USA > Maryland > Montgomery County > Sandy Spring > Annals of Sandy Spring history of a rural community in Maryland, Volume II > Part 20
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The senior and enterprise clubs both met Third month, 17th, at the homes of new members, the former at Charley Forest, now owned by Francis Downey, and the latter with William Canby, of Colesville.
March gave us a genuine surprise in three weeks of clear, balmy weather. The mercury ranged as high as eighty degrees, the fields grew green as if a magic
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wand had swept over them; peach and plum trees flowered, the myriad arms of the willow waved ver- dantly in the warm sunshine, and too hasty people planted their gardens. This enchanting time was quickly followed by icy days and nights, and when the bitter cold had passed, blackened leaves, shriveled fruit buds, and frozen rows of ambitious vegetables were presented to view. .
On the evening of Third month, 30th, a magnifi- cent aurora spread over the northern heavens, flash- ing and vibrating in an unusual manner (like celestial search-lights) its colored curtains far into the night.
About this date a telephone connected Plainfield and Amersley, and another Homewood and Brighton.
Dr. Charles E. Duck, of Baltimore, rented Thomas J. Lea's place, and Mrs. Sallie Ellicott and daughter, Oakleigh, from John C. Bentley. Edward N. Bentley having purchased Bloomfield. moved his family into the old "homestead," which in all its century of exist- ence had only been closed a few weeks.
April came in as blustering as March should have been, and seemed to weep more copiously than usual over this almost unprecedented interchange of months.
Fourth month, 9th, Ioth and IIth a fierce storm of rain, sleet and snow of unusual length and severity seemed to thrust us backward into the very depths of winter, and it was remarked that several farmers around Ednor finished planting their whole crop of potatoes on the 7th, and four days later filled their ice-houses with snow.
Our friend, Edward Farquhar, has continued his bimonthly talks at "The Cedars," on interesting
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topics, made most instructive and delightful by his perfect knowledge of his theme; nor can we forbear mention of his more spirtual discourses that have sown good seed in the meeting, and have given to many the desire for helpful self-examination and food for thought, that the silent hour might lack for them. Phrenaskeia, the one distinctly literary society of the neighborhood, has met regularly with profit and pleasure through the past months.
At different times through the year there has been much excitement along our highways and byways on the subject of mad dogs, and not without good rea- son, as one rabid animal bit many of his fellows, and numerous dogs were killed on this account, some showing signs of the horrible rabies and others be- fore it developed. A cow and a horse also died with all the symptoms, and on the night of the 17th, Risen Perry, a respectable colored man living near Coles- ville, who had had an encounter with a mad dog some six weeks ago, died of hydrophobia. The case was watched with much interest by most of the medical fraternity of this section, whose skill palliated the hor- rors of this dread disease, but could not save the life of the victim.
The Rev. J. S. Kieffer, of Hagerstown, always re- ceives a warm welcome at the Lyceum, and his lec- ture upon "Optimism and Pessimism," delivered on Fourth month, 17th, was fully up to the high stand- ard of his former efforts to instruct and amuse his Montgomery audiences. He defined pessimism as an unhappy faculty of always seeing the 'worst in the present,' especially as compared with a past, mythi-
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cal, golden age, and he characterized it as something generally born of mental, moral or physical weakness in its victims.
The whole course was replete with wit and wis- dom, and perhaps the sum and substance of the prac- tical Christianity taught by Mr. Kieffer was express- ed in the following verse of Whittier, quoted by the speaker near the conclusion of his most beautiful and scholarly address :
"I know not where His islands lift Their fronded palms in air. I only know I cannot drift Beyond His love and care."
A decade has passed since it became my misfor- tune to offer these chronicles for your consideration, and it seems fitting in conclusion to review these circling years, each one crowded with events, be they great or small, and each with its characteristic tone and coloring. Even in the comparatively short per- iod since 1883 there have been very many changes. Forty-four marriages, sixty-two births and ninety deaths have occurred in our midst ; numerous persons have moved away, and are scattered in distant states, and we have had but few accessions through immi- gration.
New homes have been established and old ones broken up. The young, those in the prime of life, and especially the old, have been borne reverently to their last resting-place. Reflecting on the "good, the true, the beautiful," who have left us, we feel that Sandy Spring is not the same place it was ten years ago.
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The experiences, the virtues, of those who have passed on, are not ours by inheritance ; we must live our lives, even as they lived theirs ; and our responsi- bilities are all the greater from the moral and intel- lectual excellence they possessed, and which we can only hope to emulate.
Their standard was high, but they have paved the way for ours to be still higher. "New occasions bring new duties," for every day has its work for us to do ; with ordinary people these duties are not great, daz- zling deeds. One's life can be noble and full of beauty without even stepping outside the home circle and the prosaic rounds of every-day events.
Many of these whose passing away changed the whole world to some of us were not known, perhaps, outside the narrow bounds of our community. Their existence was made up of little sacrifices, little acts of charity, little burdens borne for a weary brother, and little crosses patiently carried for love of all their fellow creatures.
Can any of us keep their memory green in better or more perfect way than by striving to live up to the very highest of their aspirations ?
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CHAPTER XII.
From Fourth Month, 1894, to Fourth Month, 1895.
Telephone company organized-Invasion of Coxey's army -Damage and suffering from snow-storm - Mrs. George Kennan lectured on her Russian experiences -Doctors' Club formed-Obituaries of Joseph Weth- erald, Elizabeth Gilpin. Stephen L. F. Holland, William M. Thompson and Gideon Gilpin.
The annual meeting of the Lyceum Company was held on the evening of Fourth month, 19th, 1894. In place of the slow method of an election, by unanimous consent, the same officers were continued for the ensuing year. Owing to indisposition the historian was unable to appear, and the history was read very satisfactorily by Elizabeth T. Stabler to an apprecia- tive audience. The subject of a telephone line through the neighborhood was broached at this meeting, and a committee of the following gentlemen appointed to take the matter into consideration: Robert H. Mil- ler, Asa M. Stabler, Alban G. Thomas, Edward R. Stabler, Dr. Roger Brooke, Charles E. Bond and Henry H. Miller. This committee held its first meet- ing Fourth month, 27th, and the company was or- ganized by the stockholders on Fifth. month, 17th, with the following board of directors, viz. Robert H. Miller, Asa M. Stabler, Alban G. Thomas. Edward R.
-
0
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Stabler, Dr. Roger Brooke, H. H. Miller and Dr. W. French Green.
The directors organized with the following officers : Asa M. Stabler, president ; A. G. Thomas, treasurer ; H. H. Miller, secretary ; Dr. Brooke and Robert H. Miller, executive committee. On resignation of the latter Charles F. Brooke was elected to the vacancy.
About this time Amos Holland sold his neat, well- cultivated farm to Mr. Cole, of Mansfield, Ohio. This, however, did not necessitate the removal of Mr. and Mrs. Holland, as they continued to board with the present owner, while relieved from the cares of farm- ing and housekeeping.
A movement of unemployed workmen, cranks and tramps, from various western and northern states, had been steadily setting towards Washington for some weeks, inaugurated and controlled by a man named Coxey, from Ohio, who contended he would lead a half million men to Washington and compel Congress to give them work. Several bands convened at Rock- ville on Fourth month, 28th, and a party of over fifty that had walked from Philadelphia and Baltimore camped at Ashton on the afternoon and night of the 26th. Widely heralded by the ubiquitous newspaper . the continual mention and exaggerated accounts of these advancing armies caused great apprehension along their routes of travel; fears, happily, destined not to be realized, as it was with a comparatively small force of a few hundred men that Coxey finally enter- ed the national capital, where a disregard of law and order soon relegated this self-constituted general and his lieutenants to the city jail for a season of seclusion
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and reflection. Their deluded followers, less fortu- nate in accommodations, after much suffering and hunger, finally dispersed in small parties, and we had the pleasure of feeding many of them on their home- ward way, sadder, if not wiser, than when they started out.
From Fourth month, 28th, to Fifth month, 2nd, the mercury rose each day to eighty-five degrees. Orchards burst into full bloom, and in this too ardent heat all nature responded with unfolding bud and leaf.
Please prepare your minds for many notes in this history regarding the state of the thermometer, and for a full assortment of weather throughout the year. While far from a perfect record I took many observa- tions of the temperature, as well as of days both clear and cloudy. Ruskin says there is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather ; and Sir John Lubbock, in his admirable book on "The Use of Life," says: "We often hear of bad weather, but in reality no weather is bad. It is all delightful, though in different ways ; some weather may be un- seasonable for farmers and for crops, but for men all kinds are good. Sunshine is delicious, rain is refresh- ing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating."
I have always been thankful for the wise training in youth that forbade any complaint of the weather in the theory that all kinds were proper, and what could not be cured must be endured cheerfully.
Fifth month, 12th. Thirty-three Sherwood students spent a delightful day in Washington, through the kindness of Mr. Harry Spofford. He led these eager
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boys and girls from one scene of interest to another, and then presented them to President Cleveland.
Ten members of the Montgomery club, on invita- tion of director Robert H. Miller, visited the Mary- land Agricultural Experiment Station, and inspected the various departments. They expressed themselves. as much pleased with the intelligent and practical management of the station, and agreed as to the value of such institutions for farmers.
Fifth month, 15th. Robert R. and Hadassah J. Moore passed the sixtieth anniversary of their mar- riage. There was no formal celebration of this un- usual event, bui many friends called to see the vener- able couple, and to inscribe their names on the back of the original certificate, which contained but two signatures of living persons besides the contracting parties, out of over a hundred witnesses who had been present at the wedding, Fifth month, 15th, 1834.
Despite the intense heat of the first few days the Fifth month was generally rainy and cold, and on the 28th there was frost, followed by chilly days and nights. The closing exercises of Sherwood Academy on Sixth month, Sth, were made more interesting by an assembly of parents and guardians, who were much gratified with the proceedings. The essays, recitations and songs were creditable, and Caroline H. Miller made a pleasant little address. On the after- noon of the same day all the former pupils of Sher- wood, were invited to a basket picnic by the princi- pals, Belle W. Hannum and Elizabeth P. M. Thom.
This reunion was greatly enjoyed, and these gath- erings may become a permanent feature.
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Quarterly meeting, which was held on the Ninth month, Ioth and. IIth, was attended by John J. Cor- nell, William Way, Martha Townsend and other ministers.
Sixth month, 15th. Gen. Gordon delivered his lec- ture, "The Last Days of the Confederacy," to a large audience at the Lyceum. This was a most interesting and impartial recital of war times from one who, though fighting in the gray, could yet appreciate and honor his foe who wore the blue.
Sixth month, 23rd, the mercury rose to ninety- eight degrees in the shade, and farmers were cutting their fine wheat in the fierce glare of unclouded skies.
Sixth month, 23rd, Margaret, daughter of Charles F. and Corrie Miller Brooke, was born.
Not a drop of rain fell in the Sixth month, which was one of excessive heat. There were but few days when the thermometer did not register ninety degrees and above. Gardens were parched, nothing matured, the entire product of the first planting of corn was brought to the table in one dish. City visitors threat- ened to return to their markets for fresh country vege- tables, and the despairing housekeeper very nearly reduced to Charles Lamb's meal-a piece of cheese, and a pot of mustard-felt like accompanying them.
Seventh month, 2nd, there was a welcome shower. the first for nearly forty days.
Seventh month, 4th. Admiral Jouett and Mrs. Harry Page, of "The Anchorage," celebrated the na- tional holiday by a fine display of fireworks and the raising of an American flag on a tall pole. Would it not be well for more of us to throw this beautiful em-
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blem of our country to the breeze? It is seldom seen in country places, and a universal observance of flag day, Sixth month, 14th, would be an excellent thing.
Seventh month, 16th. A fine shower saved our gardens from utter collapse, but the heat continued well up into the nineties.
Seventh month, 13th, Robert Parker, son of Sam- uel and Florence Wetherald, was born.
Seventh month, 28th, mercury eighty-eight degrees at seven a. m., and eighty-nine degrees at eight p. m., and on the 20th it reached one hundred degrees in the shade, with a general humidity most trying to bear. On that afternoon a storm arose, and in one hour there was a welcome change of twenty-four de- grees.
Seventy-five volumes were donated to form the nu- cleus for a free library at the Ashton Methodist Church, and Mrs. Harris took charge of it.
Most of the physicians within seven miles of Sandy Spring formed what they term a "doctors' club," which will meet quarterly to tea at the homes of the members, Doctors William E. Magruder, W. French Green, Roger Brooke, C. E. Iddings, Augustus Stab- ler and Dr. Cecil, of Howard county.
The central office of the telephone company was located at Roadside, the home of Mrs. Sophia Robin- son, and the first message was sent July 26th, from Dr. Brooke's to the central office. Branch offices will be established at Brookeville, Olney, Spencerville, Oak Dale, Brighton, Sandy Spring, Ashton and Ed- nor, and many of our people were now talking over
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the magic wire on business or making friendly calls by electricity.
About two hundred guests were delightfully enter- tained at Rockland, on the evening of the 28th, by a series of tableaux from Gibson's sketches in "Life," and by vocal and instrumental music. Baseball games in which the neighborhood nine experienced the ra- ther unusual sensation of defeat, were played at Sandy Spring and at Highland. Swimming parties to the Patuxent were now in order, sometimes thirty or forty going together to take a refreshing dip in the cooling waters. Children's afternoon teas also prevailed, and boarders and visitors increased day by day.
Eighth month, 12th, Richard Hallet, son of Tarle- ton B. and Rebecca T. Stabler, was born.
Eighth month, 15th, at Fairfield, near Brighton, the residence of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed- ward Pierce, their daughter. Fanny, was married by Episcopal ceremony to William A. Iddings, of Sandy Spring. The young couple went to Loudon county, Virginia, to reside.
A delegation of our Friends attended the confer- ence at Chappaqua, New York, where nearly two thousand persons had assembled to discuss the phil- anthropic issues of the day, and to confer upon topics for the good of the society of Friends.
The family of E. L. Palmer, of Baltimore, returned to their pleasant home, Meadow Brooke, for a few months' stay.
A dance was given at Olney grange hall on the evening of the 17th by the gentlemen of the neighbor- hood to their home friends as well as to the numer-
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ous summer girls now in our midst. It sems as if in justice to our own maidens the "summer young man" might be a more frequent apparition.
There was a very large gathering at "The Cedars" on the afternoon of the 22nd to witness a baseball game between Highland and our own team, resulting in the defeat of the former. These outdoor sports, even if they do not always lead on to victory for us, are conducive to much pleasant intercourse between friends and neighbors far and near.
The completion of a convenient barn on Dr. Charles Farquhar's farm, was celebrated in local fash- ion by a dance on the new floor.
Eighth month, 16th. The juvenile templars of Ol- ney enjoyed a supper on the lawn at Falling Green, the home of their superintendent, Edith Brooke. This flourishing young temperance organization has the name of every pupil of Olney public school upon its roll.
Despite the heat and all-pervading dust great crowds attended Rockville fair on the 5th, 6th and 7th of Ninth month. Many premiums were awarded to our exhibitors in nearly every department.
Ninth month, Sth, Elizabeth Poe, daughter of Clar- ence and Rose Stabler Gilpin, was born.
After a long and painful illness, on Tenth month, 4th, Joseph Wetherald died in his seventy-fifth year, leaving an aged sister to mourn his loss. He was a son of the celebrated Quaker preacher, Thomas Wetherald, and had lived nearly all his life in the house where he passed away. His remains were in- terred at the meeting-house ground, on the 6th inst.
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Mr. and Mrs. Henry W. Davis moved to Mirival, the pleasant home they had rented for six months from Dr. F. W. Elbrey, the latter going to Washing- ton for that length of time.
Tenth month, 9th. Jessie Brooke, daughter of James P. and Alice B. Stabler, and Frederick McRey- nolds, of Washington, were married by Episcopal ceremony.
Only the immediate relations were present at this morning wedding, and, following an English cus- tom, the bride and groom went to a friend's cottage at Ocean City, placed at their disposal, before estab- lishing themselves in their Washington home.
Tenth month, 14th, our esteemed neighbor, Stephen L. F. Holland, died in his seventy-second year. He was unmarried, and in his long illness was devotedly nursed by his single brother and sister in the pleas- ant, comfortable home he shared with them. His upright and honorable life had been spent in close attention to his various occupations, and he had been a helpful friend to those around him.
His funeral, on the afternoon of the 16th, was large, and he was interred in the meeting-house ground.
Tenth month, 15th, Elizabeth, daughter of Edward L. and Josephine Gilpin, was born, and only lived until the 18th, a little child of William Oldfield's dying on the same date in the village.
A competitive examination of hackney colts was held at Brooke Grove, on Tenth month, 18th. The attendance was large, and after a thorough inspection of the twenty young animals on 'exhibition, prizes were awarded to their owners as follows: First
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prize, $30.00, to John Thomas, of Clifton; second, $20.00, to Robert Mackall, of Olney; third, $10.00, to Dr. Augustus Stabler, of Brighton. John Thomas sold his colt, aged six months, for $100.00 to Mr. Clark, of New York, under whose auspices the show was held.
Edward N. Bentley secured a position with Hough- ton & Co., of Washington, for the Christmas trade. Dr. Charles Farquhar, after a sale of farming effects, removed with his wife to Washington.
Owing to illness in the neighborhood fewer Friends than usual attended Baltimore Yearly Meet- ing, which occurred the last of the Tenth month.
"The melancholy days are come, The saddest of the year, Of wailing winds and naked woods, And meadows brown and sere, Heaped in the hollows of the grove, The autumn leaves lie dead,
They rustle to the eddying gust, and to the rabbit's tread; And then I think of one who in her Youthful beauty died,
The fair, meek blossom that grew up And faded by my side.
In the cold, moist earth we laid her When the forest cast the leaf, And we wept that one so lovely Should have a life so brief; Yet, not unmeet it was that one Like that young friends of ours, So gentle and so beautiful .
Should perish with the flowers."
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These familiar lines instinctively arose in the mind on the afternoon of Eleventh month, 7th, when all that was mortal of Pattie T., youngest daughter of Benj. H. and Sarah T. Miller, was borne into the meeting-house in the midst of a very large and sor- rowful assembly of relatives and friends, many of whom offered the tender tribute of consoling words to the bereaved family for the crushing loss they had sustained.
Youth is so full of joy in the present, of hope for the future, it was almost impossible to believe that disease could come with stealthy tread and bear away this fair maiden on the very threshold of the fulfilment of life's crowning happiness.
Who does not recall as I speak that unclouded brow and lovely face, which was but the mirror of a chaste and beautiful spirit within. In the month she was to have been married ; ere the day arrived she was stricken down and gradually faded away until Elev- enth month, 5th, when death released her from her long suffering. Nothing that affection and medical skill could devise was left undone to arrest the fatal malady. Change of treatment, of scene, of nurses, all was in vain, and for many months the whole com- munity seemed to stand in watchful anxiety and sym- pathy around that sick-bed. The value of existence cannot always be measured by years, but far better in the helpful word and deed and fragrant memory one leaves along life's pathway, be it ever so brief.
Pattie T. Miller, in the twenty-four years she had moved among us, had impressed herself on young
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and old with a personality and sweet influence as rare as it was lasting.
She was president of the Ashton Band of Hope, and attended a meeting of that society Sixth month, 3rd, almost the last time she was permitted to mingle with the world.
She was the leading spirit in establishing "Phrenas- keia," the senior class of Sherwood, meeting at Mt. Airy in the autumn of 1888, at her solicitation, to or- ganize this literary society, of which she was once president and twice vice-president. Entering with earnest simplicity and helpfulness into all the chari- table and progressive interests of the neighborhood and the business of the meeting, her daily life in its purity and consistency, was an example to follow.
Those who were nearest and dearest to her on earth, must go with her into the great unknown, com- forted by the thought,
"There is no death! What seems so is transition, This life of mortal breath Is but a suburb of the life elysian, Whose portal we call death.
"She is not dead, the child of our affection, Dut gone into that school, Where she no longer needs our poor protection, And Christ himself doth rule.
"In that great boundless stillness and seclusion, By guardian angels led, Safe from temptation, safe from sin polution, She lives, whom we call dead.
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"Day after day we think what she is doing, In those bright realms of air,
Year after year, her tender steps pursuing, Behold her, grown more fair!
"Thus do we walk with her and keep unbroken The bond which nature gives,
Thinking that our remembrance, though unspoken,
May reach her where she lives."
* * * *
*
In this month Chester M. Colt and family removed from Ashton to Washington to live.
Through all the long hot summer, and into the au- tumn, many springs and wells had failed, and but few rains had refreshed the thirsty earth, but now the much-needed downpour came, and the streams began to fill again.
Eleventh month, 12th, Thomas and Beulah T. Lea passed the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding-day. A number of friends called on them to offer congratu- lations, and letters and gifts from distant children and grandchildren made this a memorable occasion for them.
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