Bachelor Musings, Brandy, & Babies- Christmas 1916

 From the West Point News of December 22, 1916

ROXBURY

 I wonder who will think of me? This is the question uppermost in the minds of everyone as Christmas, the happiest of all days, draws near. I heartily agree with the editorial in the last issue of the News entitled “Christmas Gifts.” Who is going to remember in some small way the poor widows, orphans and the sick and afflicted in their neighborhood? This has been a prosperous year with Those who give cheerfully, [        ] be made happy. As to this writer in my little bungalow alone with little snookums, I will be happy with good health and plain food. To see  others happy, always makes me happy.

 Brother Peters* has played havoc with his prohibition law. Not [     ] that Baltimore quart can be de[    ] to the man unless he have a [                 ] like he was trying to force the bachelors to marry whether we wish to or not. Man can manage the quart, if not good, he can throw it away, but; when he is tied to the apron strings of a woman, he has to keep her; no one else will. He can’t throw away or trade her off for other live stock. So we bachelors stand between Hades and the deep blue sea. As for this scribe, I never tasted ardent spirits in my life. I would not know the taste of brandy from sauerkraut, yet it seems free America is at last unkind people. He says he is growing fat on fine oysters, ducks and other good things to eat from the kind people of Gloucester. Brother McNeil and family, I send through the columns of the News congratulations. God bless your labors in your new field. We sadly miss you but our loss is another’s gain. Brother McNeil, remember oysters do not grow up here so if you have more than you can manage, send some to your old friend, Truthful Jeems. 

 If one gossip is on straight in this neighborhood some of the pretty teachers have decided to remain permanently in New Kent and it is said they do not expect to live alone.  

The stork visited the home of Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Bailey Tuesday night and left a beautiful little baby boy with Mrs. Ida Carey as a Christmas present. Mr. and Mrs. Cary are being congratulated by their many friends.

 Mr. H. C. White and Roy Bailey were visitors at Wrights bungalow last Sunday.

 Young George Crump, who through mistake shot a deer for a rabbit, was tried by Justice Wright† Friday and was fined $5.00 and costs which George paid with a smile. The deer was a three year old doe and weighed 105 pounds. On the market in season, the deer would have sold for $30. The strict game law has caused an abundance of all kinds of game.

TRUTHFUL JEEMS.

* I assume 'Brother Peters' is the first Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Prohibition, J. Sidney Peters. Statewide prohibition had been approved by a referendum of Virginia voters in September of 1914. 

† 'Justice Wright' and 'Truthful Jeems' were one and the same. 

"There is Always Something Doing at Roxbury" - September 1922

 

 ROXBURY

 Items from Charles City and New Kent.

 As The News is finding its way into homes of both counties, I will try to speak of those good people. As I have written before of this beautiful little town of Roxbury, I can not find much to say, jet there is always something doing at Roxbury.

 I can but feel proud of that New Kent boy, Grover McCann, agent and operator at that place; a life that is certainly an inspiration for any young man, only to see what honesty, sobriety and determination will win. Only a few years ago, when but a boy, he learned telegraphy at Walkers, Va., and has held positions for many years with the C. & O.. R.R. Co. Yet quite a young man, he has from push and pluck bought fine farms, has a pretty home and a family of a faithful wife and two beautiful little boys. It is one of the happiest and most beautiful homes in the Peninsula section.

 Then there is R. B. Henley, an old Essex boy, one of the most popular in this section. He has retired from the mercantile business and is now in the insurance business. He too has a beautiful home and a devoted wile. All he lacks to make the family ties strong and binding is a little Henley boy and girl, then all will be complete.

 Parker Sherwood, another Essex boy, was located here for some time, but now with his pretty wife and little girl is located at Williamsburg. He is brother-in-law of Mr. Henley and is doing fine also in the insurance business. There is some "pep” in in these two fine agents.

 There are others I should like to mention who are an honor to their adopted county.

 There are fine crops of all kinds in this section, but the melon crop, owing to the railroad strike, was a loss. Only a few got the price of their fertilizer bill back. The farmer will find out better; let this perishable crop alone; confine themselves to substantial crops.

 One young farmer told the writer today who had just returned from Richmond, that there is no sale for anything. Sweet potatoes now are only 50 cents a bushel, and no one has money, as thousands are out of work. No one attempts to pull fodder, no labor to be had, or they will not work on the farm for less than $1.25 a day, 8-hour system. No farmer can afford to pay such prices.

 The question now being asked is, Where is the central highway going to connect with the old Williamsburg route? A large crowd is now surveying a new route, cutting out about 10 miles of the central route, leaving Roxbury, Long bridge, Glendale out. Why they chose such route no one can tell. Of course it will cost millions to complete this route, but. it is a straight line from Richmond to Newport News. Bottom bridge, a substantial, concrete bridge, is already built to stand all heavy traffic. No one can tell where the connection will be made, or when.

 "I want a good job,” said a young man some time ago. "with little work and big pay.” 

"Then get a government job,” he was told.

 It seems all true, when one sees the surveyors of the highway get on the job at 10 o’clock and leave at 3 o'clock. The advice was good.

 Go through the woods now. One can see well-beaten paths in every direction, leading nobody knows where. But the bootlegger is on the job, for a few nights ago, while out coon hunting, the dogs were treeing a coon when the old darky hastened to them and suddenly went head foremost into a full barrel of mash ready to run. But no one was in sight or still found. It is said this was in the wilds of Chickahominy, where no prohibition officers ever go. If he did, he’d just as well kiss his wife good-bye when he leaves home; it is doubtful if ever he returns, for the bootlegger is a desperate character.

 It is said the spirits of the departed will return, but the spirit of old John Barleycorn never makes its appearance here for we keep a lookout for it; but it certainly visits some sections, for a sight often seen is a man running with his hat in his hand trying to get away from or get in the way of, the spirit(s). 

J. A. W.

                    

-West Point News,  15 September 1922

"Cut His Way Out of Jail"- 1926

         One final Prohibition case . . .

                                                             QUINTON 

A small crowd attended court this term, little business done. The docket was a short one, being a special grand jury term. Only one indictment made, that of the usual complaint, the bootlegger, but the day before the court he cut his way out of jail and it is supposed has gone into the same business in new fields. 

Several stills have been found lately, but always the parties have gone, leaving quantities of sugar, fine still, and many gallons of liquor. One wagon and fine copper still, 6OO pounds of sugar, 50 gallons of fine rye whiskey were left. A fine mule was turned loose and made to leave and was located some days after on its way home. It probably found its master waiting for it when it got there, but the officers never got it. This still was found on the land of Mr. R. E. Mountcastle, who destroyed the liquor and carried the outfit to Sheriff Gill at Providence Forge, where it will be sold or destroyed.

-West Point News,11 June 1926