Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-09-11
arrentOn.

WarrenEO1.
W.rrep,on is the same old village of great
axn.rtations uurcaizcd that it always was, and
stands precisely where it stood fifty years ago,
and 80 will continue to stand until, Enoch. like,
on account of thr virtue of its Inhabitants it is
raised bodily to heaveu as substitute for ma
terra. decay and death. 1t stands where it
stood, and it stands it we'll and patiently.
Warrenton is much like the word of God,
neither time nor years change it-ueither does
the art of man improve it. As ii was in the
peginning, il is now and ever shall be. Except
iu this essential, however incidental, it is not
all divine nor partaker Of divinity.
was 10 hopes that the air from the mount
aims would clean out touch of hay-fever that
was choking me up, but was disappointed.
Tie mountain air must have taken an early
train for Italy, Tor the same untrammeled play
OF abuudaut atmosphere, we'll warmed up,
found over among the hills Of Virginia that
left behind down among the dusty distances of
Washington.
The ride over the Virginia Midland road is
pleasan. and clean, the route running through
delightful scenery for those fond of the fat
school of landscape architecture. The cars are
the most comfortable in the world.
The busy metropolis of Alexandria was in
au aggravated state OF excitement over an un-
prccedcnted aud wonderful event. My fellow
traveller, Aieck Hunter, had shot an ancient
setter dog few days before and adyer-
used for another and younger animal. At
every stree: corner of the beautiful suburb
the visitor met with the mournful cadences
from the lips Of the melancholy Inhabitants,
"Aleck has shot his dog" The entire city ex.
in tho Of ba
canine, and while he lay waiting away on the
zephyrs to the land that is fairer than day, old
people who had kuown him 10 childhood, who
had bent TO caress him in the twilight of life,
and loved him as only the old love, could smell
him after they went to bed, they said. He
went down to his grave full of honor and years
and Acas, and it cost Aleck fifty cents to have
him toted off and buried, but he paid it with
out muruur, aud putting away the decayiDg
memory from the gaze of cold world adVer-
ts.d fox fresh beast.
Alexandria must have been settled by de-
scendauts OF Canaan, who begat the JesuOlte
aed the Amorite, and the Girgasite, to judge
from the abundance Of quadrupeds. coming
under the analogcal appcllatloD OF that bibli-
cal character, to be found 10 its midst. Every
mau 10 the village seemed possessed of devil
or dog that be wanted to sell, and from every
side and quarter they sprung out upon US as
we passed, dragging unhappy looking animals
after them and crying to torce purchases: A
man with dog for sale can discount life ln-
surance agent without drawing breath. 10 es
cape the imporuning> dealers 10 live stock, my
fine mouth for toed web feet aud rope
arouui it's neck, which ought by the eternal
constitution of proprieties to have been around
the neck OF the darky that sold it. We then
went to WarrcutoD. Warrenton is one Of the
quaiDtest, pleaseutest and most aristocratlc vii.
lagos in Virginia. 1t sits among Thousand
bills with no cattle on them. 1t is dull by day
but as brilliant by night as summer resort,
with German" succeeding "Germau' and
continuipg the succession.
One would have dull business, however, 10
hunting Tor items about this place. Ihe only
time since the war that it was ettervescently
lively was this time year back, when the great
North American camp meeting was held at the
Sulphur Springs in the vicinity, and religion
was shouted, as Bashan bull bellows through
the woods. That camp meeting was venture,
a speculative venture, wherein worship was ar
ranged for with the idea that it would in It's re-
suits pan out brave ducats TO It's orglnators.
Aleck started it, and was vigorously aided by
several other newspaper meu 10 this city. Inc
great difficulty to be Obvlated was TO get preach
er>. List September was very hot during the
first bali, and the gospel was out OF town. We
travelled the high roads and the bywaysfor mln-
listers without regard to sect, age, or mental
capacity. We would have failed utterly but
Tor the assistance loaned by the author OF those
"Meiltatous Among the Churches OF Wash
lngtoo, published tour years ago IN the Gap
ltal, whose wide acquaintance with the clergy
oh npI Nnt nf hn
Was Invaluable Finally, through vast exer
tons aud the bald headed young men OF the
Christian Ass ciatioD, we scooped in dozen
preachers lay aud regularly ordained; it made
no difference TO US, provided they wore white
chokcrs and talked gospel, and with these and
Doctor j. T. NewmaD-that was genuine
high toned camp meeting the gambling prlvl-
leSc alone sold Tor Sl5O-headlng the list,
10 add dignity, the affair started.
People came from Richmond to sec 1t. The
herman restaurant keeper In Warrenton pur,
Chased six additional kegs of beer, and would
nave made money by it had not some mlscreant
or mlScreants stolen three out OF the wagon 90
The way to the springs. There never was SO
much cheap beer and religion about Wsrren-
Ton before since the country was discovered. l
uon know that there were many conversions.
but there was lots of fun. 1t was far ahead OF
the minstrels. 1t required several days to get
things ln shape, and OF course in the beginning
There was not au extensive nor methodlzed
eSpression of devo;ios, but they we're just
Work King the pouts down to a hue edge aud
much PROMISE began to exhibit itself, when
sudden and uotorsecp occu; cu;ronce-brlnglng into
VIVID contrast the rival Influences of religion
and local iGstitutious-took place. AS the
arSe audience was warming up under the
lerSld eoqucnce OF an exhorter on a hogshcad
courier rode rapidly down from Warrenton
aad announced the startling fact to the young
uen 10 the outside circle that "a big thing was
sT!us on up there!' The champion poker
Players Of Fauquier county we're pitted in a
game OF poker, on which the fate of all Virginia
seemed to Lvot
Ihe news travelled around quickly, and two
W two the men dropped out of the congrega-
N0n ann NIL, nd q ha ire aular mad from