The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-11
LEXINGTON. VA. December ., 1869.

LEXINGTON, Va, December y, 1903.
Our town has been rather more lively
than usual for the past week. The county
court has been in session, and as it is not
s0eri,iiy busy time. there has been large
attendance and (I am sorry to add) nm I'M
usual flow of whiSkey, and consequently
several "frec fights" The court has been
cmployed on petit criminal cases. Our She
riff started off last night with negro who
has been assigned quarters for seven years
in Wardwclrs Hotel. This makes the iourtn
convict from Rockbridge-all ncSroes-sent
there this year.
There is new railroad movement on tne
tapis which eXc!teS conslderaoie i.te!est III
our community. There arrived TINS morn
ing n gentleman who is the advance OF
committee from Lynchburg who will arrive
here on SATURDAY.. The citizens will assem-
bic that day to meet this committee, and
consider the proposed railroad from Lynch
h,irc to Covinston. We have been waiting
long on the Valley railroad, ana some OF
our wiscst citizens begin to think that the
true policy OF Rockbridge will be to transfer
lis Subscription from that road to this new
line, as the surcSt means OF getting rail-
road 1t is argued that when the Valley
railroad taps The Chesapeake and Ohio at
Stalj,ton. and the road from Danvlllc to
Lynchburg is completed Tor at least thc
charter secured by aid Of ldltey U0teS), Bal
;imorc will hardly care to tap the East Ten
ncssee railroad at Salem when she already
taps il at Lynchburg by line completely
under her control, and twenty-tiree miles
shorter than by the Valley route.
OF one thing we arc sure-CiIr people VIII
20 for whatever will most certainly secure
Iis 4 railroad. Cannot Richmond enter the
lists for an airline to Lynchburg, and
thence by way of Lexington TO CoTlngton
Our town for several evenings has been
all agog with the appearance and perform
ance Of "Johnny Reb," who has delivered
three lectures" Lights and Shadows"
Rip Van Winklc,' and "The American
EaIc"-for the benefit OF the Baptist
Church " buildingfund"
The audiences and interest increased each
night until tonight, at the Institute, he had
Il grand triumph. His Lights and Sha-
dow>" is very good, his Rip Van Win
l>la'' decidedly better, and his Sc American
Eagle" most entertaining and valuable
lecture for colleges. 1t is a contrast be-
tween true eloquence and the hightulutin,
snrcad-eaole style, and ought to he deli
ycred before every college in the land Just
bef0re ''cOmnl cnccnleM trcek| III con-
tinnued roars of laughter and enthusi-
a>tic applause are evidence Of an au-
licnce's appreciation. then Colonel Far
1ar had no right to complain, especially
last night and tonight. Indeed, his efforts
here have very largely increased his high
reputation as a popular lecturer and hui
nnrist. He has done himself great inuS-
tee by printing two of bis lectures. His
deliyery-espccially his mimicry-is inlmi-
table, and adds immensely TO the popular
elect OF his efforts.
We learn that the lectures realized
nearly, if not quite. 5000. At the close
Of his lecture tonight he was urged
- ,t,, y,f. ia oil
"Johnnv Rcb" tomorrow night, but pro-
fcs>ional engagements called him away. 1t
j hoped that he may be prevailed on TO
visit our community again before long.
Since the Virginia Military Institute have
secured band of music, aud all OF the
corps of cadets have been armed, the eve
ning dress parade has become IL tayoritc
place of resort. The long line of boys in
gray" is certainly very pretty, and reminds
one very forcibly of what used to be in
the land where we were dreaming"
One evening not long since, Il party OF
workmen set off blast just as the different
companies were marching of OF the parade
ground. The report was Identical with Il
piece Of heavy ordnance. and just rs It's
sound died away an old soldier 1T the foot
of the hill called out, III stentorian tones,
1" Lie dom there, men!" The scene re,
called many echoes from the past, and
awakened thoughts that Ncrnapsl IL WeIc
not well to express just as Virginia is about
to march again to "thc music of the
UniOn.'
Dr.. Mcdowell (son Of Ex-Governor Nc
DowclD has recently sent from Paris, as
present to the Virginia Military Institute,
Two splendid portraits of Lee and Jackson.
They were painted by the celebrated artist
Piott. As likenesses, they are the best we
have ever seen; and as works of art they
arc pronounced by competent critics to be
well nigh faultless.
We have 4 new torn clock, which never
gets olt of order. Captain Brooke calcu-
lltes The time, and General Smith has
cannon fired ut II ii. LEXINGTON.