The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1869-10-15
NOTES OF TRAVEL.

possible. | fancied the railroads where
they ought to be and one day will be
in the hands OF the government-and
fares reduced to 30 cents for any dis
lance, and, as a first consequence, 1 saw
population shifting by millions from
North to South and uice versa, rs tue
season altcrnated.
OF course when these halcyon days of
cheap travel come To- bless us. II ere
will be proportionate reduction of
board, provisions, clothing, etc, the
present law OF dealing will be reversed,
and the aim of everybody viii be to
give as much and as good as possible for
as little money AS possible. How the
Gulf cities and villages would be
crammed during the winter, and What
myriads would swarm to the Northern
lakes and the Canadas III summer time
Probably one fourth of the population
would be on the wing all the year
round; thorough adnixturc and in
termingling of the people would OF ne
c. ssity follow, local prejudices vanish,
and the dream OF the Northern mind
homogeneous Nation-w would be real
lied. And life everywhere and to eve
ny human being would be expanded ard
intensified to an Unreasonable degree,
This vision began with and grew ont
of the remembrance. as lay in bed, OF
the good dinner Mrs. Wol.z had given
us that day. She attends to things her
self, has family coffee not hotel slop--
and, assisted heartily by Mr.. Volt,
makes you completely at homo in her
house.
Salem is doing good business and
improving, but looks impatientiy. tor
the Valley railroad. The town may
well be proud uf its two drug stores, of
its College and its Female schools. DR..
Bittle has not Gully made the College,
but built a handsome Southern church,
and the members of that church have
added goodly number of well bnit
dwellings to the town. He is to Salem
what Gen. Smith is to Lexington. -
Uollns Institute is fourishing, and so
is another female school, taught by
Miss Anna Logan. who has more schol-
ars than she can well accommodate; and
still another, at the head OF which is
Miss Fanny Johnston, begins its first
session under hatterng auspices. When
fha " l1,Iiah ut hac IA
les devote themselves to the education
of their sex, the fact of their Individual
success is in itself pleasing, but ioubIy
so because of the reflection that they
will impart to their pupils those exalt-
ed principles ard those graces of man.
ner which have made our Virginian
women types OF refinement AMI purity
the world over.
Messrs. Ribble and -borough have
a large vineyard near Salem, which is
bearing finely and which promises to he
source of great revenue. If the wine
they make equal that made by Major
Bowyer, it will not be long before Bed.
ford and Roanoke will be able to boast
native clarets which will drive out much
of that pernicious fluid which is made
in our mountains and of which noun
taineers and lowlanders ale alike too
fond.
My thanks are due 10 the gentlemen
connected with the Times office for
many iavors, and to the citizens gener-
ally for kindly welcome which warm
ed my heart. OF the exertions OF lie
younger DR.. Griffin in my Behalf
would feel privileged To speak more
plainly, were he a less inveterate bach
e.or and more afflicted with the disease
called love.
Desiring to reach the Southern cities
as early as possible, | made no halt be-
tween Salem and A bingdon, winch
place I reached Oh a raw Sunday morn
ing, for the great storm theE prevailing
further n orth gave token Il it, work
only by chilly wind and a decided
threat of snow. Mr.. Payne gave me
large excellent room at his hotel, in
which enjoyed ala to mysei; the two
greatest luxuries OH earth-a perfectly
clean bed and al ample wood fire. AS
sat by that lire, reading Dicks Works
which are excessively dull compared |
with DeQUincy, whose Ssspria Dir.
Grey had.lent me the day before IN Sa-
Iem-I thanked mine host inwardly !
over and over again, and thought to
m yseli that If had a big well lighted |
room like that and big roaring fire |
like that to write by all the time,
coIid do something for myself and for
old Virginia.
Rev. Mr.. Doniphan, who exerted
himself so for me on the occasion of my |
previous visit, aud happening to be in
town-he has now a circuit in Lee |
county remained day longer in or
der to hear and to- aid me. But Tor his
| should not have succeeded
nearly so well as | did, and Us it was
my expectations were MT altogether
fulfilled.
The new court house in Abingdon is
beyond question one OF the most conf
modIous and stately ediiices OF its class
to be found in Virginia or ont OF it, and
reflects credit upon the people who
erected it. Much of the trade of Alb |
ingdon has been usurped by Bristol, |
and its prosperity hereafter must de-
pend in no small degree upon its fe-
male school Rev. Mr.. Arbogasl, It,
bly, assisted, has charge of Martha
Washington College, and the Rev. Mr..
Ctau1ort l. Of fha haad If tho Stau.uati