Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-10-24
From the New Orleans Plcayune,
Roadside Jotrings IN Virginia.
TAUNTON. Sepr. 81. LIS


Ed. Pc.-After short and PLEASANT trip
from the Did Sweet Springs. | arrived in this
snug town in an exhllarated condition. caused
by bracing ride up and down, around and on
| the sides of stupendous mountains now cpurs-
ing along the beautiful banks of the Jack sou
River, and then rushing n and out of dark
and mysterious tunnels. subdulng the high
voice conversation to a stage whisper, and leav-
ing The convictS at work In brlckiBg these tun-
nels), with their little lamps hooking like glow
worms fitting about in the dark distance be-
hind US, as We swiftly glided through into the
bright, cherrful sunlight, when the hearty
laugh was again heard and the broken thread
of conversation reunited. As was standing
on the platform OF the car drinking in the
beauties OF the variegated exhibition of au-
tumn leaves Hitting by US on distant mountain
sides, | asked young lady 10 what she would
compare them? "A large, beautiful bouquet y
she said, end suppose an humble Offering
from nature for bounries received
What shall | say of Staunton that will prove
Interesting to your readers? | can say that it
is fair, pretty town, some of it nestled in a
pleasant, fertile valley whilst other parts of it
| are climbing the high adjacent hills. reaching
the summlts looking down with rested.
| comfortable aspect upon those parts which still
are gradually climbing.
There Is in his apparently quiet town the
steady hum Of busy enterpri>ing men, pushing
ahead with indomitable will and energy Im-
provrments OF the most substantial kind =
brick houses are being bulls in every direc-
tlon; gothic AID Swiss models being predomi-
nant and fashionable, and very pretty styles OF
architecture they are, so pleasing to the eye =
Staunton has population of about 6O0O in
habuauts, very few or them, | take it. who
are not genial, generous and ever hospitable =
There are five pretty churches in this town,
hut the one that struck me as pretty, was the
Episcopal Church, so quaint and antique in Its
aichl &c ure. ln It's enclosure there Is ''God S
Acre, where the graves of dear and departed
ones are scattered here and there. causing one
To feel as he enters the gate, which must not
be sacreged by a'y jes ing "r Hlppant re-
| mark. think that the principal attraction 10
| S aunton is It's female schools, being five in
number, OF different religious dennmlna. ions.
and well attended. They do remark that those
who deal 10 artificial sweets-the confections-
dn most thriving aud profitable business. =
| There could not be found better place than
| this tor the establishment of such schools
rich and productive lands unsurpassed natural
advantages and, above all, healthy and in
| vlgoraslng climate, for the most natural and
roslest of all rosy cheeks, have | seen here.
| Last Sunday evening accomp panied party
in visit to The Bind, Deaf and Dumb Asy-
,um, (a combined In one,) and was filled with
| pleas >ure and woDder l say wonder; tor We
saw mute teacher, very graceful In all his ges-
| lures, delivering a discourse from ST John,
XIV. l3 and ID, to which his audience of mutes
| paid the strictest attention understandingy
approving or disappr0vlng by mods or shake.
OF the head. 1t was interesting. indeed, to
watch the various emotions as they passed over
the s,lll faces Of these afflicted beings After
| L.. 4 e.. ilnI
one of the gentlemanly and exceedingly poll'e
| attaches OF this institution went out at our r.
quest and found Toby, young man berett oi
ms sight, who Is renowned 10 this place for hts
| musical requirements, as We wished 10 have an
| tx hibl, ion Of his skill on the chapel organ.
He came very cheerfuy, spoke to us, then
took his seat at the Instrument, and with his
| exuulsltely delicate touch caused this grand
| Instrument to enlt some beautiful s,ralhs
| now delicate, sympathetic symphony, theu a
/ vuluptuous, trIumphai swelling, making the
blood tingle am flow with excl ed fervUr. lie
a, ed the sublImr Old Hundred Doxpiogy al
,he finale, which was his clownlng effort. A
ter inspecting the building aud we'll laid of
grounds, we left we'll san, fed with our visit,
feeling that these poor, aft cted creatures were
| we'll cared for, and as happy as possible. l go'
| .uiO writing conversation with one OF the
mules, aud he expressed himself coutented and
we'll cared for.
We had the good fortune Il stopping at the
| Virginia Ho,el Frazier 4 Sale, proprietors
| Mr. Geo. W. Kennedy, a very polite and at
tentlve gentleman, in the Office. These geu.
tl. men are noble caterers OF the first degree
and they know how 10 keep a ho,el." B,
The way, they give up this hotel in few days
but may be found next summer at Capo,
Springs, Hampshire unty, Va.-reached VI,
| Winchester, Va aud my word for il, even
one will be pleased who favor them with thei
patronage. Saturday morning bright and ear
y In landau with pair of fue horses, w
took pleasant road leading TO Weyers Gave
where we arrived In very short time, after al
iuvlgorating ride. Having rested, we took ou
way to the cave, and found 1t situated In
ridge of about two hundred and fifty ieet high
running nearly in northern and southern di
rectlon, about one mile from the Blue Rldg
Mountains. Tradition has it that In the yea
! 1907 one Bernard Weyer, hunter, while ma
king search for ground hog who had bee
playing the wild with his traps. came up O
hIm in this ridge, and whilst digging for hil
discovered this natural phenomenon. 1t ha
since borne his name. The general curse {
the cave is neary horizp"ral; the tempera Ut
> Fl ty-four degrees all the year round, AID th
entire GROUND obe walks over In traversiug b
cave is two and quarter miles. which dlstane
seems doubled alter having travelled up an
r down hill in the cave seeking new beauties
7 | 1t seems hardly credible that the c0nstaI
dlipplEg of water could form such fantasti
5 sublime and wonderful figures as | behed
pursuing the precincts of this magnificent ca