Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-12-26
Letter from Enuuuier.

correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette ]
WARREN GREEN HOTEL, WARRENToN, De
cember 24.--1 reached here yesterday, and
have concluded to give you an item or two OF
what have seen and heard in old Fauquier.
Quite crowd was in attendance on court, last
Monday, some attracted [ presume by sales of
lands, and good many, no doubt, to see and
talk with the delegates ju>t returned from the
convention. The tone Of public opinion may
be said to be generally more hopefM, since the
meeting Of the C"n.ervativc Convention in
Richmond. ."..
Having lew days Of leisure, / lett Alexan-
dria in the cars Of the Manassas Gap ltai|roah
to visit Linwood, the residence Of my old friend
Dr. A. S. Payne, having heard much lately of
the natural curiosties to be seen there. Lin
wood is sweet romantic place situated three
miles from Markham Station, at the eastern
base of the Blue Ridge mountains. 1t is diff
cult to describe its charms, and yet more diff
cult to make them known and felt by The aid
OF the pen to impart to others the pleasure
derived from the visit n which | explored its
objects of natural curiosity and beauty. l. was
first impressed by the situation of the house,
which stands upon an enlnence Of gently slop-
ing ground, almost entirely lmersed within 4
beautiful glen-in front meadow OF soft vel
vety green, whose emerald down seems invit-
ing the weary or the oppressed to tarry yet
awhile On every other side it is protected
alike from the burning heat Of summer and
the strong tlass Of winter, ty grand old hills
and noble forest trees. TO look upon it as the
morning sun gilds each bill and vale-all is
bright and beauttnl-you see the lovely and
the sublime, the beauty and the majesty Of
earth mingled in sweetest harmony. You are
famed in sumner by the most delightful noun
tain bre re few steps from the house is 4
spring of gurging water delicious to the taste.
and yet frw yards further the clear water
of 'Crooked Run" rushes on, as when it first
listened to he Almigh'ys word. After enjoy
ing the scenes Immediately around the house,
[ took path to the right, which brought me
to the foot of large hill ascending this, |
came at once upon an object Of PECULIAR y start
ling interest; Here saw portion of the
earths history of itself, immense columns of
marble stretching aloft their great bare arms
sometimes these columns shoot up in the form
Of immense crystals, with sharp angles heaped
up and supported by each other in another
with circular submits which rise into the air
with less boldness. Absorbed in the examina-
ton of this great natural curiosity, ! followed
the vein for more than mile through large
and beautiful groves OF timber at the foot 0!
which "Crooked Run passes by. All along
found the same evidences OF pure and beau j.
full marble Some Of its sides are 20 rugged
and precipitous az 10 produce on the mind al
most all the picturesque effects Of high noun
tains A short distance from the point where
[ found the FIRST indications OF marblr, | came
unex pectedly upon large v'lume Of water
poured 10 an uubroken sheet over great de-
cent 1t has often been remarked that there
is a beauty, and pnEer, in falling water. felt
by all who acknowledges any sympathy with
nature will enliven the dul!est scenery, and
certainly here it lends charm TO the lovliest
On every side threatening cliff rear themselves
like huge giants forests were boundlcs4
and deep, and everything seemed awtd by the
spell Of sillnfss, broken alone by the ripples OF
this floating falling stream Of brilIiants so lovely
that it can have No tale to tell Of man But
enough for The present, will Let you hear from
me at Frederick sburg. Yours, NJ. B. g.