The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-07-27
CORRESPONDENTS.
LETTERS OF A CONvALEscENT.

MousrAM BaRAKPAsrs-B R,noE RocKRisH GAP
--TuckAHoEs AND QUo'nEEs-SrAUKros; IT'S ma
ssvoLssr INSTITUTIONS weYER's CAyE-Mous-
TAIN ScENEay
We leit Charlottesville in the mail stage, two
coach loads Of us, At 3 o'clock, A. NJ, and rode TO
the base Of The Blue Ridge, abou. % miles, over a
very good road, where we refreshed ourselves with
an introductory specimen Of Mountain breakfasts,
consisting Of coffee, rolls fried chickens milk and
honey.
The long tracts OF mountains that extend them
selves souihwesierly the entire State OF Vir-
GINA, from the junction of the Potomac and the
Shenandoah In the north, to the line Of North Caro-
lima In the south, the distant glimpses OF whose
"azure hue" We had caught the day before, now
rose in their majestic reality in our 'front.' the
ing barriers Of a world
The spirit with which we entered on the task Of
ascent was not unworthy the nvigoraling freshness
Of the morning air, OF which every thing around US
partook.
Alter treading for awhile the narrow openings OF
turnpike through pleasant forests and shaded ra-
vines, which seemed The darkened entrance halls Of
our passage, we were gradually led to elevations
which began TO open vistas to the plains we had left
As the ascent grew heavier for the horses, we were
invited to descend from the stage and Chamber up
the hills two miles on foot The road is skilfuy
graded, and being cut into the sides Of preciplces
and winding gently along the hills, and around the
sharp points Of rocks the ascent seems as easy as
the scenes along the way are pleasant and romantic
The journey derives not little Of It's interest," per-
haps, from the dangers the traveller encounters as
he passes the fearful walls without parapets, and
under the jut,ing crags which frown upon him from
above. Jus. before reaching the summit, the road
describes the segment Of grand circle, and the
traveller may easily imagine himself ascending the
winding stairway Of vast amphi.heatre, which
seems to have been formed by the eddying sweep Of
an ocean. As he rises, the scene enlarges.
There are few views more extensive than this
from the heights Of Rockfsh Gap. Il has not pro-
badly the subimiiy Of Alpine scenery nor the wild
ness and variety OF many scenes among the New
England mountains, or even Of many among these
hills themselves The long line Of the Blue Ridge,
and the scattered sentinels which form its eastern
vanguard, extending along in various shades, hues
and angles on the north and SOUTH as far as the eye
can see andthe wde-spreadiag and variegated plains
seen over the top, Of the lower hill on the east con-
stute, nevertheless, picture Of unusual beauty and
interest, The hills about Charlottesville, 20 miles
distant, are distinctly visible, and the eye reaches
north.
We observed on the road side ascending the
mountain quantities Of green rock injected with
quartz II is called epido,e and is supposed 70 be Of
volcanic origin.
The Blue Ridge divides the Old Dominion into
two nations The inhabitants east Of the line OF It's
top are called IEekaAoes and are the real, native,
Virginian raee-living easily socially, and in the
exercise Of liberal hospitality. Those living west
Of the line, are denominated Quohees and are said
10 be adulterated by an admxture of Dutch and
Irish and by the introduction Of certain outlandish,
foreign, and anl-Vrginian habits. They are
obliged to work harder for living-are said to be
more selfish, and less sociable. For example: the
Tuckahoes are great visters-the house of farmer
being frequently crowded for days with friends and
neighbors We heard Of family of Quo'hees,
who 1t was said had not made visit in screen gears.
AT bargain, the Quohees, are said to be "cuter"
than the Yankee pedlars; not being particularly
scrupulous about flying" from contract made, If
the least inducement offers.
On leaving the summit Of the Blue Ridge and de-
scending into the valley west, difference between
the opposite sides of the mountain is instantly per-
csivable On the east, the weather was sultry and
oppressive--on the west, we felt cold wind coming
up through the valley we saw the red soil on the
eastern side no longer-the mountain sides on the
west were covered with pines instead Of oaks and
cheslnuts-agrculture seemed Of more contracted
character, and the crops were certainly less proms
ing, and quite backward compared with those on the
eastern side.
We soon passed through the nconsiderable town
of Waynesboro', and over an interval OF unduating
and comparatively unproductive land, whose narrow
meadows seem subject to the havoc Of mountain
torrents from each side; and we reached Stanton
little before noon. This small village is nearly in
the centre Of The State, and on that account is fire.
quently selected the meeting place Of State con-
ven,ions, and for regular sessions Of the United
States Court. II has been proposed to remove the
Capitol Of the State TO Staunton contains one OF
the State hospitals for the insane. The buildings,
which are Of brick, are on healthy eminence, and
have neat and commodious appearance. A recent
repor, exhibits successful and important services Of
this institution in the cause of humanity. The
other insane hospital is at Williamsburg. BY re-
cent act, a State ASYLUM for the Deaf, Dumb and
Blind, is TO be established at Staunton. The Board
of Visitors met on the ID instant and selected for
the site beautiful knoll presented by Jas. Bell Esq,
| and Gov Campbell was present to give II his sane
ton. The buildings are to be of BRICK with stone
foundations, and so planned that there shall be an
absolute separation Of the two classes Of pupils that
the care and instruction Of each may be committed
to their appropriate teachers, while common
steward can serve The whole The operations Of the
Institution will commence we are informed, next
fall; but the buildings will not be completed until
July, ls4l. Mr.. II. P. Peet, of New York, well
known as the head of the New York Deaf and Dumb
Asylum, is elected principal Of the Deaf and Dumb
Department and Mr.. VIM. Graham, of P philadelphia,
teacher of the Blind.
Distance from Charlottesville to Staunton, 50
miles-fare, SO SO.
| About l6 miles northeast Of Staunton, is the
celebrated Meyers Cave which is described TO be