexed the echoes of a Quaker community.
Eleventh month, 30th. The mercury fell to ten de- grees above zero. Ice was abundant, and several days of very cold wintry weather set in.
Twelfth month, 8th. The Maryland State Grange was better attended than for several years past, and, judging from the published proceedings, the Mont- gomery delegation did its full share of work.
Twelfth month, 14th. Kate C., wife of Dr. F. W. Elbrey, died in her forty-second year. This lovely woman and dear neighbor was so conscientious, so truthful, so refined in all her instincts, and possessed those social graces and enduring traits of character that drew around her loving friends while she lived, and sincere mourners for her untimely end.
Only a few months before she had come to live among us as one returning to an old home. Her hap- piness in all her country surroundings, her interest in
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every growing thing, was very great. But already an insidious disease was preying upon her, and this de- voted wife and mother was taken from her invalid hus- band and young daughters when she seemed most necessary to their comfort and well-being. She was interred on the morning of the 17th, at the meeting- house among those whom she fondly called "her people."
"Lay her to rest-her work is done, and well,
A generous, sympathetic Christian life,
A faithful mother and a noble wife- Her influence -- who can tell?
1 "Lay her to rest, say not her work is done, No deed of love or goodness ever dies, But in the lives of others multiplies- Say it is just begun."
Twelfth month, 14th. There was a sale of imple- ments, stock, etc., at Leawood preparatory to the re- tirement of Isaac Hartshorne from farming.
On Twelfth month, 22nd, a little after midnight. Warwick Miller Brooke, only son of Charles F. and Corrie M. Brooke, died in his eleventh year. A great wave of sorrow and sympathy passed over the com- munity when this beautiful and mature boy succumb- ed to a sudden, violent illness, and the home which had been so filled with his energy and helpfulness, his bounding health and radiant presence, was, indeed, bereft and desolate.
The hope and pride of two families, it seemed as if he must live to fulfill the promise of unusual endow- ments of mind and person. His mechanical talents
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were decided; his use and command of language far beyond his years, and sentences often fell from his lips perfect in construction and application.
The generous heart of this little lad seemed con- stantly to overflow with affection towards relatives and friends, and the brief measure of his life has leit behind an abiding individuality, a charming person- ality, a fragrant memory.
On the afternoon of the 23rd, a very large con- course met at Brooke Grove, and amid many tender expressions of grief, perhaps his most pathetic trib- ute was the silent tears of his schoolmates, who had loved him "with an exceeding great love." He was laid in the family burying-ground at Alloway.
"Heaven knows what man he might have been, to us he died a most rare boy !"
Professor William Taylor Thom moved his family from Roanoke. Va., to Mt. Airy to live. This gentle- man will now be engaged in University extension and other literary work.
Twelfth month, 24th. The mercury was sixty-four degrees, the weather unseasonable and debilitating. and a gloom, from recent deaths and severe cases of illness still existing, overshadowed the Christmas time.
The warm, foggy atmosphere brought to the sur- face all the old proverbs, and in this case many of them proved to be "wise saws."
"A warm Christmas, a cold Easter."
"A green Christmas makes a fat churchyard."
"If ice will bear a man before Christmas it will not bear him afterwards."
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"If Christmas finds a bridge he will break it; if he finds none, he'll make one."
Twelfth month, 31st., Washington B. Chichester, jr., and Eliza M. Hallowell were married by Episcopal ceremony at St. John's Church, Olney. A large and pleasant reception followed at Rockland. The young couple will live at "Springland," where a new house has been built for their accommodation.
Very few of us, perhaps, sit out the old year without a flashing glance of retrospection over the past, and good resolutions and bright hopes for the future.
"On New Year's eve, before the coals, We sit and 1der why We made so many blunders in The year that's just gone by.
"We look back on our many calls, On fickle fs's hard blows,
And fondly hope that next year's joys . Will outweigh last year's woes.
"And, yet, if it should happen that By times be9 decree-
The same old troubles should come back, To test both you and me;
"Remember that in this queer world, For every 1 who tries His level best, and is content, There's sure to be a prize."
On the morning of First month, ist, 1892, we awoke to find the ground covered with snow, and for more than two weeks thereafter clear, cold weather continued. The sleighing was most excellent, and
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the air seemed resonant with the cheerful jingle of bells-sometimes not used for a whole winter.
The following tribute was written by request on the death of Mary Annis Stabler :
. "While earth is so filled with suffering humanity, the feeble and the aged, who would fain lay down the burden of life and enter their eternal rest, we marvel that death should claim one so fitted to live and min- ister to the needs of others, as our friend Mary Annis Stabler.
"With her tireless energy, her superb physical strength and wonderful powers cf endurance, she has been called home in the zenith of her glorious woman- hood. Phillips Brooks says: 'No man or woman can really be strong, pure and good without the world being better for it, without somebody being helped and comforted by the very existence of that goodness :' and so the many who were privileged to enjoy intimate companionship with her may still feel the halo of her presence strengthening them in the performance of duty.
"She was born in Lynchburg, Va., in 1857, and lived there until the summer of '71, when she came to re- side at Leawood, and made, by her devotion and cheerfulness, an indispensable member of that family for sixteen years, when she joined her mother and sis- ter in their new home 'Gladwyn.' Her strong at- tachment to her relations and friends was unswerving. and her love of and patience with little children un- tiring. She was an active and useful member of Brighton Grange from its organization in 1874, never flagging in her efforts to keep the hall tidy and pleas-
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ant. For many years she was "lady assistant stew- ard," and when relieved of that duty was librarian, op- ening the hall between the regular meetings, so that the members could have full use of the books.
"The meeting on January 13th was closed as soon as her death was known, and a special memorial meeting was held for January 30th.
"Shortly before the new year opened, with its pages mercifully veiled from our vision, Mary Annis was summoned to the Hartshorne family at Leawood, and she entered heart and soul into the labor of love which was to be her last on earth. By day and night she was at her post ministering to first one invalid, and then another, with cheering word and sympathetic touch, trying to alleviate the miseries of "la grippe," until her own illness forced her to succumb, and she was taken back to 'Gladwyn.' Pneumonia develop- ed, and after a brief illness she closed her earthly ca- reer January 13th.
"On the 15th, the day of the funeral, the earth was covered with a heavy mantle of snow, which seemed emblematic, not only of the dreariness of the home which was to know her no more, but of the unsullied purity of her own life.
"Perhaps this tribute cannot be more fittingly end- ed than in the words of an intimate friend, who said :
" 'The beautiful life that has closed, all too soon, has been a blessing to us all, and the sure knowledge that she has laid down her cares to enter afi eternal peace and joy is a comfort. Truly, her life was an epistle of goodness to be read by all.' "
H. J. B.
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First month, 14th, 1892. The Woman Suffrage As- sociation of Maryland held its annual meeting at the Lyceum, and was presided over by Caroline H. Mil- ler, the president, who was reelected to that positio: for the ensuing year. James P. Stabler, the secretary, being unable to attend from sickness, Mary Bentley Thomas filled his place pro tem.
Edith D. Bentley, Charles H. Brooke, Sarah T. Miller and Mary Bentley Thomas were accredited as delegates to the convention to be held in Washing- ton in the Second month.
First month, 17th. The mercury at some places in the neighborhood touched zero, and there was still plenty of snow. Almost every household had sick in- mates. "La grippe" and pneumonia laid low the older members, and measles and mumps seized the children. Sherwood school had just about one-half its average attendance ; white and colored were alike afflicted, and it was a season of dread and gloomy forebodings.
That mysterious disease, "la grippe," returning for the third winter, and each time with greater vio- lence, was now raging in all directions. When some scientists proclaimed it was due to unusually large and active sunspots, we were glad to get even that near the cause of this little understood and world-wide malady.
About this time Samuel A. Janney went on a sea voyage for health's sake to Liverpool, England.
After many months of failing health, at her home. "Leawood," First month, 19th, died Anna E., wife of Isaac Hartshorne, in her sixtieth year. This kind, ge-
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nial and attractive wife and mother could be but illy spared from a, devoted husband, whose failing eye- sight made him especially dependent upon her, and from a household whose centre she had ever been. Of refined and intellectual tastes, a constant reader of the best books and literature of the day, one could always learn something of interest and value in her society.
She was a member of Brighton Grange, and of the "Association," and ever dispensed the generous hospi- tality of her native state, Virginia, in her pleasant home.
Flowers were her especial delight, and to their suc- cessful cultivation she brought an intelligent care that insured her many prizes for rare and beautiful exhibits at the horticultural society and at fairs.
A large procession of sorrowing relatives and friends attended her funeral on the afternoon of the 22nd, and followed her remains to Woodside Cemetery, where she rests near the sister she had loved so well, and who had preceded her but a short time to the spirit-land.
The twentieth annual convention of farmers met at ten o'clock, First month, 19th, at the Lyceum.
Owing to a most inclement day the attendance was not more than half as large as in former years, but the following topics were discussed in an animated man- ner: "How can the fertility of the land be maintained when hay is the principal crop sold?" "What public road legislation do we require?"
Want of time prevented other questions from being spread before the meeting, and papers on the subjects of "The wisdom of clearing timber lands," by Henry C. Hallowell, and on "The advantage of planting large
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acreage of potatoes," by Edward P. Thomas, could not be read, but were ordered printed wth the proceed- ings of the convention. Benjamin D. Palmer presided, with J. Janney Shoemaker and Henry H. Miller as secretaries.
The historian's task in this sorrowful winter had in- deed, been replete with sad chronicles, and it seemed as if the fell destroyer had stricken down in our midst those who could least be spared, and who seemed most likely to live. Yet, again, the community was shocked and distressed by the death of Mary G. Ty- son, First month, 26th, in her sixty-seventh year.
On the death of her husband, Henry Tyson, of Balti- more, she had come with her family some fifteen years ago to reside among us ; here, some of her daughters had been educated, and two of them married.
Her fine physique and excellent health, her undimin- ished physical and mental powers, seemed to insure her a long life, and it was difficult to believe she was near- ing the allotted three score and ten.
"Seized with 'la grippe,' and other complications, after a brief illness, violent and fatal from the first, she was taken from her sorrowing children, and they were bereft of their mainstay, the loving and beloved mother. A woman of strong individuality and pro- nounced feelings, a constant and intelligent reader, an admirable conversationalist, helpful and indus- trious, the head and centre of a busy, delightful home, who can fathom the loss that pervaded her bereft household !
On the morning of the 29th many friends assem- bled at Marden despite the early hour, to pay the last
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tribute of affection and respect to her, who lay in the majesty of death within those hospitable walls.
Her remains were taken to Baltimore, and interred that afternoon, at Greenmount, beside her husband.
Second month, 12th and 13th, were extremely cold, clear days, and before sunrise on the latter date and again that evening a most beautiful "aurora borealis" hung its crimson drapery in the sky. Seldom has such a display been witnessed in our latitude, and many of pur colored friends were greatly alarmed, believing that "war, pestilence and famine" would quickly follow this exquisite panorama of color from lightest pink to vivid red.
Second month, 19th. Henry, son of Dr. Augustus and Helen Snowden Stabler, was born.
Second month, 20th. R. Rowland Moore having leased his farm, "Amersley," to Tarleton B. Stabler, moved with his family to Marden.
R. Rowland Moore, whose initials we learn now stand for "railroad," from much travel behind the iron horse, after cutting the timber from thousands of acres in Montgomery county, has now advanced into Virginia, and proposes to lay low many a tree on the Rappahannock, and to convert the wood into ties and sleepers.
William W. Moore and Tarleton B. Stabler have entered into a partnership to carry on the creamery and ice-cream business at Amersley.
Coincidents are singular, because they are subject to no law they are as unique and unaccountable as the crystal found in the geode.
Washington's birthday occurred on February 22nd,
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which was Monday, and there was nothing strange in that ; but why should every other holiday in 1892 also fall on "wash-day?" This year is made leap-year by the fact that there is a 29th of February, and that date falls on Monday. The 18th of April is Easter Mon- day ; the 30th of May, Decoration day, is again Mon- day ; the 6th of June is Whitsun Monday ; the Ameri- can eagle will give his loudest screams on July 4th- also Monday ; Labor day comes on Monday, Septem- ber 5th ; Christmas and New Year's are two Sundays, and will be celebrated on Monday.
This most disagreeable day of all others, perhaps, to housekeepers, when the wheels have to be set in mo- tion again, and duties and responsibilities resumed af- ter the Sabbath rest, has, in 1892, risen as it were from the suds, and will assert itself in religious observ- ances, in memorial services, in patriotic oratory, in rest for toiling thousands, and in Christmas and New- year's festivities.
We doubt if ever again all these various holidays can fall on Monday. 1
.Ashton was made a money-order office about this time, and the postmaster informs us that the first money-order came from Newburg, Oregon, and the . first postal note cashed was from Florida, almost as far northwest and southeast apart as this big country ad- mits of.
The vice-president of the Laurel bank, Alban G. Thomas, opened a branch office for transacting the business of that institution at Ashton store.
From Second month, 23rd, to Third month, 2nd, for
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eight days the sun shone neither on the just nor the unjust.
In this period of gloom almost every variety of weather was our portion, fogs, rain, hail, snow and high winds. March came in like a lion and continued to roar for many days thereafter. Despite a severe storm, the "pink tea" at Olney grange hall, Second month, 29th, was quite a success; about a hundred persons braved the elements and enjoyed an excellent supper. The waitresses were becomingly attired in pink and white, and the "fan brigade," in which they took part later in the evening was a graceful exhibition. Mrs. Granville Farquhar, Mrs. Catherine Janney and Mrs. Williams, ably seconded by young assistants, deserve great credit for this entertainment.
Third month, 2nd. Ellen Farquhar, with Rebecca T. Miller, Amy and Lucy Miller, of Baltimore, Anna Coale, of Riverton, N. J., and Miss Snyder, of Penn- sylvania, set sail from New York for a six months tour abroad. These "personally conducted" young women had, with one exception, all been Rockland scholars, and were now to have the fulfillment of a promise made years ago by their teacher, who is rapidly be- coming our greatest traveler.
Third month, 9th. The waving curtains of the wil- low, shown green in the first sunshine we had enjoyed for a week, and the robin redbreast appeared under the holly trees, feasting on the scarlet berries that cov- ered the ground.
On the 10th, about the usual date, the fan-tailed blackbirds returned to their habitation in the tall lo- custs at Norwood.
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Who can fathom the mystery of that instinct which brings these winged wanderers back to the same tree top, season after season? "Men may come, and me": may go," but the birds for countless generations, near the same day of the month, fly out of the southern sky and alight on the same knarled old branches.
About noon, Third month, 10th, Rachel E., widow of the late Alban Gilpin, after many weeks of suffering from heart trouble, passed away in her seventy-sixth year. This estimable friend had spent most of her long tranquil life in our neighborhood. Gentle and placid, she spoke no ill of anyone, and her self-con- tained, discreet, well-ordered existence was an example to be followed. An interested member of the "Horti- cultural" and the "Association," she enjoyed mingling with her friends at the pleasant meetings of these so- cieties. Blessed with a devoted daughter, from whom she had never for any length of time been separated. her declining years were passed in that comfort and freedom from care so grateful to the old. She was buried on the afternoon of the 12th, at Woodside cemetery.
Third month, 10th. A blizzard of wind, rain and snow struck us; the mercury fell many degrees in a few hours, and all through that night and the next day, swift, piercing winds blew the light snow hither and thither.
The 13th and 14th commenced very wintry, and on the 16th we awoke once again to find a white mantle hiding mother earth from view. No wonder the pa- pers announced,
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"He wrote & spring poem-to sell it he sped, He was found in a snow-drift,
Congealed and quite dead."
Benjamin H. Miller, Indian inspector, whose graphic letters from the far northwest have entertained the readers of the "Montgomery Press" in the past five months, returned to his home on a leave of ab- sence. He has already traveled 45,000 miles in gov- ernment service, and endured diversities of climate only to be compared to the "below zeros" and "above boiling" points of a thermometer.
Third month, 12th. The book club that began its career of usefulness and enjoyment several years ago, with twelve members, finds its numbers swelled to fifty at present.
It is conceded that "the dog that takes hold is a good dog; the dog that holds fast is better," and pos- sildly the dog that wins the prize at the bench show is best of all. The Sandy Spring hunting club secured four premiums at the recent exhibition in Washington, of all sorts of canines except the "cur of low degree."
Third month, 17th, Ainsworth R. Spofford, con- gressional librarian, delivered at the Lyceum a beau- tiful and instructive lecture on "The Art of Reading.'' A persistent storm of sleet and snow prevented many persons from enjoying this intellectual treat.
St. Patrick's day lasted all through the night, and by the next morning the ground was covered with the deepest snow of the year, from ten to twelve inches on the level, and huge drifts in many places. Sleighs came merrily forth, and the prudent housekeeper wondered if the garden could be planted in time to produce those
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"delightfully fresh" vegetables, so grateful and neces- sary to the ever-hungry city visitor or boarder.
On the evening of Third month, 28th, Prof. William Taylor Thom inaugurated a Shakespeare class at Mit. Airy to meet weekly for the study of the great mastur who has depicted every emotion of the heart and every attribute of human nature.
The Third month came in with violent storms ; gave us only three really clear days, and inflicted on us a constant variety in the shape of fog, wind, rain, sleet and snow, and finally left us on the 3Ist in a down- pour of eighteen hours duration. Helen Hunt says :
"Ah, March! we know thou art kind-hearted in spite of looks and threats, and out of sight art nursing April's violets."
But the prose of sodden country and long-delayed spring seemed to outweigh all poetic fancies.
Early in April we had to congratulate our sister me- tropolis, Brookeville, on the passage of a bill through the legislature to allow her to borrow $3,000 to pave her sidewalks. Although our grandfathers, through all their long lives, heroically stuck in the mud, and had plenty of time to extricate themselves, their descend- ants are convinced that good roads and improved thoroughfares are the highways to comfort and pros- perity. An unusual number of railroad bills were be- fore our legislators at Annapolis at this time. One especially seemed worded to inevitably strike us, as it is to go from Washington to Laurel, thence to the Pennsylvania line by any practicable route it may se- lect through Prince George, Montgomery, Howard and Frederick counties, with lateral branches. Now, if
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these lateral branches could encompass "Alloway" and "Falling Green" everybody in between ought to be satisfied.
About the last of the Third month Robert H. Brooke returned to his situation in the civil engineer corps of the Norfolk and Western Railroad; Walter H. Brooke went to St. Louis, expecting to secure a position and locate in that city.
Fourth month, 3rd. The mercury registered eighty degrees at noon, eighty-four degrees at three o'clock, seventy-five degrees at half-past six. The same sum- mer heat continued on the 4th.
Your historian would be loath to fall short in any particular in this veracious record, neither would she be willing to step beyond designated duties, but she cannot forbear giving to the maiden sisters a gentle hint that it is again leap-year, and to the bachelor brothers a timely warning of the perils they are ex- posed to. But few marriages are noted in these pages, but if Dame Rumor is correct-there will be more to follow.
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