Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-06-23
From the HorneNsmUe Tribune Neao York

From the HornezsviNe Tribune Neao Yor
(Denaocratlc.)
Augusta Co., Of which the city of Staur
ton is the capital, formerly embraced all tn
country far an indefinite extent west OF tina
place, including the present States of Ohio
Kentucky, Illinois, &C., in its county re
cords, are writs returned from places now ii
those States.
In the afternoon we took leave Of tn
generous people of Staunton, thorough.
impressed with sense of their generosity
and kindness Our hosts Of the Virginls
Hotel had won our regard by their courtesy
and good will. Their excellent house was
thrown open to us free of charge, and every
thing done for our comfort possible.
1t is needless to say that the land here
forms the best farming country in the world
for the fame of the fertile Shenandoah Val
ley is nearly world wide, and we were
pleased to learn that it has recovered al
most entirely from the terrible devastation'
tof the war. Houses, barns and mills dc
fstroyed by the irresistible Sheridan, have
been rebuilt, and the beautiful valley is en-
tering on an era Of prosperity greater than
ever before known.
From, the "Scramton (Pa.,) Daily Demo
| crat.'
Leaving Charlottesville, few miles fur
Their on, we pass through the Blue Ridge
Tunnel, at an elevation of 1850 feet above
the tide-water, and emerge from thence in
to the most beautiful and picturesque por.
ton of the Shenandoah Valley-meaning
the beautiful Valley of the stars" At the
western end Of the Tunnel the train halted,
and we were all allowed to quench our
thirst from the finest spring we have ever
seen.
From thence we passed on to the beauti-
full city Of Staunton with nothing but the
beautiful country through which we rapidly
passed to attract special attention. Arriv.
ing at the latter place Qhe home of our
worthy leader, Mr.. N. FL. Hotchkiss) we
found carriages in waiting at the depot, and
were at once conveyed to the Virginia Ho.
tel, kept by two whole-souled gentlemen,
Messrs. Frazier & Sale, who did the honors
with becoming grace and true Southern hos
pitality. Shortly after we arrived we assem-
bled in the parlor sand were cordially welcom-
ed by His Honor Mayor Trout, members Of
the Council, and city Press among the lat
ter W. II. FL. Lynn, editor Of the "Vin-
dicator,' with whom we soon got we'll &C.
quainted.
The whole valley of the Shenandoah,
through which we passed in broad daylight,
is undoubtedly the finest country in the
South. It was from this section that the
confederate army drew most Of their stores.
Here, also, is good chance for Northern
capital and industry. The best improved
lard can be had for from $40 to $50 per
acre, and there is no better, nor better eli
mate, under the heavens.
From the O,oego (N. ~ Gazette Demo
crat.
The young ladies OF the ,South are, witt
very few exceptions, beautiful, and we SET
no sickly, ugly or consumptive looking fe
males, such as are to be found ia all SINH
| lar gatherings in the North. They dres;
in the most excellent taste and with remark
able neatness, and we encounter none Of
the brassy faced and over dressed girls thai
confront one on many such occasions a
home.
We left Richmond for Staunton, on Fri
day morning, on special train and in ele
giant cars which had just been built and hac
not been used before. The train was stop
ped at every point Of interest along the route
and Mr.. Jed. Hotchkiss, brother of thu
Colonel, gentleman who is well acquaint
ed with the whole country, pointed out tn
scenes Of battles ard various other points o
interest. The editor of the Daisyvill'
iSzedge Hammer, who publishes a negspa
per about the size Of pocket handkerchie
and large enough to wrap up two pounds o
cheese in, was one of the first ones VIII
reached the blue mari bed which adjoine'
the railroad track, and, for an examination
of which, the train was stopped. Th
iSzedge Hammer man commenced pokin!
over the shells with his blue umbrella il
search of what he called ''some of Their
bones" Upon inquiry we ascertained tina
he was seeking the remains of an icthyosau
rus, but he did not even succeed in unearth
ing the bones Of an ordinary mule Afte
passing through some of the most romanti
and beautiful country in the world crossiu;
the mountains of the Blue Ridge, throug
tunnels, over chasms and through deep cuts
we arrived in the beautiful city of Staun
ton, late in the afternoon The party i'm
mediately proceeded to the Virginia Hotel
where they were received by the Mayor
who read the resolutions Of the Commo
Council, rendering the Inequalities of tn
city. Speeches were made and the suppe
which followed quickly under the attacks {
tho editorial loeusts. In the evening tn
excursionists visited the Methodist Femal
Seminary where they were entertained b
music from daughter of Colonel Hotchkiss
and other young ladies' Thence we pro
ceeded to the Virginia Female Institute
Episcopal,) where we we're again excellen
ly entertained with instrumental and vocs
music. A young lady, from New Orleans
of great beauty, read poem which she d.
liyered in manner we have never hear
excelled by professional. In response
repeated calls, Hon. D. B. Hill, of Elmira
arose, blushed, and made few remarks
Of course he dilated upon the benefit {
Unions to the laboring man, nor try to COZ
vince his hearers that days work shout
be limited to eight hours, and that the day
t should be twenty-six hours in length. Hi
speech was remarkable for its brevity an
. neatness. Mr.. Hill is pleasant speakt
: and never ''slops over" which is more tina
e can be said of some of the party who persi
: in inAicting their unsolicited twaddle upo
, us upon the slightest provocation. W
next visited the Augusta Female Seminar,
presbyterian where we again listened
o some excellent singing and instrument