Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-11-27

were worked upon the most Intricate
patterns, whilst the blending of color!
in many specimens was most delicate
and beautiful.
From the blind department we wen
to the Deaf and Dumb. Here we wit
messed the same sprightly look in some
and the same dull, half conscious LODI
in others that we find in the Institute
at Fulton. In fact I could readily i'm
agine myself at the Fulton Institute, SC
similar were the pariphernalia and pro.
cess of teaching. We next visited the
chapel and listened to some music by
the band composed of the blind pupils
VISIT TO LEXINGTON AND NATURAL
BRIDGE. I..
"WEDNESDAY, Oct. II, 1877
Z In company with Miss Bette H.,
left Staunton to visit the Natural Bridge,
SO miles up the Valley from StauntOn.
The Valley here is called the Valley of
Virginia-lower down it is called the
Shenandoah Valley. noted during the
war as the granary for the Confederate
army, and the scene of many hard
fought battles. The Valley is about so
miles wide at Staunton, higher up it
gets narrower and lower down it gets
wider.
GENERAL APPEARANCE OF THE COUN-
TRY.
From Staunton up the landscape lis
very beautiful The mountain ranges
on either side, clothed in their "azure
hue"-the ever changing panorama of
hill and Valley, woodland and grassy
fields-the hundreds of bright sparkling
streams of water-the hum of hundreds
of mills and the busy stir of farm life
all combined present scene at once pic
turesque and beautiful. To Missouri
an the name valley presents at once the
idea of level plat of ground. But the
Valley of Virginia is everything else
but a level plain; in fact, many OF the
hills In the Valley would pass for first
class mountains in Missouri, whilst near
ly all of the farms are so hilly and bro.
ken that Misseurians wonder how they
can be cultivated at all, yet the Virgin
ians say the hill-sides furnish their best
farming lands. The road to Lexington
is very good one. The whole country
on both sides of the road is one
succession Of farms, which were once in
fine state of cultivation, but now, evil
IDENTIFY in a somewhat neglected e6ndi-
ton, caused by the compile overthrow of
their system of labor. A few more
years, however, 1 think will remedy
this, as the Virginians adapt themselves
more ard more each year to the new
condition of things. The farm houses
are generally large and oommodious,
mostly brick, two stories high. and
many Of them three stories high; also
many of them with two suites of rooms
between and above, with large hall
through the centre. In the back ground
too may be seen still the old negro quar-
ters, generally consisting of row of one
story brick buildings. All the buildings
have an old and weather beaten appear
anoe, clearly indicating their ante-bel-
lum origin.
THE LABOR.
The negroes now, as before the war,
furnish the principal portion of the Ia
Dor. We, at one place, noticed some Is
or SO hands working the roads, and out
of that number only two were white
men. At the hotels noticed that near
ly all the walters were dark les. So also
the hands about the livery stables. I
was, however, informed that this negro
help was employed move from necessity
than cho;ce-that the negroes here; as
with us, were considered very unrelia-
BILE and very slow-it taking at least two
negroes to do the same work that one
quick, active white man would do.
SOME CHARACTERISTIC OF THE PEO-
PIE.
On this visit up the Valley realized
more than ever that I was in Virginia.
1t was Fair week at Lexington and
Wednesday and Thursday we met large
numbers of people going to or returning
from the fair. And they all seemed to
have kind of Virginia look about them.
l can not describe the peculiarities of
that look-still could not but realize that
there was something different in their
appearance and movements from west
ern and northern people. There were
some few peculiarities, however, I did
notice: First, their uniform politeness,
whenever we would meet or pass any
one on or near the road our presence
would be recognized by polite bow or
tip Of the hat. We noticed this pecu-
liarity especially among the negroes, and
more especially among the older ones.
We passed quite a number of old gray
headed darkies, and in almost every in
stance, the venerable old uncle would
lift his hat as we would pass. Another
popularity was the kindly look, with
which we were everywhere regarded,
and the generous offer of hospitality we
met everywhere; in SO much that we
felt that we were amongst friends in
stead of strangers from the very start
There was nothing of that sharp suspi-
cious cunning look so characteristic OF
the Yankee nation. In 1nany instances
we were importuned to accept hospital
tiles and kindnesses from entire stran-
gers. Little services were volunteered
to us without any idea of pay. For in
stance, we made inquiry for an old
friend, when several gentlemen at once
kindly volunteered to hunt him up fol
us. Another: One night we stopped
at the house of an old gentleman-are reg.
ular old Virginia gentleman, and O.
course were made to feel at home at once
In the morning we were notified thai
the Latch string always hung OUT" anC
that if we ever passed that way again
we must be certain to call. Another pc
culiarity of the Virginian is his slow
leisurely movements. I have not seer
man yet in Virginia that seemed like b.
was in hurry. On their farms, in tn,
cities, in the towns, on the streets, or ir
their business houses, they all seem t.
take things easy. Nothing of the yam
See and Western hurry and scramDl,
for life. 1 have thought thas perhaps .
little emigration Of the Yankee, a littl'
Infusion Of Yankee energy and enter
prise would be of great benefit to th'
State. Another popularity is their OLE
fogy way of doing things and their usipe
old fogy implements to do things with
We. saw quite a number of the ole
quaint, heavy numbering wagons, will
which we were familiar in our earlies
boyhood-the old fashioned spindle ant
crooked bed. The driver rides on,
horse and leads the other, II he work
only two; if he works more than two
he rides his saddle horse and drives hi
Leader with a single check. The olt
"A" harrow is universal, whilst tn
plows are all of one pa.tern-the old cas-
mole beam, with the shear fastened OF
with a wooden peg, and all left handed
1t is is said that a Virginian never give
up his old fogy notions, Hence wher
ever you find him Ae still clings to hi
Old fOOV loft hand ,,1our, opd iorHc + +;