The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-12-04
VOL. L.

tains. 4 pastoral people are compensated
for hardShipS by exemption from evils which
fall to the lot OF those who live by commerce
and tilling the soil. Crimson cheeks are i'll
the mountain cabin; white, pallid faces are
oftener seen in the city mansion. Pasturage,
on the whole, seems preferable TO tillage.
The plough is notiso much used in one asin
the other, and "thc sweat OF the brow "
does not enter so largely into the grass rs
into the grain crop. ''Fcntures make mer-
chants" but. comparatively speaking, gra-
ziers have few risks to disturb their sleep.
High places enlarge the horizon and ought
to awaken sublime thought. They are nat
ural observatories for watching the "mystic
dance OF the wandering fires" above. Mil
! ton thought OF
Where he might sit and rightly spell.
or every star that heaven doth show,
And every herb that sips the dew.
Poor mountaincers, who force q churl-
i>h soil for bread" have little reason to envy
the merccnaries OF capital. The lord OF
few rough acres. il they only contain Il
grassy spot and bubbling fountain, may
he happier man than the employs of a soul
! less corporation. Wages cannot compen-
safe Tor freedom nor for the tranquil content
which can never be enjoyed amid the rum
bling OF railroads and tho clattcr OF facto-
rie>. The engineer on the plunging steam
horse j. Iion-hearted man, but his brave
>oul must long for exemption from constant
peril. NcthinkS ne would HE him away to
the solitary glen. where the Shrek Of the
>tean-whiStlc could never more reach him.
/ :" But comparisons are odiolls.' ii Their
distinctions are inyidiouS. Far be such q
thought from the mind Of The writer The
plough, the loom, the anvil, employ hands,
! guided l,v the nobIeSt o? souls. We would
only remind the mountainccr OF the com
ucnsations for his hardships, and OF the
reasons that really exist for the ardor Of
his patriotism. Clambcring up the rugged
pathway. while the summer Storm-cloud Is
ycntln" its fury, or the Wintry wind Is
raging through the forest, his heart burns
within him rs il realizes the sentiment OF
Goldsmith:
That ~ the child when soaring sounds lnclcS.
tlincs close aud closer 10 his mothers breast;
So the rude tempest and the whiriwinds roar.
Iu, binds him to his native mountains more.
Bat true il is that Pcndlcton is behind
the times. 1t is not Il country OF railroads
and impatient people, but OF rough roads
and patient people. The fact Is that ut this
date only those who live within 4 short ra-
diuS Of the countv-Seat can come here for
business purposes and return home the
same day without starting before morning
light or travelling after nightfall; and
many have TO grope their way through tho
darkness over paths full OF boulderS, roots,
and rullicS. Such roads are an excellent
school of patience. and efficient teachers OF
the maXims "teStina iente," and "peneUer-
apdo rinCeS.'' They often oblge us to re-
sort for comfort to the adagc :" 1t is an i'll
wind that blows no good" The useless
ness OF hurry begets patience. and patience
is the parent OF contentment. Slow apd
primitive modes OF travel gives us
time to look upon and love the
scenes OF our native land. On
the contrary. the flying passenger gets
but glimpse OF the country, that leaves
little impression and less knowledge. I'M
patience grows by the removal OF What
keeps it down. Railroads make people more
impatient Of the delay and fatigue Of an
hour than they used to be OF whole day.
However, we are not dccrying the atlran-
taeeS Of steam, or boasting OF the excel
lcnce of the virtue Of job. The best phi
losophy for all times and places is no doubt
the philosophy Of him who said, Il have
learned in whatsoever state am Herewith
to be content" Without this there is no
happiness on earth: with it. the {. desert is
glad, and the solitary place blossoms as the
rose But this is consistent with and impels
10 making the best Of our condition. The im-
provemcnt OF our roads is a matter OF vital
and urgent importance. a turnpike con-
Meeting the State OF Pendlcton and the En-
pire of Rockingham is essential to the wei
fare OF our people. 1t requires six days Of
wear and tear OF man, horse, and wagon to
haul from Harrisonburg to Franklin about
half the load the same team would haul over
n good turnpike in less time. Recently one
Of our farmers loaded his wagon in Harri-
Sonburg with goods for Franklin. On the
way his wagon broke down, obliging him
to hire another and unload and reload the
goods; but to prevent smash he was COM
pelled to unload once more part OF the
goods, and, leaving them on the wa y, ar
rived in Franklin with the other part in Il
wagon with wheels full of false spokes.
Our earliest dates, by tri-weekly mail
from Moorefeld and weekly mail from
, Harrisonburg, are two days old. These
, facts are enough to show the great import
. unce OF a turnpike to Harrisonburg. This
, road was lifelong drSiderGtnm with men
in the two counties who have gone to their
graves. Some remain who will give a share
OF the time and strength Of declining years
to its accomplishment. Surely their sons will
not longer delay the beginning OF this great
work, which will enable us to write to Har-
risonburs one day and get an answer the
next, and give every farmer in Pendleton
the OpIlOn ~ IioUoSS w 'IiS
railroad or dispose OF it ut home. We hope
before the ensuing year is numbered with
the past that another Crozet will be locating
for us this highway to market; that when
the wayfarer over these mountains sets foot
upon it he may no longer be verifying the
remark OF that eminent engineer, "That
the people of Virginia were always going
down when they should be going up, and
going up when they should be going
down. This arduous but practicable work
will lead to the improvement OF our county
roads, to the development OF our resources,
and bring innumerablc blessings upon our
patient and patriotic people.
IN the footsteps OF another CroZet we
NAV hope will follow another Rogers to
complete the geological survey Of our noun
tain region. We would fain believe that
another Hugh Miller will soon appear in the
mountains Of West Augusta who Will give
his life to the work Of deciphering the hero
glvphs on its rocks and discovering the
" footprint. OF the CREATOR" now lying all
unseen around us. Then will these silent
memorials of the long gone ages receive
tongue and the seals OF the rocky tablets
be broken. Doubtless, like those OF Scot
aand, they sviIl be found to agree with
the record of the Holy Book, and to confirm
the doctrines learned at Il mothers knee.
| Then will we cease to wonder how high the
mountains really are, and our unsatisied
questionings in regard to the mysterious
agesscies of "fire, air, and food" concerned
| in tl.ir history will be answered, Then