Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-15
I'D TRTE VIRGINIAN.
From the Richmond Times.


There is 4 grave and disturbing appre.
hensiOn on the minds Of many estimable
people that tue good OLD stock Of Virginia
people VIII run ONT in about generation.
Overwhelmed, Coninundcl aud drmoralized
by an invasion Of washing machines, cook
ing stoves. Goldfish, cold meats, picked
pork, poor cheese and Yankee notions gen
orally, IL is not conceived bv these people
how the rites cf old-flshioned Virginia
hospitality can be kept alive To an TN.
sophisticated mind the situation. we admit,
seems 10 be peIilous one, and old Virginia
gentlemen and ladies appear at first sight
10 be in bad way; but their case Is not so
desperate az many people with gloomy
turn Of mind suppose. Lei rs discuss the
matter aud see If We cannot put better
face npon il for We are unwilling 10 be-
lieVe that the famous logic Of events is
going to change our people ipfus ef ia cute.
II hospitality, Rentility and refinement
depended upon external circumstances alto
gether, ;he fears 81 thg croakers would per
hap7 not be grouudiesa. lfthose sentiments
which We inherit ironl CIR ancestors, which
have been liked by educstion and strength
cned by family pride sad traditi5na. win
take hi.ht an the presence Of a cooking
sloye. washing mathinp or wcpd.sgg. then
arr we bon the bluesl al blue wsya. Ii is
true thai HE stress OF nreseat poverty may
euTtaiL temporarily, many Of the features
Of ancient hospitality but The native
generous instincts OF oar people. Ike the
blood Of good horses ana dogs, viii Be seen
and felt whenever their means and circnm-
stance admit ~ the pfoper display.
As oon a7 orr land ghali begin 70 re-
cover from the des0l1tions OF war As soon
as mau'7 courage and industry u have
.spi0ed la aealtli d1irayed A.. b. and
sword as coon astlre. sgs Iqa}ieufrir natlT.r
shall haye Illustrated how difficult il is
utterly 10 rain the fortunes 81 q people
unless the people themselves are exterIni-
mated, We hall see re-aketche,l again, in sll
the glory of ils former slAendor, the old
picture OF Virginia lite aud Hospitality.
Our peoples ,irsamslinces are changed
but their hssrG ore not made Of stud to bp
damaged easily We arc q deyout believer
in blood whether Il H. the blood IF horses.
dogs or men, and w. are ready to swear
that the blood oj lrue igsinians. though il
may have Aowea lhoussul3 OF miles and
hundred u, years lTom IL source, will vet
preserve the characteristics Of its ancestry
Fhe pressure Of aiyersity aud the lessons Of
economy may have changed the face and
domestic surface OF many Of our old faI0i-
lies, noted for their sucial refinement and
princeiy hospitality. But the uaallsfed
heart Is sal there, anil whenever grief, gloom
and poverty pass away, the old spirit will
gnsh forth TO cheer and gladden. sll upon
whom it shall fall.
No, il is harder EF a true Yirginian TO
change his nature than for an Ethiopian
his skin or leopard his spots Misfor-
tunes may rutle and alter the surface. bnt
they have no effect upon the soul !; and he
who thinks that Virginia can be utterly
changed will also be ready to believe that
he could pluck out the adamantine hearts
Of the Blue Ridge mRpngains with pair Of
sugar tong7. IL Northern immigration SETS
strongly 10 om State it will be seen that the
foreign element will change sooner than we
will. The habits, customs, genius and yir-
tues Of oar people have been planted by
God and by the help of God We will keep
them. A thousand years of war may roll
overHs; earthquake may shake down our
mountains and swallow up our dry land
floods may dash their Wild waves over the
places of our abode, bat as lone As there
floats true son eC the Old Dominion upon
plank Of thewreck he will bea Nirginian