Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-06-04
A Trip to Stanton. Va,

correspondence Of The alexandria Gozey,
STAUNToN, June Here we are, in tbo
beautiful town Of Staunton, amidst its not.a
institutions and hospitablc inhabitants W.
lett our home on the banks Of the Potomac
yesterday morning, and were soon Gv;na
away over the rails of the Orange and AIax
andria Railroad. All along the route TIA
fields look beautiful, there field Of cor,
here wheat, and yonder clover, PROMISING >
rich reward t. the husbandmau: and with ,bo
green foliage Of the forest trees grouped f.
gether here and there, to which we add tso
Farm houses and their surroundings. all 40,
slsting to make up a beautiful picture, and -
call forth the thanksgiving of our heart to tLa
great Father OF all, for 50 goodIy heritaaa
Then comes the buildings Of Cuipeper G 4
Orange G. IT,, and Gordonsville, all thrifty
neat and clean, with half dozen stations
besides, strung all along by the side of tina
track Of this iron Horse.
At Gordonsyille, we strike the Ceptr.,
road, then we change cars, but what =
contrast, the passenger cars of the great
Central look to us SO very different from
what we had expected, from what we had
heard of this great Richmond feeder. that
We are disappointed. Well it made US feel
4 little prouder Of our own roads, with their
mammoth engines and beautiful cars, and
then our thoughts ran back to the Manassa
as feeder No =, and the Loudoun and IIamp.
shire as No. 3, not forgetting the treasure
spent, and the anxious hours passed by the
friends of these three Alexandria roads.
when these infants first began TO run: and
hope we shall all live to see the day when
our tondest hopes will be realized. All!
here's Charlottesville, and yonder, on the
summit OF that high hill, stands what may
be called the ruins of Monticello, old, gray.
and deserted, sold to stranger for $500.
Here lie the remains Of the great statesman
himself. | am almost tempted to exclaim
shame on Virginia, to allow such a thing
But tits too late, all teach us this lesson.
that this is world Of change. Gu arlottes.
vile is very pretty place. But look yonder
at that great pile Of buildings, covering
acres? That is the University of Virginia,
sight of which makes our heart beat quick.
er, for how much better it is to point the
| strangers attention to q structure like this.
| than to be forced to answer his questions
when the dark gloomy prison walls loom
| up before US. But we are thankful that on all
the route nothing of this kind darkens our
picture. Now away again. All here's tun-
| mel, only short, however, but yonder ahead
the old Blue Ridge, frowning at us as we
draw to its base, as if to say thus far and no
farther. But stop, not so fast, old barrier,
man hath dug through your very bowels, and
conquered thy lofty pride. But what means
this lighting of lamps in the dag time? Look
ahead yonder, do you see that round hole in
the side Of the mountain WHICH reminds one
of the hole the Shepherds showed Bunyan's
Pilgrim in the side of the hsll, out of which
came such horid noises and lamentations!
But here we go, engine and. cars, into the
darkness of midnight gloom and blackness.
Well it made us feel sort 9f.qreer. Just to
think Of the old Blue Ridge being all above
us and we flying through It's base among
its very foundation stones; but here's day
light again, and another part Of the country.
All before lies the great Valley Of Vir
ginia; presently comes Wayncsboro, very
neat, business like place, with some fine
farms surrounding it; away we 90 again and
are now safely landed with one large party
at Staunton, from which point you shall
hear from me again, for here are now being
gathered delegates from alirarts Of the State
to the Baptist General Association. NJ.