The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-18
sHANNoNDAi.E SPRINGS.

SHANNoNpALE STRINGS,
Jefferson county, Va, July II, lS5l.
The VaRey Of Y1ginia-TM Journey Of a Day
Poetry PhiiosopAy-P Politics, &c.
The mountains Of Virginia
How beautiful to view
From some commanding eminence
Their stretching lines VI blue
Their waving lines and towering capes,
Against the evening sky,
And clouds In all fantastic shapes,
CommiDglirg upon high,
Till the mountains. clouds and sky, and SUM-
Seem blended softly into one
When politician thus poetize, it must be
confessed that he is under some extraordinary in
spiration Well, he is. Through the great valley
OF Virginia, from Pennsylvania southwest .ardly
into Tennessee, there several hundred miles of
the most productive country, and the most pic.
turosque mountain scenery in the United States.
MIR Webster charmed With what he saw of the
valley Of Virginia, on his late visit to Capon
Springs, and did not fail to remember the Blue
Ridge, and the North Mountain, and the splendid
wheat fields, yielding, this year, almost double al
average, when called upon to SPEAK. We have
often wondered that Northern travellers know 50
little Of the magnificent valley of Virginia.
A few hours, ride from Washngton ,!by the Bslti.
more and Ohio Railroad, brings the traveller to
Harper's Ferry, scene where the inction Of the
Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, and their passage
through the Blue Ridge, are described by MIR. JEFF
ierscn us worthy of trip across the Atlantic in a
Dutch galliot, for there nothing swifte- on the
salt water IN his lay. But nov the riyee are too
Ltarly dried up, and the mountains have been so
much chopped up, and there is 20 much Of manu-
featuring IN the village Omitted States armory).
and the sun pours down into the hole in which the
village Is built with such power, that the most
thusustc blue stocking IS glad to escape from the
heat dust, and smoke Of the place, up into the val
ley. "A change of baggage and passengers to the
Winchester train, and one hours journey through
the finest wheat country on the Atlantic sesboard,
brings you to the neat little village of Charleston w.
horseback Of FIVE miles towards the Blue Ridge,
and you are brought up all standing ON the banks
OF the Sbenani o,h river and in front of of the
sweetest pictures IN journey of thousand miles.
10 the right, tbs river, some three hundred yards
broad, core or less, comes bending around from
the mta'iain, TO tss lei', It sweeps in again to.
winds the mount si,, forming o curve in the shape
81 q horse snoe, Of several miles around Both
bsiks are thBckly bordsied with luxuriant growth
OF tatlye uesS sycau,s,ss, elms bckories. walnut,
nsh. oak magic. and other varieties, leaning grace
fully to the stleu. The surface Of the river ia
tmooih ss alake sfoupd ssiis bend
so calm. the. waters scarcely 50 EN- 10 stray,
And yet they glide Ike happiness away
But just below there l. tpsccssion of rapids The
music OF winch IL tho Iullaby OF the que. Is at the
Spitgs. Crossing tl,e river an open ferry boat.
propelled by negro with long pole, the visiter
bshOlds the charming donna ns az these mineral
waters enclosed by the bend Of f1e bright river
lie rides quarter OF a little under the majestic
Trees which Hank the streani-be enters the gate,
lie ascCnds a gentle hill, 10 large green feld.
DOTTED here and there with clumps OF trees and
there you are. Between the hotel and the river in
the br pad meadow, is n circle Of very outrageous
trees. They surround the spring. Across the