Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-06-22
LEXINGTON CIRCUIT
y: ~. Junn31lfh 1870

June HIN 1910.
EDITOR OF HERALD,
Dear ir:-Having been asked
by our many excellent friends in Shei,an-
doah, tc let them hear from us propose
to CRAFTY their request by Writing to them
all, through the. columns of your paper, if
you will give me room.
We started from Sta,lnton on the morn
ing of the 2sth Of May, and arrived at our
new home OH the afternoon of. the next
day. The road from Staanton. to licking
ton seems to one accustomed to travelling
the Valley rike quite lonely. The res,
licences are rarely situated on the road,
and you may travel for several miles and
not see a sign of life. The scenery it
wilder, and the road winds around hills
covered with woods, instead of thro'
cultivated. fields as does the Valley Pike
along which houses are always in sight,
and I'm incipient village every three miles.
Long before we got to Lexington, we
realized that we We're indeed in the noun
tains.
Our last half-day's ride was over a very
heavy roaah and we were right glad to see
the towers of the V. NJ. I. It was not
long. after they were in sight, till we
I crossed the N. r. Bridge and were upon
the one mile of McAdam Road that Rock
bridge boasts 1t leads from the Point to
Lexington. The Point. you will under
stand, is to the Athens of Virginia what
the Pir@us was to Athens of old. We
drove along under the hill upon which
the Institute stands; a very handsome
imitation of something, don't know what
I perhaps it is suggestive of some almost
forgotten picture of the old Biographies.
The grounds Immediately in front of the
building are ornamental by several guns,
a sentinel box at each side and statue of
| Washington in the centre You would
| be sure to think that General Smith had a
melon patch up there, and that he was
very anxiors to keep trespassers out of it
Some of the guns point toward the road,
and look, to one passing by, like the end
of water-ripe sticking out of the hillside,
and he is in monetary expectation Of see
| ing the water run out, and flood the road.
| That portion of the guns, which can be
distinguished as such, look as if they were
aimed at the town clock on the steeple oil
| Presbyterian church a perpetual threat
| to blow the hands of if it should fail to
! keep true time.
We can't help thinking the Institute one
Of Virginia's folies. When we reached
the parsonage we found everything in
nice OF der the ladies to meet us-dinner
prepared. and chambers ready /; SO we
I entered, and took possession and were at
home. l am now a country gentleman
who has half acre of garden. quarter
[ of an acre around the house-and 3 acres
| Of pasture ground. The house fronts
south east, is surrounded by shade trees
and little stream of clear water runs
through the garden. 1t is very pleasant
I place to live. This part of the county is
very healthy. You think you have some
hills in Shenand oah, well. when you have
been to see us, you will 60 home satisfied
| that your county is tolerably level
county. The soil is good. The land is
better adapted to grazing than to the
cultivation of grain. the farmers are
now engaged in sending the tobacco crop
of last year to market and setting the
plants for the next crop. 1t is very
profitable crop and there has been great
deal raised here within the last few years
1t is surprising that Shenandoah farmers
have not undertaken to raise tobacco on
their rich bottom lands and new ground
believe it would pay them better than
fertilizin9 for wheat. The locusts made
their appearance a month ago, and the
woods ring with their music. The contest
between Drs. Ruffner and Dabney excl es
great deal Of attention aud remarks
here, perhaps, because both gentlemen
are we'll known personally to a grca:
many | think that you will agree with
me that DR.. Dabney in all of his writing
| displays rather the acuteness of speci al
pleader, than the comprehensive grasp of
truth that belongs to the impartial in
vestigator.
The people of this county are not divided
into thousand and one sects as are your
people, Presbyterianism is the controlling
influence, and Methodism, SO far as have
been brought in contact with it, is q sort
of bastard Presbyterianism. w. 0. Il.