Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-04-04

from Harper's Ferry, by the Winchester
Sraach Of the Baltimore and Ohio road, we had
a short and pleasant ride to Halltown station
4 frw miles distant from the Ferry, IN company
with Colonel Lewis Washington, mes toned
above. From there we proceede'. with him, by
private conveyance to BOsli Air, as his hand
some. beautifully situstsd eountry-seat is call
el. Here We found one Of the finest farms in
this coun,rv-chree hundred and fifty acres
spreading out like garden, eapapable OF high
cultivation. with well-arransed, commodious
and substantial residence, surrounded by trees.
Aud here we found that genuine hospitality
which has made the old settlers of Virginia and
the old Dominion herself so Justly famous
The day we arrived the weather was pleasant
and spring-like. During the night there came
a storm, and the following morning the snow
was yearly a foot deep upon the ground. We
looked out upon the fields to see the plows
standing in the burrows, but the men aud teams
were not to be seen. Everything looked cold
and dreary, as if The North had sent regular
hyperborean covering to this part Of the So
called sunny South. But within the house we
found everything warm, pleasant and agreea-
bic. Those who have never had The good for
tune TO partake of Southern hospitality. have
but little idea Of the welcome given TO friends
by the people Of this section. -.....
If you never enjoyed good living, come to
Virginia. Try the ham aud bacon which is
bee cured and made ready for the table as no.
where in the North. And the cornbread, made
from corn meal aud boiled rice, far better aud
more healthy than wheat-bread And the
turkeys. nicely roaSted-and the GOOD things
generally to be found; and, above all, the gen.
uine, hearty welcome, which makes one feel
that he is indeed among friends.
During the war Colonel Washington took an
active part in behalf of the Confederacy. He
fought for bis State and his friends-and he
fought well. For this love of his State, the
scenes Of his childhood, the land Of his birth,
and the friends who, with him, had grown to
years Of responsibility and usefulness, bis val
liable property was confscated. The elegant
/ furniture in his home with books, papers, pic
lures. and relics Of the Washington family,
were taker by General Banks. Many of the
/ paintings, papers, &C., have been returned, but
/ the pianos aud the spoons-the choice articles
of furniture bought aud paid for al the North
/ have not seen fit to return TO their former
/ owner, whose residence bears abundant marks
of vandalism, thereby adding to the sacred
memories Of the past.
We here found many portraits Of the Wash
iugton family, including painting Of the i'm
mortal Father of his Country, said to be the
best in the United States.
While Mr.. johnson was President, Mrs.
Washington, the accomplished and gifted wife
of the Colonel, succeeded in having the proper
ty here restored 10 them. For this purpose
she visited Washington, waited upon the Presi
dent. stating the facts of the essentially being
successful; so that her husband, on returning
from a visit abroad, found himself again in po-
session Of his valuable and well-loved estates.
We passed three days here very pleasantly.
The weather being very disagreeable, aud the
snow deep upon the ground, precluded our in-
dulging in the somewhat favorite pastime of
notwithstanding, so we remained indoors, at
tending to work and forming the acquaintance
Of the good friends who called from time to
time.
Beal. Air Is about a mile from Haltown,
which is but a small gathering of houses where
a party Of energetic, enterpriSing business men
from Pennsylvania have erected an establish
ment for the manufacture Of straw boards for
the use Of book-biuders &c. Sc. 1t is called
the Virginia Paper Company, j. Allison Eys-
ter, manager. This enterprise is a decided
success, one of the best establishments of the
kind in the country II consumes about ten
tons of straw per day. turning ont about six
tousoi manufactured boarl, which findSa ready
market in New York, at 500 per ton. The
straw costs at the mill six dollars per ton;
fair margin for profit as one will observe Be-
l., ~ NJ
to the wealth Of the proprietors, this enterprise
enablesfarlners 10 dispose Of their straw at good
prices, which otherwise would be wasted. II
will be good day for the South when more of
these enterprises shall be found all over this
c0uutry, and when more men of enterprises
honesty, and determination to hard labor shall
fud their way Southwark from their homes in
the North, bringing to the land Of depleted
aristocracy that energy, perseverance, and de-
termination which alone make the country
great.
CHARLESTOWS.
Friday morning, in company with Colonel
Washington and his family, we left Beal Air
by private conveyance for Charlestown, q some
what ancient and historical village on the line
Of the railroad from Winchester to IIarper's
Ferry, distant ten miles from the latter place
The town is one Of those sleepy, quiet good
uatured places, presenting the appearance of
having been finished years ago. II contains,
we should Judge, about two thousand inhab-
tants and is the county-seat Of Jefferson Conn
ty. There are some very fac residences here,
and the country surrounding is one of rare at
fractions
We are now in the Valley Of the Shenandoah
As we travel southwark away of to the right rise
the points Of the Allegbanesto the left the peaks
and points Of the Blue Ridge rising high in the air,
as II 20 guard this beautiful vale, which was evil
IDENTIFY 90 one time the bottom Of a great lake.
There are two papers published in Chsrlcstown.-
One OF them is the cold Family Journal" fVIK-
GINA FBEE PRESS) edited BY II. y. Gallaher q Son.
We found Mr. Gallsher "iine OGld gintleman Of
tie rale Guild stock" We do not know whether
bis ancestry dates back 10 the O'Gallahers who
are half MeCormacks, or not. but we do know that
he is as social genial, and deserving a gentleman
as We have met for several years. We had the
pleasure ofmeetng him and his sons al their Office,
rs at the residence of Colonel w. To remind us
Of boyhood's days, tried our hand at type-set-
ting, and those who witnesses say we succeed
ed at least to reasonable degree. Mr. Gallsher
had four sons in the Confederate Army all Of whom
acquitted themselves bravely, and came out with
excellent regulations. In company with one of his
visited that portion 90 the Jail left standing
where John Brown was confined previous 10 his
execution. The cell which was occupied by the
eminent marauder, whose soul is now marching on
Is now used Is the working room of a couple Of
geutemanly Photographic artists, who have lately
established themselves in business here sind ara