Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-04-02
Ontof YoMr SheIIs.


We Of the South have lived in little
world OF our own. Our social intercourse,
our business and our interma.riages have
been chiefly among ourselves. This mode
of life has left its traces upon our habits
manners, opinions AMI character. 1t has
| impaired to IA an old fashioned teuAcity OF
opinion, a sturdy if not morose simplicity
OF character, aud quite number Of preiu-
dces, crotchets and peculisrties. We have
| stOnd still while all the whole world around
us has been IN motion, and all Of our energy
has been expended ia the enGeayor TO stand
| still, in resisting the popular tides and cur
rents that have struck us only 10 be diver
/ ted. Such a manner ot life develOpes high
! traits Of individual character, and brings
ont many stern but useless yictues. The
/ fact is. that We rasembled b oOd suck that
/ have been bred IN until they have reached
/ too ,fnad strain, iOsin! in strength while
/ they gained in purity. While We had the
| institution Of slavery, immigrants stunned
ms. They settled in Northern and Western
| States. and their offspring by American in
termarrisge are remarkable more for vigOr
and robust, practical sense than for reflle-
ment. Thev Brought not only new blood,
| but fresh energy and progressive ideas along
/ With them, The consequences is that the
North md West ere filed with live, work
inc upople. who discard subtleties and alb
stractions and pursue the realities OF life.
We want new political ideas, motion, pro-
pressiveness. We will never acquire them
SO long as we stay shut up in our shells, re-
coi,iug from what We regard contact with
the vulgar world,
Ii is relatod Of Lord Oxford, a celebrated
sporting noblemau Of England, that be had
/ very pure breed Of groynound~, that made
/ him the envy Of the sporting world. Thay
I mad bred in until they redched the perfec-
/ ton of d d.lIchcy, refinement aud symmetry,
/ but Il became apparent, at length, 10 his
experienced eye tnat they had been brought
| 10 TOO line a strain, aud had lost in vigor and
endurance what they had gained In redne-
meut. lie cast about for corrective, snd
/ his aulacity of invention at length supplied
ons-thlt seemed like sacrileRe-and that
| brnnaht down upon him the isers Of tho
whole sporting fraternity. lla determined,
borrible 10 relate, TO eros his stock with a
pure ball dog o. the rAt.taied variety.
Hredless OF the joers that fen upon him
from all quarters, he perseyered, and the
cons a 0nence was that in a few generations
the product was a splendid anim,l, with all
the external marks Of the present grey
hound, aud get with the strength and endu
rance of the haser breed. To this day this
breed of greyhounds is the most notable 10
England.
Like the giant Of old we must touch the
earth occasionally IL We would be refreshed
aud reinvigorated. We in Virginia must
learn this lesson, aud put 10 In practice
linn grafton will give rs new blood, new
ideas aud new pursuits The first gen,
Grafton of Virginia that shall sprog ul
uldrr tis new order Of things will he
.uch a race of men aud women as are 70
nlw huowu. They will exhibit combipa
tion ot Z, faonent and strength. There will
he enough OF the speculative conininei viii
tho prac .icel 10 make them as .ul nj, n aut
women, whi,e, what is called by bfillan
writer, "tbe genius Of tho place will i'm
part 10 them the better characteristics O
the Yirg mia people, which in plain lauaua q
meaus mat tue sol, the air, tho climate, IN,
, scenery, the as5oci ,tions, the traditions all