Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-07-30
For the SPECTATOR.
A Ramble in Central Virginia-No. 8.
BRoADHEAD, Augusta county, Va, I
JnIY Goth. 1875.

A Ramble in Central Virginia-No. 8.
BROADHEAD, Augusta county, Va, |
\ Jnly Goth, 1878.
; Passing through Albemarle county
three months ago, made brief men
} ton of Charlottesville, Monticello, the
University of Virginia, and other mat
tiers of interest pertaining to that coun-
ty. Finding relative comfortably en-
sconced about six miles northeast from
Charlottesville, on the county road lead
ing from the former city to Orange
Courthouse, | concluded to rest for a
time with him. He conducted me to
the portion of his estate known as ''the
Old place." and informed me that there
nved, seventy years ago, my great
grandparents in the maternal line,
wearing two of the best names in the
old State, Gillian and Dickinson.
Around me were several picturesque
! mountains, Rogers, Sugar Loaf, Prid-
dy's. Broadhead, and WolfPit. Not
many miles distant loomed many more,
and farther, the great wall of united
lofty elevations, known as the Blue
Ridge, rose natural barrier between
the eastern and western parts of the
ancient Dominion. 1 ascended Wolf
Pit, and, spending an hour in viewing
| the scenery spread out before me on ali |
sides, I began, but laid away in despair, |
description of the almost innumerable |
pictures that were possible. An agree
able episode here, was finding, in a val |
ley that skirts the mountain on the
north, fair mountain nympth, to
whom 1 made some gallant remarks
while her long white taper fingers dain-
tily toye5 with red hearts, or coquet-
| <,
pure mouth. She proved to be Rap
pahannock belle, temporarily soiourn-
ing with sister residing in Albemarle.
Monticello and the University, near
by, grow more interesting. A monu-
ment, costing ten thousand dollars is to
be erected over the grave of Jefferson at
his homestead. The Brooks Museum
attracts many visitors. The offer of q
great telescope to the University by Mr..
Cyrus III. Mccormick, the inventor of
the wOrld-famOus Reapers and Mowers.
has aroused desire in the Alumni to
donate a large sum sufficient to procure
a building suitable to receive such an
instrument. 1t is to be hoped that this
most valuable addition to Its educational
means Will not be lost to our most mer-
ltorlous University. The usual interest
OF the latest public exercises was in-l
creased by the reading of scientific {
address by James G. Sonthall, ESQ. en-
titled MANS place in Creation.n
Bidding adieu to my comfortable kins.
man, and seated at the side of nv mis-
sionary friend, the Rev. w. G.. Clarke.
Iormerly OF Fluvanna, I sought the
Railroad station at Charlottesville, in
tending to escape to the region of cool
mountain resorts taking the hints from
the snow birds that pass their summers {
among the rocky and leafy coverts of
the Appalachians. Puff, puff away,
westwardly through the tunnel, and we
are in Staunton, the queen of the Val
ley cities. The Sunday school couven-
tlon was In session, but what heat:-I
Nevertheless heard a fine address by
Rey. =. Z. Biting. d. D., of Baltimore, K
and some good music by Mr.. Hank, of s
the same city. t
For beauty of situation, for the plan I
OF its buildings and streets, the enter '
prise and taste OF its people, it is hard G
to Injure Staunton by over-praise; and
1t seems to be certain that it has before
it great future. Its bar, its pulpit, and I
its press, are notably good. c
Although so much is constantly said t
concerning the value and beauty of the e
great Valley Of Virginia, it is very diff 6
cult to get comprehensive idea of it, {
Its large area, its environment by noun t
tains rich in untold mineral deposits, i
its pure air and abundant water, the G
natural fertility, and almost limitless G
capabilities of its soil, its location divid- t
ing the sources of the streams that flow t
to the Atlantic on the east, the Gulf of I
Mexico on the Southwest, and the great I
chain OF lakes on the North, with its :
nelghbOrnood to the National Capitol, |
the religion, moral, and home cherish I
ing habits of its people, give this sec I
ton of our common country advantages
that seem to the writer to be unedualled. 6
The wonder seems to be that these facts !
have been so much overlooked by our j!
keen eyed capitalists. A bright day, it !
is believed, is at hand. At some time, !
certainly, the Valley of Virginia in
America will be mentioned with Egypt
in Africa, with Cashmere and Canaan
in Asia, and with Grenada, Lomhardy,
and Sicily in Europe. The beauty and
grandeur of its mountains, glens, low
grounds, plains, and sea-like undulat-
ing surfaces, will enlist the efforts of
famous poets and painters, and it will
become picture Of that heavenly Eden
which we are striving to gain beyond
the sun.
While it is gratifying to an American +
to witness immigration filling the
mighty Valley of the Mississippi and
the Pacific slope. yet it is seen that
many would find greater advantages in
choosing their homes here. That scourge
of rich river bottoms and sea-beach,
malarial fever, is here absolutely un-
known. Indeed, the Valley of Vir-
ginia may be called not untruly vast
sanitarium, so soon and thoroughly are
recuperated here those who have been
wasted by diseases inciden. TO lower
p!ateaux. The few maladies to which
its inhabitanta are sometimes subject
mostly, are avoidable by prudence. TO
conclude, under this head the writer
may reiterate that in his Judgment what
he has said deserves of itself to engage
serious consideration by many persons
who are now debating as to where they
will cast in their lot for the coming
time. ]. A. B.
THE VALUE OF LOCAL NEwPAPERs.
After all, it is from the local newspa
pers, and not from outside source that
the real state of almost any case can be
ascertained. 1t is all very well for jour-
male nubiishA1 in DlacpS moro or Iocs