Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-04
M1isfellnneolts.
VIRGINIA COUNTRY LIFE,

The following sketch Of Country Life,
written by G. p T. James Esq, who has
been living for the last six years in the
Capital Of our state, is certainly yell worth
the perusal of our readers Mr.. James has
been living with US long enough to know
our customs and what he knows he is not
afraid to speak, the English Government
and the Northern press to tire Contrary.
We would like to give it unmutillated, but
it requires more space than we can spare.
Hospitality, in one shape or another, is
spread over the whole United States; but
its form varies much, according, [ believe,
to the different races from which the adja-
cent population sprung. In great cities,
indeed, there cannot be much true hospital
ity shown by any citizen, unless he be enor-
mously wealthy, or one of those benevolent
persons who loves 10 entertain the pertlna-
cious dyop-t:s-at- tIinner-ttnse. 1t is curl
Gus thing that the near proximity Of human
beings, like the approach Of the reverse ends
of magnets, produces repulsion and not at
traction; but so it is. The country is the
only real scene Of hospitality, and this Is
very general, I might say universal, thro'-
out these States In the North, peopled
principally by the descendants Of the old
Lollards, after they had gone through the
phase Of Puritanism, it is a more square
and angular virtue, sometimes impinging a
little upon other peoples rounds and curves.
But still from Maine to Connecticut, [ sup
pose there are few men who would refuse
some entertainment to the weary way-farer.
In the far West there is not cabin where,
as long as there was place left upon the
floor, the traveller might not lie down to
rest and be welcome to meal, if it were
to- be had
| The Virginians, sprung for the most part
! from the Old Cavaliers, retain the more
frank and profuse spirit Of their race. They
will in general eat with you, drink with you,
fight with you, or let you do the same with
them, without the slightest ceremony To
them hospitality seems mere matter Of
course. There Is no ostentation about it,
no parade Every now and then there may
be formal dinner party, it is true; and it
is possible, nay I think it is likely, that
every one at the board feels himself more
or less uncomfortable at certain degree of
ceremonious restraint But the usual course
is quite different. In every well-to-do plan
ter's house there is dinner provided for the
family, which may consist Of five Of six
Now, in this quarter Of the world, what
will do for FIVE or six will do for five or six
land thirty, and there will be no want. There
is always plenty though we could not add
no acaste. There is a lavish abundance.
which in some degree smacks Of the olden
time in tne Green Island and still farther
back was not unknown in England. The
days round is simply this; all rise early
| then, in most families, come prayers; then
the ample Breakfast, to which the house,
hold drop in one by one, as it suits them !;
and then the separation to various pursuits,
according to the various seasons ofthe year.
The strdious man takes up his book; the
sporting man shoulders his gun; the mis-
tress Of the house seeks her basket of keys,
and puts her household in order; the mas
ter or bis sons 60 out to see that the blessed
labors of the plough or the hoe are not ne
! elected by the servants in the field; the
daughters have the piano or the song
About, or rather after noon, the visitors
begin to drop in-sometimes neighbors and
intimate friends, sometimes strangers with
letters in their hands, Then comes the uni
versal "Will you not stay to dine? Of
course, you are going to remain the night p
It is to be remarked that Virginia houses
and Virginia tables are all made of India
rubber, and stretch to any extent. I speak,
of course, Of the country, where you are
not s'cabined, cribbed, confined by strange
masses of brick and mortar.
| But Virginia marriage is perhaps the
highest ezemplifcation of the country life in
this State, Form, ceremony, are abandog-
ed, though many good old custom still