Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-05-30
DANVlLLE. KY.

4 - =
A Blue Grass Heaven-Tu W.
Railroads = CeGfer College TheO-
logical Seminary Proposed Univer.
sity-CaIdweIfE nsfitgte.
10 the Editor of the Union and American:
| MAXWELL HOUSE, NASHVILLE, TENN,
May q, 1S72.--I have just came from the
/ Blue Grass reg;n-i Of Kentucky, so noted
/ for its ricll pas uFes and its fine cattle, and
fast horses. used to think our good Ken
lucky friends rather boastful, but in this
beautiful month everything about there
looks SO pretty that l am regularly con-
verified to their faith, that Kentucky, as the
enthusiastic preacher remarked, is Tegu-
lar Heaven of a place. beg his pardon,
he said Heaven was regular Kentucky of.
aplace.
Testing aside, the broadly undulaling
fields, and the cool, shady woodlands, with
blooded cattle browsing on the luxuriaut
! blue grass, form a scene of quiet rural
beauty that | have never seen surpassed.
1t had long beBn matter Of wonder to
me that so fine a section of country was so
wanting in railroad facilities. The people
now seem thoroughly aroused on the sub
ject, yet there are some apologies for their
hardness. For instance, they have the
very best turnpike roads I have ever seen.
The limestone Is accessible, and answers
an admirable purpose for macadamizing.
In some places the beds of the streams
furnish gravel that makes a cheaper, and,
in several respects, more desirable road
than the blue limestone. Give a man a
light buggy and horse that can make his
mile inside of three minutes, and he does
rOf fonl fla aoH Of do
find no less than eight elegant turnpikes
diverging from Danville.
Then the cattle, hogs, horses and mules
Of this section, unlike manufactured pro-
ducts, admit of being driven off to market. |
Though, I learn that the farmers find it |
better to ship them by rail than to drive, !
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad has |
branch running in the direction of Knox |
vile, and completed as far as to Rockcastle |
river. This branch road goes within five |
miles ofDanville, and gives an easy COM |
munication with Nashville, Memphis and |
the South generally. The Cincinnati and !
Southern road will pass either very near or |
through Danville, and the citizens will then |
have all that mortals ought TO have on earth, |
if not rather more.
Danville has made a decidedly pleasant
impression on your correspondent. It has |
long been known as an educational center,
and for this it is eminently fitted in vari-
ETY. of particulars. 1t is large enough a |
town to provide all needed social and reii- |
gious advantages, good sidewalks for exer.
else, and facilities for boarding, while at the
same time it is free from many of the
temptations of the city. So far as l have
seen, comparatively little whisky is drunk
here. Then the institutions are felt by the |
citizens to be matters of Importance, and
the students are not thrust off into corner,
The best families take them as boarders BY
tWos or threes, and thus something of home
influence is thrown about them. As con-
sequence of this, the old pupils always re-
tain lively affection for the town; they
love to revisit it after years of absence, and
regard it almost as the home of their boy
hood.
Center College, under the care of the As
sembly Presbyterians, as they are called,
has erected handsome and commodiOus
new building at cost of some $4,000 to
$4,000. 1t is finely situated in the suburbs
on an airy elevation and can be seen from
quite a distance.
The Theological Seminary is a much
palmer edifiee, but is well endowed and
is very conveniently located. The State
Deaf and Dumb Asylum has beautiful
four or five story main building besides
several smaller adjuncts. The success
achieved in it is due to the lifelong deVc-
ton of one man, John A. Jacobs, who was
at the head of the institution for nearly
forty-fiye years. He was the author of some
instruction book or books for the D. and D.
that are widely used in this country and
even in England. Since his death his
nephew and namesake has been principal.
The Kentucky Presbyterians in connec-
ton with the South, aided by various Alum
nj of Center College sympathizing with
them, propose to inaugurate a university
after the pattern of the EWashIngton-Lee''
of Virginia. 1t is probable that it will be
located at Danville. Success to them, we
say. There is room enough for all.
Already the Southern Collegiate In
stitute under the care of Rev.
W. F. Junkin, constitutes a nucleus about
which to gather the schools OF departments
of university.
Unjust not fail to mention the Caldwell
Institute, a school for young ladies. On
visiting this beautiful spot | was very cour-
teously received by the principal, Rev. L.
g. Barbour. He Is a descendant of the
old Virginia Barbours of Orange county,
but a native of Kentucky, l believe of
Danville ITSELF He told me of his sojourn
in Missouri during the war; and my heart
warmed towards him as he spoke of the
numbers of sick and wounded Southern
boys, who took hospital shelter under his
roof during and after the battle of Lexing-
ton. Over the graves of some of them he
performed the last sad rites of religion. At
ter the close Of the war, the Radical rule in
Missouri became so intOlerant, that he left
the State and returned to Kentucky, and
has been now for some half dozen years in
charge of this flourishing school.
Caldwell Institute has, perhaps, the very
best female school building in the Valley of
the Mississippi. 1t is heated by steam and
lighted with gas manufactured on the prem
Uses. | went out to the door Of the gas
works, and saw the gasom6ter, retorts, etc.
From what L saw of the furniture, the size
of the rooms, the ventilation, the large yards
and crsquet grounds, was not surprised at
hearing that Che doctors bills of the entire
boarding department would hardly exceed
five dollars per year.
Mrs. Barbour, the excellent lady OF the
Principal, Is native of Natchez, and a
granddaughter OF old Col. Foster Of that
city, who was a warm personal friend of
0ols OdShoOAly anu COulI4d4lupA uIluCI
in the war of 1S12-16. From what know
of Mrs. B. while in Danville, of her kind
ness and attention, and of her unusual quail
ifications for the place, can most cordially
advise any Southern gentleman to eltrust
his daughter to her care.
While this school is under Presbyte.
rian control, learned that teachers of other
denominations were frequently employed,
and that the institution is conducted on the
most liberal principles. Pupils coming
from other churches are brought under the
notice of the respective pastors or preach
ers in charge, and no Baptist or Methodist
or Episcopalian need feel the least afraid of
placing daughter in the school.
l made the acquaintance of MessEs.
Mars and Bruce. tie gsntlemanIy editors
of the Advocate; they conduct live paper,
beautifully gotten up and ably edited. The
AdUOcdte is an honor to the Kentucky
press. OLD VIRGINIA.
COLUMBIA ITEMS,