Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-07-29
Correspondence Of the Spirit Of the Age.
LENorR, N. @. July 18th, 1857.

Mr.. EDITOR Leaving the Pilot on the
18th inst. l traversed a very picturesque
section along the banks Of the Yadkin. Our
Hack (which was very pleasantly was drawn
by " Brooks and Summer. Each Of these
may be said to resemble his namesake in
some particulars. Brooks is singularly quick
tempered and impetuous-Sumner is quite
&" longwinded" and subject to occasional
"ioggings." 1t was my fortune to pass
through the village Of Rockford. That is one
place that must necessarily be seen in order
to be appreciated. It is dilapidated and un-
comedy almost beyond description. Few
places in the wide world are 80 well ~calcula-
ted 10 make an unfavorable impression up
on the mind Of a stranger. Somebody in
formed me that it was very dissipated if so,
then is the mystery Of its uncouth and decli-
ming appearance explained. | saw a large
man with>a hugo jug Flooding down one of
its hills. Jonesyille, though very small, is
on the contrary quite engetic and progress
sive. 1t is a remarkably quiet and moral
village. 1t contains a Male and Female A
eademy, under the supervision Of Rev. Mr..
Van Eaton. The Male Academy is quite
spacious and juiiciously planned. Besides
instruction rooms, it has a very commodious
chapel. IL is furnished also with some use
ful diagrams and other valuable philosophi-
cal apparatus. In the Female Department is
n fin Library, which seems to have been
taJterully and carefully selected.
On the 18th | reached Wilkesboro. This
is also far below our Eastern villages in taste
and ornament. Among its inhabitants how
over are some truly noble hearts, who appre-
eiate the wants and claims Of the stranger.
One thing, l beg to suggest to your readers:
Either never 20 to Wilkesboro at all or if
you 90, be sure to carry a conveyance with
you. Fail to follow this dvice, and you may be
caught afoot amid these western hills without
the dream of a shadow Of n hope of an oppor-
tunity 10 pursue your journey. lspeak from
very sad and well-remembered experience.
After long and fatiguing effort, by combi-
ming the vehicle accommodations of three
different individuals, / succeeded in making
out a horse and buggy-and started for Le-
noir. NV road led up the Yadkin still. Some
prospects in Caldwell county were exceeding
ly lovely and varied. The visitor meets here
with almost every different phase of Scenery.
About II miles from Lenoir, an extended
range Of very high hills rises proudly from
the valley on both sides Of the Yadkin and
bends along It's banks in beautiful and mag
niicent undulations. Here and there the eye
is attracted and the heart gladdened by the
Laurel blooms as they press out from the
shady banks or look down from the rugged
recks.
1t will no doubt be cheering to all to learn
that the prospects Of the farmers in this part
Of the State are very hattering. Not only
is there an unusual wheat crop-but for
rs miles up the valley Of the Yadkin the
corn is very promising. There is not enough
Of the inveterate " bug" up here to create
any serious apprehensions. In Lenoir the
s. Q. Conference are building a Female Col
lege. 1t is to be called Davenport Female
College"-in honer Of Col. Davenport, the
most liberal contributor. The situation il
II very charming one. 1t is on an elevated
spot in the S. f.. part Of the village overlook
ing the plain in which the village lies. From
its top the view is excellent. There are
mountains in sight all around. In the n. W
the Grandfather Min. rears its venerable head
aloft and looks downupon the towering masses
that environ It's huge base-like the Lord OF
the Fiefon his naughty vassals.-To the s.
w. are the Table Rock and the Hawks Bill,
and east the High Brighton Peak.
The friends Of d. +. College are fortunate
in It's location. Success to them and all 9th
or honorable Educational enterprises! II
tho mean time / may be allowed to confess
that / am one Of those who desire the Stat
lines to be the Conference lines.
Throughout this section l find p%rofoun,
regret and sorrow at the sad fate of Prof
Mitchell. And we'll may we grieve for hi
place cannot easily be supplied by one CON
binings so many noble qualities of the schola
and tho gentleman. lie fell with the laurC
in his hand-au emblem of a nobler Laur,
that entwines his fame. The former was mo
tal-like the hand that grasped 1.-THE la
ter was im~pcrishable, like the mind that wo
IL. A. w. M.