Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-08-04
Letter from Warrenton.

WARRENToN, July %, 1877.
Mn. GALLAHER: You have been pleased to
include me with the regular clergy OF Charles
town. and furnish me weekly with the " FREE
Press" Of which am free TO say il is among
the most sprightly and readable papers within
my knowledge always presenting neat,
CHEEKY and inviting face, giving out ever and
anon racy bon mcts in fact rs n county news
paper nc Plus ultra. Accept my thanks for
your generous remembrance of me in its week
iy distribution by the hands Of your polite and
ailable Carrier,
am IN Warrenton, you perceive. Here
was born, and for a few years Of my life, bred.
The Warrenton Of to-day far surpasses the orc
of that early time. The residents Of that pc
riod. could they look upon tho present town,
would see but few Of the old marks with which
they were familiar. The old, and what were
in fact unseemly, buildings OF that period have
disappeared almost 10 toto, and new, modern
lied structures have taken their places.
question whether in the whole town there arc
more than naf-do2en or so OF these old fab
RIGS which may be put down rs eye-sores or
blurs in the general appearance Of the place.
This holds good Of the public as well as Of the
private buildings Advance, improvement
taste and architectural beauty have prevailed
and are manifest TO the visitor Of the present
in contrast with the past. -Four years have e.
apsel since my last coming here and can
see all around improvements. The old War
rem Green Hotel, burned three years ago, has
been rebuilt in a more modern and commodi-
Gus style, aud is now conducted by james Mad
dux. Esq a friend Of my early life and a con-
noisseur 10 the business. a very audsoue
building has been built within the last year,
combining Banking House, Lawyers Offices
and Masonic Lodge, an ornament IN Itself
The colorcd people, Of whom there seems 10
be large number, have erected in the centre
of the town A very cTeditable ediice at a cost
Of So 900, used as an Odd Fellows Hall and
place for their public gatherings. This il
highly commendable and shows Thrift and pros
perity. notice a number Of new aud renoya-
ted residences. going 10 show the town does
not retrograde but moves on apace with the
times. /. is beautiful place as 10 situation,
as well as internal arrangement. As 10 tho
former Nature has filed the bill, and as to the
latter. there is zone Of that stiff artistic laying
out Of streets, etc, which b my eye sayors
strongly Of monotony; but rather an easy nat-
ural following Of main roads lcading 10 prom
inent objective points, whilst the tout eHsem-
bic of the town is admirable From the su-
burban hills north, south and west magniG-
cent views Of distant fhorntaio aud bill opeu
10 the eve, and the town itself from the prOlu-
sion Of shade trees seems to nestle 10 green TO-
liage. The country around is Of good quality,
producing well, Of which the town is the depot,
being connected By branch road with tho
Midland main stem. There are four orthodox
protestant churches-Methodst Episcopalian,
Baptist and Presbyterian, with a small Catbo-
lie ono and resident Priest-all Of which are
commodious and handsome cdificcs. Mr. Scott
the Presbyterian Pastor is the son Of DR.. Scott
of Duflields. The business Of the town seems
to be on a par with that Of our5-prces Of
produce the same, too. u has no manufacto-
res Of any extensveness, not even the ubiqui-
tous satisfactory, nor even grist mill, with
which our section is 50 plentilully supplied
our limestone streams aftcrding abundant wa
ter power There Is no water course trayers-
ing the town or running near il that can be
called other than little branch. As the shire
town Of Fauquier Of course il has a Court
house. well supplied with gentlemen of tho
legal fraternity, a leader among whom is Gen.
PAYNE. of Confederate fame. The Bar here
was always a strong ono, and in ante beiliua
days when II. +. Scott and Sam1 Chiffon
locked shields il was not surpassed. miss
the quick, nervous step Of Mosby on the street
whom saw passing to and fro four years ago.
lie has sold bis beautiful residence here and
now lives in Washington. This is the bone
Of Gen. Eppa Hunton, the popular representa-
tive in Congress from this District. 8ho, you
know, was one Of the immortal Commission
that settled The Presidential embrogIio, though
not after his way. Re Is true democrat, yet
conservative and liberal in spirit-ycry popu-
lar with the people and commands The respect
Of both parties in congress. Here, too, lives
VIM Smith, Esq" Extra Billy" once called
ex-contraetor, ex-congressman, ex-governor,
ex-legisIator-an extraordinary man, 1.-the,
active and vigorous. though suppose nearly
eighty.
Fine rains over here and very seaeonable-
everything blooming.
Yours, &c,
TfMuTnY.