Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-08
For the Spectator.
Arkansas Correspondence.-No.

Messrs. Editors - With the kind permission
of the people Of my charge, to spend the winter
! in Arkansas I set out on the Oath of October, to
be absent few months. 1t is my purpose,
with your permission, to employ some of my
leisure moments in furnishing your columns a
few items of travel for their qualification. I
can truthfuily say, that it was with feelings of
tender regret that looked upon my native noun.
tains, as they mingled their sun.bright submits
with the evening sky, and took leave of them
for the first time in my life. But my sadness
was somewhat dissipated by little scene that l
witnessed Just before getting on the cars at Mil
boro Station.
While was standing on the platform, a little
man had taken off his slouched hat and was re-
peating portions of Gray's Eegy to bar-room
auditory who seemed to be much delighted
with the beauties of the poem. In the mean
while, a large, portly gentleman with very
rosy face, walked IN alone, and went up to the
counter without noticing the speaker, and with.
ont inviting any one to drink with him. Whilst
he was standing at the counter thus alone, our
speaker with significant gestures turned towards
the solitary man and with becoming emphasis
exclaimed is'1h u
"Full many gem of purest ray serene
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear,
Full many flower is born to blush unseen
| And waste its sweetness on the desert air."
This was received with many demonstrations
of extravagant applause by his appreciative
audience, but the last saw of the little man, he
was moving off with basket on his arm and
brick in his hat. The cars reached Richmond
early the following afternoon, October 5th,)
which afforded ample time for visiting the
Capitol Square. An immense throng of strang-
ers were prolnenadng its walks, of whom qnite
large number were Episcopal cergymen, their
general convention being in session at this
| time. With the moving throng around me, it
was pleasant to look upon the statues OF jeff
erson, Henry aud Washington. Jefferson with
compressed brow and pensive nien seemed to be
threading the maze of those problems, whose
solution has opened streams of blood and fonnt-
aims of tears. "What are the rights of man p
What is liberty9"
| Henry stands near him, with one hand up
lifted grasping sword, the other is raised i'm
ploripgly to heaven, as he uttered that memo
rable sentence "Give me liberty or give me
death!"
Above them is Washington ready for battle,
pointing hopefully to the west, as tile chosen
citadel of freedom. A mild serenity beamed from
his countenance as the last rays of the western
sun PLAYED around his head like halo of glory.
| never knew what it was to be proud OF Vir-
ginia until saw here these three lllustrious
men. to whom under God we owe our civil and
religious liberty.
Who kindled the fires of the Revolution upon
the shrine of Freedom2 Patrick Henry, q
Vireinian. Who proved that resistance to ty-
rants is obedience to Code Thomas Jefferson,
Virginian. Who apred our armies to glory
and led the way2 George Washington, a Vir-
ginian. I felt proud ofbeing West Vrginian.
! [ thought of my friends in the mountains and
felt thankful that they too are Virginians, happy
in their sweet and quiet Virginia homes.
AT Eight, in company with friend from
Browusburg. Va, l attended worship in the
Monumental Church, and heard the Lord Bishop
of Nova Scotia preach. 1t was q plain instruct,
i've discourse, well adapted to edify those who
attend church with foregone resolutions to be
instructed if possible, bnt it was little oalcula
ted, however, to fix the attention Of the impenl-
tent.
! This church stands upon the ruins of the old
Theatre, in the burning of which number of
persons perished. The pulpit decorations are
imposing and suggestive, the painting is such as
to represent clouds aud darkness penetrated by
beams enanating from Gods incommunicable
name, beautifully syinbolizing the truth that his
ways are not as our ways
The next morning, (0ct. 6tb,) was aroused
very early and took the cars for the Southwest,
and reached Chrisliansburg that evening
Southwest Virginia is most charming region
of country, and it is pleasure rarely eEloyed
such as one experiences when passing through
this part of the State, on calm evening IN
Autumn, and looks out upon the diversified
scenery everywhere spread out and displayed,
| like some vast and beautiful panorama.
Some remarks about Cbristisnsburg and the
meeting of the Synod | reserve for my next and
so for the present adleu.