Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-07-21
For the Spirit Of the Age.
Sketches of Travel.


Mr.. EDITOR Il have CLEANED a few
more thoughts by the wayside, and Du-
gaune says,
If to speak it has not tried
Then is thought suicide.
Opposed to suicides of every sort, will
save my thoughts the sad disaster.
Leaving the hotel in Salem on the morn
ing Of the 30th ult., l passed through four
so-catled towns in about ten minutes viz:
Salem, Winston, Liberty and Calaham.-
What do they mean by giving name to
every portions | don't understand it. It
would seem to stranger to, bespeakla lasSal7.
fish independence, but my friends ii Wins
ton are not guilty Of that. With Salem. I
know, the others cannot blend, because of
religious considerations but why may not
the others unite! 1t reminds me of three
young MISUNDERSTANDING in the
same house in a regular co-partnership,
and yet each one hanging out separate
sign over the door.
l may mention deservedlv the elegant
Methodist church in Winston. hope to
hear soon that the debt, which was con-
tracted in building it, has been fully liqui-
dated. 1t is alike astonishing and morti-
flying to learn the state of many churches
in our country in this respect. There are
very many which have been used for wears
on years, and are not yet paid for. In
some cases the poor mechanic is forced to
live without the money which he needs and
long ago earned by his labor; and in 9th
ers, few good men are driven to make
sacrifices beyond their means, for the sake
OF the church. In not few instances.
(though | am sure it is not in Wihston)
it arises from sheer, pitiful stinginess to-
wards God. II I'VE | not known the rich
man, who had drank long and deep of
Gods mercies without gratitude or good
ness, come to hoary age with the light
reflected from his worshipped heaps of gold
and silver sparkling in his dim, yet covet-
GUS eye, when he ought to strive to atone
as far as possible for his ill-used talents, ac-
tua!ly shake his paltry notes in the face of
his poor neighbors for the church they love
and cannot pay him for? But | am d.
crossing. From Salem l intended to pass
through Germanton to this place. Neither
the youth who was with me nor myself
knew the road. Hence we were driven to
that perpIexing necessity of "inquiring the
way" In passing through heavy wood
and asked for directions. A closer glance
at his queer self ought to have convinced
us that he was as perfect stranger to 'the
milk of human kindness" as he was to that
nectar-draught which the old poets sing
about. But we thought it was better to
trust even him than our own utter igno-
rance. The consequence was he specifi-
cally told us exactly the wrong way-Gnd
zoe didn't 90 to Germanton. Fortunatey y
our mistake did not really constitute mis-
take. for though the road did not pass
c. it led direct to the Springs. How
few there are who know how to direct q
stranger along strange roads If the law
about signboards were enforced, there
would be a number of ten dollar fines, anC
travellers would ere long find less vexatiou
trouble in their journeyings.
At IL o'clock we called at Mr.. H--'s
whore ~So met a cold reception but kind
ness improved rapidly-soon made us fec
c at home-gave us an excellent dinner
r, pleasant convcrse-a kind invitation to ca
It again, DC.
= The road to Danbury is one of the mo;
8 crooked of all crooked things. 1t curve
e upward and ownward-backward and fo
y ward-right and left. 1t is worse tha
IS Doesticks represents the streets of Bostor
> If the theory of beauty in curves be co
c rect one, then is the road to D. VOL
drously beautiful. The last twelve or Fl
a teen miles are just about such in directio
J. as we suppose would have been marked /
al the footsteps of frightened somebody WI
h thought the Saura Town Mountains mo-
st ster-wanted to see it on all sides-walke
y. around, excepting at respectable distance
y and advancing or retreating, according
ne he trusted or feared. Its circuitous cour
I'D gives many varying views of the mountain
to The Pilot and Blue Ridge frequently hea
RS, in sight. That sweet mountain air, viii
l !; we breathed so cheerily last summer, com
'rs whispering over the hills in refreshi
elr breezes, growing stronger and fresher
re. we advance. In some places the eye
to gladdened by the lovely laurel blooms
rn while another large flower q know no go
name for it) fills the air with delicate a
lar delightful fragrance. Late in the afterno
ex. we passed through Danbury. 1t is a SIN
pal village, perched on "the hills of Dan"
ish looking very rugged, romantic, good
but tured and pleasant. Its surroundings
quite picturesque. We arrived here abb
t twilight. Since then my time has gliC
OF by pleasantly. l have seen the letters
en- Prof. Phillips, of Philadelphia, respect
ner the water. He pronounces it one Of
n !. most important mineral springs in
ara Union. For Scrofula, Dyspepsia, Gene
atm Debility, &C., its virtues are unquestiona
ness For the first it has shown itself miraculC
uch y effcacious in several cases. The SIT
ton ishigh and healthy-the environs N
con- nifcent-and the accommodations jus
,nce good as they ought to be. The new bu
lose ings are nearly completed-and in sh
VINO everything necessary to an advantage
most visit is here. Now, when all this is t
o TO why should we go beyond our own S
oy lines with our money-to Suy health
erec- pIeasure-when we can get them che;
nm and as conveniently in North Carolina
On the morning of the 1st, in conn
IL. with two gentlemen, l walked over to
Alum Spring. On my way found
T -. | Io,,.o. ~ oor,