Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-07-30

TO THE vALLEY-UNPRECED
ABUNDANCE-vIRGIN HOSPITALI-
TWIST TO WEYER'S CAVE
STRANGE SIGHTS IN THAT GREAT
NATURAL WONDER-THE HARRISON
BURG "RUsTIcs," ETC.
Especial Correspondence of The naltimorean.]
STAUNToN, VA, July Is, 1873.
Editors Bdltinaore0qa In company
with about fifty others, delegates to the
Sunday School Convention of the Ball.
timore Conference M. E. Church South,
to be held in this PLACE, we steamed out
past ON the morning of Monday, the
8th, and were soon gliding along Inc
smooth roadway under the propulsive
power of the restless, throbbing, mighty
''iron horse" Nothing of unusual in
terest occurred, and at noon we reached
the memOrably historic town of Har-
per's Ferry, where the confluence of the
Shenandoah'an Potomac Rivers causes
break in the chain of the Blue Ridge,
and, aRd forms s;g33s yeFy picturesque and beau
Disseminating part of cur long train
OF IL coaches, we proceeded to our des-
tination through the grandest region of
agl licultural country it has ever been nv
pleasure to see. The large fields Of
| splendid grain waving in the sunlight,
and the fast growing corn, gave evidence
of increasing wealth and power, so that
the lands Of Maryland, through which
had just passed, looked dwarfish in
comparison. In thinking of the great
| future of the South, and the magnificent
prospect in store for her, I am not
surprised at the sentiment expressed in
an editorial of one of the Virginia pa
pers Mature in one..of her friendliest
moods fashioned this beautiful valley,
with its verdant fields and crystal
streams, hedged in on either side by
sentinel mountains to shield it from
the rude blasts of the seasons, and gar
nished it with panoramic splendor
that might well challenge the richest
creations of the artists fancy. All these
natural endowments present themselves
for the utilization of man, to be moulded,
through the agencies Of progressive
civilization. for the advancement of the
comfort, prosperity and refinement of
society,""
| While pondering over these things,
the thought would arise, Why, in the
name Of common sense, do emigrants
and half-starved city artisans go out
| West, and freeze to death one-half of
the year and starve the remaining por-
ton, to make living, when here every
thing is ready fer man to seiAe the lever,
as it were, and apply his power of brain
and muscle at much less rate of ten
sion? 1t being the unknowable and
unsolvable, I leave it with nv. Herbert
Spencer.
On our arrival at Staunton, (the Local
Committee, with real Yankee enter
prise,!printed a circular with the homes
of each delegate therein,l we were re-
ceived with open arms, and it is needless
to say the memorable hospitality of old
Virginia has been our "meat and our
drink" ever since we touched the depot,
and the opinion of the delegates and
visitors is one of unqualified praise and
thankfulness.
The most prominent points Of inter-
est in this city are the Institution for the
Deaf, Dumb and Blind, the Insane
Asylum and the different collegiate in
stltutes, which latter are in deservedly
nourlshing condition. A fine improve
ment has lately been added, in the shape
OF new reservoir, to supply the city
with water, the height of which would
make the Water Engineer of Baltimore
mad with envy. An ordinary house
hose sends stream ta the top Of the
ing.
The old custom of setting apart one
day OF the Convention for picnicing has
oeen wisely abolished, but that has in
no way deferred independent exploring
parties from making excursions to all
Ine places of interest within reaching
distance. Some thirteen of us last
Wedesday, consisting of Misses Virginia
YMsrGlatt, sallie Bullock, Hattie Martin,
Mlnnie Magruder, Mr.. Charles Shipley
9nd son, Rev. J. Frederick Bagges, OF
5altlmore, Mr.. Licklider, Superinten-
Gent Of the Southern Methodist Sunday
school Of ShepherdstoWn, w. Va, and
otleys, paid d visit to the greatest natu-