The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-09-08

L
ITINERAIRE, OR THE WANDERING
e BACHELOR.
SALEM, FORSYTH Co, n. c.
September, 81, 1885,
DEAR DAY Book
In my letter of 18th August, briefly de-
scribed this town as a "city set upon hill"
but by no means intending that description
to be all should say OF it,
Its Main street runs for one mile in a
straight line, upon the top-most ridge of the
hill The great majority of the buildings
are upon this street although there are others,
and the cross streets contain a respectable
number of dwellings On the lines of other
streets are a few scattering houses, which,
however. being out among the fields, may be
said to be in the country The carriage ways
are macadamized, and the side walks paved
The town can boast Of a very fine public
square, centrally situated andstudded with
many fine shade trees. Facing this square,
stand side by side, the Moravian Church and
the Female Academy With all these advan-
tages, the town presents quite city-like APP
pearance, especially about the central portions
Of Main street.
Yet, the houses are not closely compacted
together, but have spacious garden planted
with fruit trees, &c. l find no difficulty in
applying to it that oft quoted expression,
..rus an sw'be At the same time, as the Gull
tivated fields on either side, come creeping
up to, and evea within the very gates OF the
city," see no inapplcability in reversing
the words, by saying of Salem that it is most
emphatically an ARDS IN rare,
Like cities of larger growth, it can boast OF
its water works and gas works; also of it's ex-
cellent and scientific Museum. 1t possesses
also wooden and cotton factory. an extern
sive tannery, pottery, paper mill, and two
large Touring mills, and is the point of sup
ply and market for the products of consid-
cradle section of the adjacent country.
The article of dried blackberres alone,
bought by the merchants here and sent off to
Northern markets, amounts annually to about
fifty thousand dollars Vast quantities of
dried apples and peaches are also sent North.
Had not the late war occurred, Salem would
probably, by this time, have had a railroad
intersecting the North Carolina railroad at
High Point, She has two well drilled fire
companies. The boys have, however, very
little practical use for the machines, except to
go through the drill with them; for it is fact,
that for the last fifty years, but one dwelling
has been destroyed here by fire.
For many years, the three fire commission
ers have made it their business to enter pc
riodically every householder's premises to see
that the provisions Of the city ordinance are
respected.
As Salem is the headquarters Of the Mora
VANS in North Carolina, and was originally
settled altogether by members of that sect.
The larger portion Of its present population
are members of the Moravian church, or de-
of = baG rof nd "a 40 70
their ancient customs.
They appear to be a very excellent and
courteous people. In whatever portions of
The world they have settled, they are well
known for their industry, frugality, intelli-
gence, and sober, orderly habits; and these
qualities are characteristic of the inhabitants
of this place
The annals of the early settlement of these
people in North Carolina are full of interest
to the lover of history. Suffice it here to say
that Count Zindendorf made contract with
Lord Granville, in 1851, for one hundred
thousand acres OF his lands in North Carolina,
This tract was named by the Count, Wacho-
via, and the Moravian church, both in its
secular and religious transactions, recognizes
and still uses this original appellation.
Wachovia lies wholly within the limits of
Forsyth county, and Salem is within the
boundaries of this tract,
Connected with the ancient burylng ground
are several particulars which deserve notice
You approach it through magnificent aven-
lie of ancient cedars, and over the main gate,
you read, in letters of gold, BLESSED are the
dead which die in the Lord
Upon entering, you see on the reverse side
of the arch, the legend. 81 am the resurrec-
ton and the life
The Enclosure is rectangular and divided
by avenues into several squares, like regu-
larly laid out city. The whole is adorned with
cedars along the borders of the avenues.
To the right of the main central avenue,
lie the deceased male members of the congre-
sation, and to the left, the females These
are again subdiyided into married brethren
and sisters, and then also, in separate squares,
come the single brethren and sisters; and last
~, the little boys and girls. Thus you can
always find the different classes without trou-
BILE. Thus the remains of husband and wife
parent and child, and brother and sister, are
according to our ideas, separated in their last
resting places on earth; but they are not con-
sidered as separated in death, because they are
all gathered together in Goods acre" and are
all regarded as brethren and sisters-truly a
most beautiful sentiment
The graves are arranged in close military
order, rank behind rank; and there, in tn,
same unbroken order, will this mute multi
.ude lie through the ages to come,sun Thu
last trump shall summon them to the judg
ment.