The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-10-02
IFor the Dispa,cf.l
From CHRISTIE nsbursr 60 Bucl,anan.

I . =
Itwould he hard to oYerrate the com
| forts and advantages OF the modern rail-.
way. We freely admit that it is indispen.
sable In our age; butte one who has leisure
and wishes to travel, commend us to the
noble horse, equipped with saddle and bri.
die. or harnessed to any wheeled vehicle
| which has springs. To the seeker after en-
| ioyable and healthy recreation there Is
nothing Ike this old-fashioned mode of
travel. To the lover. OF nature, nothing
presents such advantages as this leisurely
transit, which leaves one to follow his
own sweet will-stopping and trrning
aside, lingering to feast the eve or treat
the fancy wherever the scene invites.
In the company OF q congenial friend, it
was nv good fortune lately to pass in
q somewhat leisurely fashion through tile
counties Of Montgomery. Roanoke. Bote-
tourt, and Rockbridge. The season was
propitious, the weather good, and our team
healthy and strong AS TO the country
through which we passed, it presented the
most varied features o; beauty, with much
to awaken thought. Montgomery is very
elevated, billy, and the home OF the blue
grass. The air here is remarkably pure aud
healtbful. We could but think ofithe pest
laden atmosphere Of the fever-stricken
South, and wish that we could watt 10 our
sorrowlng brethren some Of this heath-giy-
ing ether. In this and the adjoining coun-
ties OF Pulaski and Wythe are to be seen
now upon the rich pastures they afford the
finest cattle in The State. Wesaw some as fine
fat short-horns as are to be found upon the;
bluegrass Of Kentucky. Christiansburg,
the county seat OF Montgomery, has few at
fractions. Its hotels are poor, business
rather small, and Just now dull, but it has
~ ;Sc n1c nd oh
It is q considerable summer-reSort, and
is surrounded by several very popular
From this point q rapid
and considerable descent by the well-graded
road takes you to the Roam
oke Valley, which widens out before you |
reach Salem into one OF the loVeliest and |
most fertile valleys in the State. The leca-
ton Of Salem is extremely beautiful Set |
in the midst OF the beautiful river valley,
on high ground, its near horizon is bound
ed on every side by mountains Enthusiastically
piled, ridged, or peaked. The landscape is
Leaving here, 1t is worth while
to turn aside from the maiu roaG to
visit the neighborhood OF Big Lick, a
railroad village seven miles dis
tant. Nothing can surpass the fertility or
beauty Of this region. Around the Lick,
on every side, are the most splendid farms,
>
lure, and on every hand the evidences of
thrift and abundance make the heart glad
It is little oasis, for as you pass on to b.
tetourt, naturally fine county, and in
many places we'll improved, you do not see
bali so many evidences OF prosperous man.
lgement. Fences are patched and dilapi-
lated, and houses much the same. The
ields are worn out in many cases, and eX-
.ept in the creek valleys crops are not very
inc. AS you drive into Buchanan your
spirits do not rise. Nestled in the valley Of
he beautiful James, which sweeps in
graceful curve around it, with the {
mountains rearing them
elves. maieStically around it, you can.
lot help feeling that it is an at :
ractive place; but it is not. 1t is de-
erted village. No sound OF busy industry
reefs the ear. The silent streets have
obering effect. An air of former preten-
ions is suggested by several large unoccu-
lied neutrality-suspicious., silent, and left to
he ghosts. The hotel is good enough, but
We are in mood Of quietness, and the river
uggests the inquiry to Il lover OF that de-
ightfu sport if there is not good fishing
lereabouts. Yes, 6rst.rate. "Just up
here In those noisy rifles and eddying blue
oles lie now the bass" This is news to 0
make ones palm itch, but time does not
'ermit, and we pass over the rustic but very
ferry to bump for a while on
sotetourt rocks and then to bump a greater
1hile on Rockbrdge rocks. The macao dam
Dad ends Mt Buchanan; thence to Stauuton =
on travel on the Dlank-road." But be
OF deceived, gentle reader, you will see
nary a" plank, but rocks and ruts, ribs
nd gullies-of these you fnd an abund- f
nee. NJ. l.. M. q