The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-02-11

Plenty OF good limestone IS f0und IN all
this section, which will yet be of incalcu-
liable value to the farming of this state if
literally used.
From here we go by q side line, nine
miles distant, to the great salt works, for
which the two armies fought during the re-
cent war.
ABINGDON, WASHINGTON Co.,
February 8, 1873. :
Yesterday, a bright and sunny day, for
q rarity, we came down to this beautiful
and busy village, on a freight train, the
regular passenger train being detained at
the east by an extensive landslide down the
side of heAlleghany mountains, at one of
the deep cuts. Still the trip was a pleasant
one, through a handsome farming country,
of good stock and fine houses. We have met
No more orderly and finished village on our
route than Abingdon, with its 2 1000 popu-
lation, and containing numerous schools,
academies and churches, with plenty Of
shops and stores, courthouse and Jail, and
several hotels.
The " Colorado Hotel" where I am
stopping, is a new, capacious house, and
one of the finest and most convenient in
S0uthWeStern Virginia.
EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES.
Few towns have equal, and fewer still
have superior, facilities for educating their
youth than Abingdon. The public or free
schools, for both white and colored chill
dren, are good and well attended, while
the institutions of higher grade are ample ;
and [ cannot better present them than by
extracts from The Virginian, of this place,
as follows:
"The oldest of our present literary in
stitutions is
EMORY.AND HENRY COLLEGE,
where more young men have been trained
for usefulness 10 all professions and stations
in civil life than any u~nendowed institution
in Virginia or the south. 1t was establish
ed 81 years ago, two OF the members of the
first faculty still being connected with it.
President Wiley and Professor Long
ley.
martha WASHINGTON,
the Oldest of our female colleges, occupies
o site and has surroundings unsurpassed for
beauty and health in all our borders. Es-
tablished in 1860 under the Presidency of
Rev. VIM. A. Harris, the second session
showeda naturalization Of 100 young ladies,
and it was the only female institution with
which we are acquainted that struggled all
through the dark period from 1861. 1t is
still most ably and efficiently managed by
Major R. w. Jones, aided by an able fac
ulty, and is doing q great work for the
future wives and mothers of this mountain
region.
"sTONEwALL JACKSON INSTITUTE
isa younger institution, but like Martha
Washington, it is doing a GLORIOUS work for
the daughters of our citizens. Started at q
time-since the war-when everything
was unsettled.
ACADEMY OF VISITATION
is the name of another female institute in
Abingdon under the patronage of our Ro-
man Catholic friends, under the manage
ment of several Sisters of Charity.
ABINGDON MALE ACADEMY
is an old institution, and has been in the
past, as it is at present, q great blessing to
the people of southwestern Virginia.
From its halls, without further collegiate
training, have gone many young men
who have since made their mark in this as
well as other states, and it was never more
prosperous than at present. Prot. Baker,
who is the present principal, is a gentle
man Of fine culture, understands all about
his business
The Martha Washington college is SO
named from being the institution estab-
lished on territory named for General
Washington, that being the fact in respect
to this county, which was organized IN
1875.
The Virginian is o neatly printed and
spirited paper it was formerly published
by Messrs. Coales & Barr, but has recent
ly been purchased by George r. Dunn,
present proprietor, though Mr.. Coales
still assists in the editorial department.
There are many historical incidents oil
some interest, which will be noticed in
another letter, connected with this locali-
ty. 1t was very early called "Wolf Hills,'
on account of the great numbers OF that
animal which infested these mountains.
The community here is distinguished fol
its religious devotion and includes nearly
all denominations. Among them | am
pleased to find quite a number of New
Church, or Swedenborgian, people. To
day the weather has been charming, and
promises a fair Sabbath day tomorrow,
that the churches may be well attended.
Look out for another club of subscribers
to THE JOURNAL next week from THU
region.
] find the postmaster here. Mr.. Rose, al
honest, industrious mechanic, and usefu
mana skillful cabinet-maker. So tn,
postmaster at Glade Spring, Mr.. Sullivan
is an industrious and worthy shoemaker
but I learn that some of the aristocrati
families, who are generally useless folks
don't take it kindly, nor fancy it much
that mechanics hold these Offices over them
but the better sort don't feel so /; and tn
others will grow wiser as the years an
passing events go on improving and ripeninI
them ; and thus we wish them all Happiness
and prosperity in learning "that tn