USA > Maryland > Montgomery County > Sandy Spring > Annals of Sandy Spring history of a rural community in Maryland, Volume II > Part 7
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Mr. Henderson has added greatly, by expensive machinery, to his milling facilities.
Samuel Bond bought land and built a new store on the Brookeville pike, near Norbeck.
The historian's suggestion of last year, that a new structure be built to the modern glass doors of the old Sandy Spring store, is about to be adopted, and as our neighborhood has, with its usual shrinking modesty, gone ahead in so many things, we hope, when this new emporium is finished, to make Wanamaker tremble.
An important prospect which should interest all our people is the new library. The money has been sub- scribed and the foundation dug, on which to erect a
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neat and suitable building. If all the "Old Bachelors" in Sandy Spring, would rise to the occasion and liber- ally endow this good work with sufficient means to make it a real success, there is not, I feel sure, a single unappropriated blessing in the whole communi- ty who would not obligate herself to keep their mem- ories green forever.
Charles R. Hartshorne bought property from Rich- ard I. Lea, and George L. Stabler, making a con- siderable addition to Leawood farm.
Thomas J. Lea sold his farm to Edmund Boswell, and his meadow to Edward Gilpin.
Added to the fourteen clubs and societies already es- tablished, and in working order, this year has pro- duced still another, called "The Social Religious Cir- cle," for the dissemination of Friends' principles, and more thorough knowledge of the same, especially among the young.
Llewellen Massey and family moved to Staunton, Va., where he has established a boarding school.
Walter Scott and wife moved to Baltimore.
Charles Palmer, A. M., a graduate of Swarthmore College, has taken charge of Sherwood Academy. The assistant teachers are Fanny E. Hartley, Alice T. Stabler and Sarah T. Moore.
Roger Brooke graduated at the University of Maryland, and received his diploma of M. D.
The two important corporations of the neighbor- hood, "The Mutual Fire Insurance Company and The Sandy Spring Savings Institution, show an increasing prosperity, notwithstanding the depression in farm- ing interests.
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The Fire Insurance Company had an unusual amount of losses, all of which were promptly met.
The Savings Institution has received, in the past year, over seven thousand dollars from depositors, and there is now to their credit over $220,000, in this useful institution.
"The mellowing hours of passing time" have again brought me to the close of another year's history, with its lights and shadows, its smiles and tears, its outside interests, its closer every day home-life.
I have often been asked in far off sections, if Sandy Spring was a large town, or a village, and I have al- ways said it was unique in being neither, but most emphatically a "neighborhood."
When we analyze that word, we find that "neigh- bor" is from the Anglo Saxon, signifying near or in- timate, "one whose abode is not distant," "hood" is from a word signifying, state or degree. Therefore, neighborhood means a close community of near or intimate people living on adjoining estates. Burke says there is a "law of neighborhood that does not leave a man perfectly master on his own ground." and certainly we are so closely connected here, by the ties of kinship or of friendship, that we are greatly de- pendent one on the other, for nearly all the comforts and good cheer of life. The joys and pleasures of one household are shared by many, and especially when sickness or death spreads its anxiety or distress over one family, all stretch out the helping hand, or offer words of sympathy and love.
I have heard that in all the rope used in the Brit- ish Navy, there is woven a bright red strand, so that
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wherever an inch of it is found, it can be recognized.
Would it not be well for all our people, either by birthright or adoption, to cultivate a certain pride of neighborhood, a standard of moral and mental ex- cellence, a forbearance and charity for each other, that should be the red strand, the prominent trait whereby we might be indentified as Sandy Spring people ?
The traveler tells us, that over the triple doorways of the Cathedral of Milan, there are three inscriptions spanning the splendid arches.
Over one is carved a beautiful wreath of roses, and underneath is the legend, "All that which pleases is only for a moment; over the other is a sculptured cross, and there are the words, "All that which trou- bles is only for a moment;" underneath the grand central entrance in the main aisle is the inscription, "That only is which is eternal."
Each year we gather some of the roses of life and in- hale their sweet fragrance, and we are called upon at times to taste the cup of sorrow and to pass under the rod.
Each day we should practice truth, and affection and charity, for these indeed are alone eternal.
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CHAPTER V.
From Fourth Month, 1887, to Fourth Month, 1888.
Baseball and excursions-Long, cold winter-Terrible blizzard, roads blocked-Moncure D. Conway and Mrs. Zeralda Wallace lectured-Five railroads projected- Obituaries of Mary Wetherald, Francis Miller and Elizabeth Fowler.
If a nation is happy and fortunate that makes no history Sandy Spring may be considered among the blessed in the past year.
My notes were indeed few and far between, and when I began to amplify them I determined to peti- tion in future to be allowed a poet's license, the im- agination of the novelist, or the erratic fancy of the modern advertiser.
The historian is forbidden to paint the lily white, or to gild refined gold; strict veracity, the narrow limits of unvarnished truth, must make the narrative of any value.
Facts have indeed been "stubborn" things to deal with since the world began, and unless my good friends and neighbors before me will consent to fur- nish me with extraordinary deeds or wonderful achievements, I am compelled to offer them year after year the same old hash, hoping for a little variety in the seasoning.
Even the spring of 1887 was one of those average seasons that refuses to be commented on. We were
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not amazed by a premature outburst of vegetation, nor made weary by long waiting for the first green leaf. The grass grew, the trees budded at the usual time, in the usual manner ; and usual things, as every one knows, are prosaic and uninteresting.
The 12th of Fourth month, 1887, was, however, a delightful balmy day, and on that afternoon many relatives and friends from this vicinity, and from New York, Baltimore and Richmond, assembled at Nor- wood to witness the Friends' form of marriage cere- mony between Mary L. Moore and Jos. W. Tilton, of Jenkintown, Penna., where the young couple went to live.
Fifth month, 18th. Walter Thomas, of Baltimore, was married by Episcopal ceremony to Mary Elli- cott, at her home, Brooke Meadow.
In this month, Madam Neyman lectured at the lyceum, on "woman's suffrage." in her intelligent and interesting manner.
Sixth month, 4th. Henry Tyson, son of R. Row- land and Margaret G. T. Moore, was born.
Many strangers attended our Quarterly Meeting. the second week in June. An unusual proportion of young people were present. good order and quiet pre- vailed. and it was a season of social and religious en- joyment to all.
Rainy and unseasonable weather continued through this month to the detriment of outdoor work, and the dismay of the farmer, who was, however. thereby provided with his customary grievance, and enabled to blame the elements in his peculiar and time-honored fashion.
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Charles Dickens, who knew as little about the tiller of the soil, and made as few allusions to country life, as almost any other author, said: "The Farmers! it is surprising how much ruin they will bear, every sea- son is the worst season known."
The Seventh month was characterized by extreme heat, the mercury ranged persistently from 90° to 100°, day after day, and week after week, until ex- istence was merged into a vain endeavor to keep cool. Many of our inhabitants fled away to mountain or seashore, and safe in their temperate zones, could hardly credit the scorching letters and red-hot postal cards sent them from home.
Nine of our young ladies determined to have va- riety without money and without price, and to secure change of scene where no other change was needed, so they camped in an unoccupied house, at the junc- tion of our two great rivers, the Hawlings and Pa- tuxent. For a week they enjoyed, to the full. the pleasures of a female republic, the excitement of liv- ing from hand to mouth, and doing their own cook- ing, and the visits of one hundred and ninety-eight guests, only those being expected to stay to meals who had prudently brought their provender with them, after the fashion extant in some cities in Ger- many, where the self-invited visitor is followed by a servant, bearing the requisite meal, a veritable "Dutch treat."
Numerous gentlemen thronged the camp, presum- edly with the laudable object of discovering how little a girl could live on.
Breaking camp and crossing the river on the re-
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turn home was not unattended with adventure, the waters having risen to such height these fair dani- sels had to be carried over the flood after the manner of "Coming through the Rye" in Scotland, but un- fortunately your historian was not present to mentally photograph the result of the portage.
Eighth month, 13th, after a painful and lingering ill- ness, Mary Wetherald died in her seventy-sixth year. Her long life had been replete with the unvarying round of domestic duties, and while she seldom went beyond the confines of her home, or neighborhood, she was a persistent and intelligent reader, and an ex- cellent French scholar, and the best society the world afforded came to her in the shape of books.
She might, with truth, have repeated the words of an English lady, who wrote many years ago, "Here in the country my books are my sole occupation, my sure refuge and solace from frivolous cares. Books are the calmers as well as the instructors of the mind."
Perhaps that person is most missed from the home circle, whose life has been passed closely within its limits, and her inseparable companion and sister had much sympathy in her loss.
Eighth month, 31st. Catherine, daughter of John and Kate V. Thomas, was born.
If "piety is the blessing of the house, hospitality the honor of the house, cleanliness the ornament of the house, contentment the happiness of the house, let us hope the numerous visitors that thronged San- dy Spring, in August, found all these desirable characteristics within our homes.
Riding parties, tea companies, baseball matches.
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excursions to the Great Falls of Potomac, to Wash- ington, and Mt. Vernon, were the order of the day. A very successful entertainment, consisting of tab- leaux and music, was given at the Lyceum, and if we could not rival the variety of city amusement, we were at least enabled to give our guests something differ- ent from what the town afforded.
Our gardens, fortunately, yielded abundantly but it was almost the worst fruit year ever known. Some orchards did not produce a single peck of apples. Peaches were a memory of the past, and the berries and small fruits were very few and of inferior quality.
Ninth month, 17th. Benjamin H. and Sarah T. Miller celebrated their silver wedding. Over two hun- dred persons, many from a distance, assembled at their pleasant home, Mit. Airy, and enjoyed a memor- able occasion.
Like the sudden blighting of some rare flower was the announcement, Ninth month, 21st, of the death of Anna Leggett, infant daughter of Jos. T., jr., and Estelle Tyson Moore. Named for her grandmother, this lovely babe had been the center and solace of a bereaved family all her little life. Her perfect health, her winning ways, her rosy, sparkling face, had en- deared her to many hearts, who shared the anguish of her parents and relations in this great and unex- pected trial.
"Her limit of life was brief. 'Twas the red in the red rose leaf.
'Twas the gold in the sunset sky, 'Twas the flight of a bird on high. Yet she filled her cradle's space
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With such a perfect grace, That the red' will vein all time, The gold through long years shine, The birds fly swift and straight, To memory's open gate."
Although we have many good Samaritans who la- bor within our borders, we have not sent many mis- sionaries to foreign lands, but in this month, Wor- thington Waters, son of our friend, Z. D. Waters, went on a religious mission to China, and Lucy Faw- cett started for India, but being unable to accom- plish this long journey, returned homeward as far as Halifax, where she now has charge of an orphan asylum.
On 4th day afternoon, Tenth month, 5th, Joseph T. Moore and Eliza N. Bentley were married by Friends' ceremony at Bloomfield. The lady in this instance went to live in the old homestead, which her great-great-grandfather. Richard Thomas, built for his son Samuel Thomas, about 1751.
Tenth month, 22d. Walter Lea and Lucy Snow- den were married in the church at Olney, by Episco- pal ceremony, Rev. W. H. Laird, officiating. The bride and groom left immediately for New York City, where they will reside.
Seventy persons, old and young, attended Balti- more Yearly Meeting, Tenth month, 29th.
It was an interesting occasion from the fact that the old Lombard Street Meeting 'House had been sold, and before another year Friends would be in- stalled in a new building erected in quite a distant section of the city. A number of the older couples
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in our neighborhood were married in this meeting- house in Baltimore, as was then the custom, such ceremonies being now almost universally performed at home.
A long, hard winter seemed to come on us in Nov- ember, and to abide with us for many months. Storms were frequent, cold often intense, and clear, sunny days most rare. With coal stoves for warmth and comfort, an open fire or two for beauty and senti- ment, with an amount of clothing our ancestors would have deemed entirely superfluous, we were enabled to defy the icy touch of the cold and cheerless winter.
Christmas often unites those whom distance severs, and was enlivened this year by many festivities in hon- or of the return home of our Sandy Spring girls and boys from school and college.
First month, IIth. Ulric Hutton and Mary Jan- ney were married at Black Meadow by Episcopal ceremony, Rev. Orlando Hutton officiating. Many handsome presents were received, and the young couple, after a northern trip, located on a farm near Brookeville.
Second month, 2d. After a painful and lingering malady, which excited the sympathy of all, our es- teemed friend and neighbor, Francis Miller, passed away. in his fifty-ninth year.
Born in Alexandria, Virginia. he graduated at Yale in 1852 and removed to Stanmore in 1858, and es- tablished a successful school for boys at that place : afterwards, he studied law under A. G. Riddle in Washington, and practiced his profession in that city,
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and at the time of his death was employed on many important and lucrative cases.
From 1877 to 1885 he was assistant United States attorney for the District, and took high rank as a lawyer of talent, learning and courage.
He was actively instrumental in having Congress remove the toll on the Seventh street road from Washington to Sligo, and argued before the com- missioners of the District for making 2,000 pounds a ton.
He was the third president and director of the San- dy Spring Lyceum Company, lectured repeatedly in its hall, and first suggested a historian.
He was one of the twenty-six gentlemen who met in 1868 to incorporate a savings bank, and became one of its directors, which position he soon relinquished. owing to duties in Washington, and was reelected di- rector in 1884, which office he held at the time of his death.
He was a true friend of the colored race, a sincere temperance advocate, a firm believer in woman suf- frage.
· He was one of the most widely-known and earnest republican workers in Maryland, and was almost in- variably a delegate to the county and state conven- tions of his party. He several times ran for office, al- ways leading a forlorn hope against a democratic ma- jority.
In 1881 he was nominated for chief justice of this district against the late Judge Ritchie, and was do- feated by a very few votes.
In 1885, he ran for Comptroller, and in November
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last, was republican nominee for Attorney-General, and endured the wearying journeys and exposures of a campaign while a fatal disease was sapping his en- ergies and shortening his life.
In speaking thus fully of his public career, I would not lose sight of his private excellence. Those who were nearest to him can testify to his untiring devo- tion and kindness to wife and children, and the cheer- ful and pleasant characteristics of his home life.
One associated with him politically said, "The years had brought to him, what ought to be the fer- vent prayer of us all, to find, at the close of the long struggle with ourselves and circumstances, a disposi- tion to happiness, a composed spirit, to which time had made things clear, an unrebellious temper and hopes undimmed for mankind."
His funeral, which occurred on Second month, 4th, a most inclement day, was largely attended by his neighbors, and many relatives from a distance.
Among other tributes offered to his memory was the following feeling one from his life-long friend and brother-in-law, H. C. H.
"There is an unwritten law that at times like this any one from a full heart may pay a tribute to de- parted worth. I have known our dear friend and brother intimately from earliest childhood as student, in social intercourse, in business relations. and in double ties of marriage, and yet have I never heard him utter an impure word, nor known him speak or act a falsehood, nor do a selfish or mean thing.
"Of commanding intellect, and much learning, he was gentle as a child. Earnest in his convictions, and
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forcible in expressing them, he was ever open to the admission of truth. Speaking but little of serious things, he yet had a deeply reverential nature, and showed his religion in his life. His aim was to do his duty here, and he would be the first to reprove us were we to let this great shadow darken our lives.
"We look abroad, and though desolation rules the scene, and the landscape is chilled with snow, we know that the flowers will bloom again, and the for- ests be clothed with beauty. So we must again let sunshine into our hearts and go upon our daily rounds, purified and ennobled by our sorrow, making others happy, and becoming happy ourselves by un- selfishly ministering to those about us.
"During the long days, and weeks, and months, that our dear brother lay in the toils of a fatal disease, his example was teaching us lessons of patience and cheerfulness.
"Some of us who are comparatively well at times repine at temporary ailments, and are impatient and fretful to those who are near and dear to us. While our dear one was literally starving to death, when even the glass of milk failed to nourish, or pure water to be retained, while he would see others going to seat themselves at the table, covered with the delica- cies of the season, and tempting to the palate, never once was heard to utter a murmur of complaint or a word of repining. His whole desire seemed to be, during the heavy hours of suffering and waiting. to save trouble to his attendants, and to keep them in heart. Appreciating every attention, flashing at times those little pleasantries so familiar to those in-
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timate with him, he slowly drifted away, his great intellect unclouded, his great heart untouched.
"But thirty-six hours before he died he wrote with his own hands a coherent and connected letter.
"Before leaving his beloved home to seek medical advice he remarked he was prepared let it terminate as it might. Was not such a life fitly rounded by such a death ? Is not such a life worth living, such a death worth dying?"
About this time in February we had a week of good sleighing to vary the monotony, and everybody took advantage of this mode of easy transit to pay their social debts in the way of calls, with no certainty of finding anybody at home.
At Easter, Second month, 22d, Guion Miller and Annie Tyler were married at the residence of the bride's brother by Friends' ceremony.
The young couple went to house-keeping in Wash- ington, where kind friends had arranged their rooms for them.
In the latter part of February" several good hus- bands in our midst, whose example is worthy of all emulation, went to Florida on a pleasure trip, taking their wives with them. They returned delighted with the land of flowers and sunshine, and Asa M. Stabler gave an impromptu account of the experiences of the party. one evening at the Lyceum, to an audience that was waiting for a lecturer who did not appear.
Third month. 6th. Margaret, daughter of William and Annie Hallowell Riggs, was born.
On Ist day, Third month, 1Ith, a great rain storm, which had started from California the previous week,
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swept through the southern and western states, and had travelled up the Atlantic Coast, deluging the country and gathering fury in its path, encountered a cold wave in our latitude, and we passed in a mo- ment from a steady downpour to a howlng blizzard of wind and snow.
For thirty-six hours the storm raged, until the roads were blocked by huge drifts; the mercury fell nearly to zero, and the piercing air, filled with icy par- ticles borne on the gale, made it almost dangerous to brave the outside tempest. The mail was carried on horseback four days before the Laurel road was pass- able for vehicles.
While we were fortunate in suffering only incon- venience from the storm, in many sections farther north, people lost their lives in the great drifts. Trains were delayed for many hours, a milk and food famine was threatened in the cities.
New York was cut off from the outside world, ex- cept by Atlantic cable. and had messages from Bos- ten by way of London.
"The Washington Star," was issued entirely with- out telegraphic news.
Business was prostrated, and the "oldest inhabi- tant" was too young to remember any storm like it before, and all the inhabitants, both old and young. were entirely satisfied that Dakota should hence- forth and forever keep her blizzards at home.
Just seven days after this severe cold the mercury stood at 72°, the snow had disappeared like magic, we had a sharp thunder-storm. and a discriminating flash of lightning struck the dome of the capitol at Wash-
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ington, causing the house and senate to rise simul- taneously without waiting for a motion to do so, and even disturbing the serene dullness of the Supreme Court.
There are, of course, many ways of interpreting this incident, but it must be pointed out by the historian that under no republican administration was a warn- ing of the elements called for.
March gave us weather enough to have furnished Mark Twain with another "Collection" equal to the assortment he once found in New England.
At Falkton, Dakota, Third month, 14th, Ella, daughter of Caroline Scott, was married to Olen Gus- tavus Reineger. Another example of the extreme danger of our young ladies going west, if they wish to remain single sisters.
Third month, 18th. Mary Gillingham, daughter of Joseph T., jr., and Estelle Tyson Moore, was born.
Third month, 26th. A memorable meeting of the "Horticultural" was held at Brooke Grove, and the quarter centennial of the society celebrated.
Margaret B. Magruder furnished a comprehensive history of the twenty-five years since the fi st meet- ing was held at Francis Miller's suggestion.
Edward Farquhar sent a short poem so good, as far as it went, that everyone regretted its brevity.
H. C. Hallowell, the president, read a very beauti- ful original poem, in which the salutary effects of the work the horticultural has accomplished on our hearts and homes was pointed out, and very touching allusions made to the valued members, eight in num-
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ber, who had passed into the higher life amid the ever-blooming gardens of Paradise.
Sixteen families now belong to the organization, two having resigned, and the interest in the meetings seems unabated.
It was particularly gratifying to all that the vener- able Sarah B. Farquhar should have braved the in- clement weather to meet with us.
On the evening of Third month, 27th, a large audi- ence assembled at the Lyceum, in a pouring rain, to listen to a very delightful and instructive lecture from Moncure D. Conway on "The England of To-day."
Third month, 29th. Elizabeth Fowler died sudden- ly in her sixty-sixth year.
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