Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1875-03-30

and the roads were very fair for
mounted men. On our way we met
the people bringing TO town produce
III general. and eggs in particular for
the approaching feast of Easter. The
wheat fields smiled ana promised well
and the slopes of the hills bore traces
of the cunning work OF the tobacco
culturist. We were indeed delighted
u observe the extensive preparations
for the culture of the weed, and there
from we took courage and hoped for
better times for our county. When
we had mounted the steep hills which
lie between Livingston Creek, and
the HOlston, and had made pretty
good our descent therefrom, the mag
nifcent and peculiar swoop of the
river, hugging in its bank. the three
huRdred acres Of bottom, called Kin
derhook, flashed suddenly into view,
and although. the track of March, the
meanest of the;calandar months, was
upon it, it was an inspiring scene
Beyond the river there stretched across
our front In its same chaUgeless South
east and Southwest line, the gray and
formidable Clibeh Mountain. In the
upper end of the opening, stood the
graceful structure erected by those
people for public purposes, and called
Mendoti Lodge and Hamilton Ins;i-
,ute. A half a mile below was MendO-
ii proper, a few snow white buildings
resting against the dark base of the
CIinch, and fronting on the River,
while in the ceRtre stool the sober,
comfortable residence of Col. John
Oyler, environed with fruit and orna-
mental trees, aud encircled on three of
its sides by the majestic sweep of the
Holston.
Undertook vas selected i'm prehis-
toric American times, 10y the shrewd
Indian Hunter, as the site Of a cOns;d-
cradle village, and the plowman at
this day, turns up arrow heads and
broken pottery in profusion. Recent
~ one OF Col. Oyler's men had
his horse to sink into hole, which
when examined, contained an Indian
skeleton in an upright position.
Poor Valley lies next to Clinch
Mountain. and the river valley above
and for some distance below, is separ-
atcd from it by an ordinary ridge.
Some three hundred yards in length,
seems TO have been cut out, SO thai
the river suddenly turns and runs
over to the base of the Mountain,
down which it courses for about a
mile and a half, and there curves to
the South side and sweeps back and
re-ente-s it's own valley proper. some
two hundred yards from the point
where it left it. This detour of the
stream must be at least two and half
miles in circuit, and within is Col.
Oyler's 500 acres of alluvial bottom.
After sumptuOus dinner occasion
presided over by Mrs. OYER. we crossed
the river TO the new Lodge and Insti-
tutc building, where
MENDoTI GRANGE
had just closed its session, and the
members, consisting of the best far
mers of the section, with the w.ves
ana daughters of some of them, were
enjoying their feast Esqr Francis
Ellington and MIR. Joel Kaylor, the
Secretary and Treasurer were receiY-
ing the dues of the members, and ad-
iusting their accounts, and from the
punctualty we saw exhibited 10y the
members, we infer the order is in a
prosperous condition. That it has
done much good is plainly visible. A
spirited impulse has already been I'M
parted to the farming interests of the
country, and the people are being rap
IDLY unified i'm sentiment. Politics is
wholly excluded the order, and
there is manifested, a spirit of ina-
prOvement and emulation which will
prove invaluable. The members. by
general consent, next repaired to the
store of Mr.. j. NJ. Barker, kept and
conducted by Nr. G.. p. Crumley,
who is evidently running it with
both energy and skill. His cash sales
are remarkably good, and his produce
trade is large. Every ore seemed TO
like and coniidc in him. To conduct
successfully country store marks the
man as one of very unusual ability
and as Mr.. Crumley's work there
speaks plainly through his ample re-
turns and shipments. he may be re-
garded as one of the few. men born to
succeed at the business.
Twilight was the signal for the as
sembling Of tie Masons, who came
from all portions of the Valley, some
of them travelling as many as ten miles
to be present At least fifty members
reported in the excellent room on the
lkaoA AlOulf " A4GtG Noi n l1 AAlD AAtsAN
degree was conducted i'm most
smooth and admirable masonic order
10y hIr. II. c. Holly, the present Mas
ter OF the Lodge. After comforting
the first degree upon two candidates.
the Craft was called from labor to re-
freshment in All adjoining room where
Mr. c. Z, CrUrnley had prepared at the
expense Of the membersz a most excel
lent supper. Of which q lsrse lot Of
oysters was principal feature. The
confe!rng of the third. or sublime de-
gree, on Messrs. White and Gillenwa-
tiers. carried ms up to the small h0a7 Of
two, when the rising moon topped the
river hills, aud lighted the merry COM
pany to tAeis respective homes
Dur ng tlse, dag she Stockholders OF
the magnificent LsildiHg alluded TO,