The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-24

shows connected with this, rs with all first
class exhibitions, are painfully insignificant.
We are not positively certain that we saw
the countenances Of theSeasle, the lion, and
Washington outlined against the sky; the
strain on the imagination is perhaps little
too great; but we did gaze with awe at the
side Of the cliff up which the adventurous
youth OF the reading-books climbed Tor
would have climbed II he had!l climbed at
alD. while his agonized parents wrung their
hands below, and bis faithful knife fell from.
his neryeIess grasp,I and he was finally
drawn up by repes to slow music. we
failed to lind the carved name OF Washing
ton which Is said to have melted this p'ie-
nomenaL youth to his exploit, either because
the father of his country never welded
knife on these rocks, or because the name
has crumbled away. r.. g.. "
.sI .|-' 4 HOT WALK.
The next stage Of our trip was the Walk
to Lexington, fourteen miles distant. Our
start was unreasonaby late, the sun was
marvellousIy hot, and this part OF our jour
ney was anything but enjoyable. At this
time we began to take an intense interest IN
springs, and investigated thoroughly every
specimen, think, on the road between the
Natural Bridge and Lexington. We ducked
our heads in every creek and horse-trough:
We kept wet handkerchiefs on our heads
until the water, bubbling from under our
hats and down our faces, made us look az II
perpetual spring were gushing from the
tops Of orr heads, resembling the little mar
BILE bows in the fountains whose look OF de-
lirhtfui GOODNESS under somewhat similar
circumstances perhaps suggested the idea.
When VIC had accomplished part OF our Jour-
ney we were overtaken by an angel in the
form OF a little but benignant-looking man
who kindly took our coats and knapsack in
his carriage and left them for lis Mt the hotel
in Lexington. After his friendly offices we
bad on only enough clothing to be lncon-
sistcnt with our appearance as the Aforesaid
marble boys. At each spring we vowed TO
drink no more; at each succeeding spring
we concluded, like Rip Van Wrinkle, "not
to count this one" The sun was truly hot.
Our noses cleaned like the headlight OF a
locomotive. We actually began to peel.
How we longcd for the genial glow OF the
White-Af Mountain sun, which warns, but
peels not, in place Of the blistering heat
which oppressed us: Our appearance DE,
came terrible The1ittle boys on the road
fled and gszed at us with curiosity and ter,
ror from behind the barn when we stopped
TO inquire tue distance. Again we Sadly
resumed our march, Lexington retiring IN
good order before us.
Just here let me give two admonitions
regarding a walk in this section. Put no
confidence in the number OF miles marked
on the sign boards, and never ask anybody
the distance to your destination; disregard
OF the one will compel you to assign to the
earth's crust degree OF elasticity and con-
tractability not laid down in the textbook;
and il you neglect the other your belief will
inevitably be shaken in that assumption OF
moral philosophy which declares that men
will ALWAYS tell the truth unless some idea
OF advantage to be gained impels them to
an opposite course.
THE LYING SIGN-BoAEDS
are in some cases evidently in the interest
OF the various hotels and mineral springs
along the roads: in others, blunders seem
to have arisen through the careless stupidity
OF those to whom the duty OF estimating
the distance is assigned. The Virginia
darkv does not appear in some instances to
have the slightest idea OF distance. We
asked one, GLOW far to Lexington ~
After profound mathematical calculation
he replied, cheerfully and confidently,
"Oniy little pieceIover the road. sr.H
We walked three miles afterwards before
we reached the suburbs OF that unattractiVe
little village.
-. THE ssArlIENs OF VIRGINIA."
as Lexington is fancifully called, is sleepy
and one-streeted, with no attractions IN It
self, but is given certain renoWn by the
educational institutions connected with it.
The Virginia Military Institute, whose gray
walls are following your correspondents
Iirtr rrp Gnr thp SIMS
and the NVashington-Lce College, impart
some life to the place when they are in ses-
sion. The remains OF StOnewall Jackson,
who issued from the obscurity OF proles-
sor.hip in the Institute into the light OF his
brilliant military career, repose in the Pres
bvterian Cemetery; and the " Lee chapel"
a memorial to the rcbellion's greatest gene
raj, will also be an object Of interest TO the
traveller. ~.
From Lexington we went by stage to
THE EOCEBRIDGE BATHS. 49,.
The accommodations and fare at this place
are first-class, and unless the sluggish waters
OF the North river, which flow just back OF
the hotel, make the situation unhealthy,
summer visitors here are sure to be attract
ed. The water In the two large baths con-
tain some iron. Is charged with carbonlc-
acid gas, and is transparent, cool, anu IN
,yigorating. -
/, The walk from the Rockbridge Baths to
t.@ THE COLD SULPHUR SPRINGS ~,
was one OF the most pleasant OF the sum-
mer. In our passage through Goshen Pass
attractive bits OF river and mountain scenery
pleased the eye at almost every step. We
stopped on our Journey to drink some sui
phur water from Wilson's spring, On tiny
island in North river. This spring gurgles
I'D from q stratum below the bed OF the
stream whose waters flow around it.
After rest at the Cold Sulphur Spring,
with areireshing draught Of the icy water,
we went by' rail from Goshen to Clifton
FORGE. 4 moonlight walk then concluded
our three days tramp OF sixty miles; and
carried us back to the pleasures OF Dagger s
Springs and the kind offices OF Captain Iay-
lOr. ''t.
within few miles OF the springs are the
on,,ortunities for numerous walks that ell
renay the pedestrian. Mount Pisgah, with
its peaks Fairvew and RcYerberation !;
North mountain: Stag mountain, SO called
from the fancied appearance OF the outline
OF = clump of trees on its summlt-an out
line resembling disreputable long-eared
cur more than anything else. All furnish
fine views of the surrounding country.
Next season promises great things 1or
Daggers Springs. When the waters OF the
alkaline pool and the iron springs are
brought to the lawn, and the Buchanan and
Clifton Forge railroad is opened, they
will not be surpassed in convenience or at.
tractiveness by any other resort IN Il the
mountains. -. t-.' .-..'' +. W. N. ,, >,
T. Ulprrnan,s ALLEGED DUTY.-To prose