The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-08-17
For the Democratic Adroeate.
The Shenandoah Valley.

MEssRs. EDITORS in this great val
ley OF Virginia, at an elevation of some
200 feet above the sea, we have had ex-
cessive heats for weeks. 1t almost sinres
us to imagine how it must be far down in
lower levels, more crowded and less venti-
lated districts. We have now secured an
abundant harvest, and having 4 short
breathing spell-a few moments to think,
we trust you will not refuse to hear a few
thoughts which the winds may bring. up
and down the mountains This great val
ley, as you are well aware, extends longi-
tudinally, nearly north and south. more
than hundred miles. To the. traveller
either north or south, it presents every
variety of scenery, from low, winding
river bottoms and savannahs to hundreds
of sinuous shady ridges and hills, which
give rise to abundance of delicious waters.
These hills usually run north and south,
giving wavy undulating appearance to
the landscape, similar in many respects 10
the surface of the ocean, slightly rufied.
as the tide is seen gaining on the shore.
In this portion of the Valley, two bright
meandering streams-the Shenandoah ON
the west, and Smiths Greek on the east-
running about north two points east, NAV
be seen from the mountains like two ser
pents of silver, slowly winding their way.
The whole scene is variegated, and in some
places rendered quite romantic, by numer
GUS spurs and branches of the kittatinny
system ofmountains Along here. through
Rockingham and Shenandoah counties
appear the Massanuttin range on the east
and the North Shenandoah mountain on
the west. These ranges, diversified by
lncessant mutations of aspect, beautifully
embroider the Valley, and make it appear
from certain elevated points, like a vast
circular bowl or vase, enclosing every
charm that could be derived from the
tasteful intermixture of lawn, and grove,
and garden, and mead, and orchard.
cOrn6eld, wheat field, hamlet, village. and
town, basking under a canopy of shining
sky.
If we fancy an inclosure here of some
240 square miles, embracing the northern
part of Rockingham, and the southern half
OF Shenandoah counties, we shall have a
garden of fertility and beauty unsurpassed
perhaps by another equal area on any part
Of the habitable earth. The chief difficult
ty is, this arabic surface is mostly divided
into what are called farms, entirely too
extensive, for purposes either of utility or
beauty. Each proprietor has a vast deal
more acres than he can possibly subject to
judicious cultivation; and hence, the full
capacities of the wales and river-bottoms
have never been tested. The labors of
the husbandman the whole year, are de-
voted exclusively to production of cereals
and grasses, and he finds not a moment
for the exercise of taste merely, and va
rieties of artistic establishment. Perhaps
it is scarcely possible for the human mind
to conceive the picture, which full COM
bination Of nature and art might be made
to present, in landscape such as we here
have around us.
Suppose our roads aud thoroughlares
were all embroidered with flowers and
shade trees, our pastures, meadows, and
fields enclosed according to the most taste
full style of art, the banks Of our streams
and rivulets embellished with fragrant
flowers artfully arranged, our villages and
towns more cleanly and neatly preserved,
after the plain, simple dictates OF cnltivat-
ed taste, might not such spot of earth be
rendered all. that we now conceive of the
primitive Eden ? The truth is, our people
are industrious enough, economical enough;
but they are all too busy in making more
money and in buying more land, having
a great deal too much land already. When
/ sit by our spring-by the way, spring
of the most delicious water in the world;
when / look around our broad undulating
fields and pastures; when / see the morn
ing sun come over the Massanuttin, throw
ing a flood of golden radiance over all the
green hills of Summer, Oh | must talk
omething-nonsense though it bel
must even venture to tell the advocate
something of what every one would think
and feel, seated and situated as am now,
hoping that the AdUocate viii proclaim it
to all the world lila.