Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-09-23
TUESDAY, SEPT. 2S, 1879,
BRISTOh-GUODSON.
What "Meekins" has to say
About the Border City
BristOl's Future, &c.

ten from this point during his late
visit, aud published in the Richmond
STATE, 18th. Some portions are
omitted for want Of space. Mr.
Bagby is a versatile writer, and hi,
articles remind us Of a mountain
stream winding through lovely val,
ley-every now and then we catch
glimpses OF the laughing water, as it
dances around some graceful curve:
In 1854 or '55, / "disremember'
which, Mr., r. f. Walker sent me as a
Spy into this land Of Canaan. Object
to start paper. For my life can
not remember whether the railroad
had or had not been completed to this
point or not. but rather think not.
because vague mixture of Abingdon
md stage coaches at midnight remains
Ia the back or bottom part of my
brain. The Virginia house had been
opened-I am certain of that-for the
aroma OF strong coffee and broiled
chicken hangs round the broken, the
ruined vase OF me still. One Of the
LaDgbornes kept 1t, didn't he? or was
lie son of Billy Lancaster
The people of Bristol received me
kindly, wanted a paper "very bad, !"
would do all they could to sustain it,
but drew me such horrible picture Of
Brownlow-a man, they said, with
two foreheads that held a double
amount of mind, no conscience, and q
bloody heart-that retreated in go9d
order. They also frightened me by an
outline Of Fayette McMullin. And l
saw wild aud desperate young man
who was dressed In full suit of cur
tain calico, with large figures mostly
Of green birds and that scared me too,
Suppose Walker and had settled
here. We were young, Walker had
where would Fowler and the Bristol
-NeiOs be now? Petty Miss May
would have been dissatisfied out Of
Richmond, the Twinses would never
have been born, the course certainly
uf Virginia, and probably Of Amcrl-
can history, would have been chang
ed. the world might have come to mn
end, and, In Mcr, things & nerally
might have rot 0ut Of keltcr-w which
would have heen awkward for the
universe. am sorry we didn't go.
How lar Brist0l was at the time Of
my first visit, cannot recall. When
] came here year or two after the
war, IL was stil small The mer-
chants, like parcel Of boys, were
playing Jokes on each Other. One
would send n message In hot haste to
another with the cabalstic words -
"Mr. so and 30 has n note FOR you. -
Please come and get II Immediately,
for It Ia important" Off Soand so
would hurry, to be shown an oot "a
notc) and get laughed at for his pains.
Lynchhurg, in the days of Tom Acre
and Parson Lably, was not more
youthful and practically jockey. But
now with enlarged borders and bigger
business tho gravity Of mercantile life
has come upon Bristol; II feels its oats
and acts up to them.
Nor con ! say that either Of my
former visits impressed me with "the
promise and the potency" Of the place.
/ feel them now sensbly. Alone, |
went out enc bright morning to King
College, named for the Rev. James
King, one of the original settlers,
who gave twenty acres OF ground to
the college. From the upper window
/ cast n glance over the little city co.
"IIow II has grown since the war !"
"Whn, nh admirable slteW Good
for 10000 people In few years !'--
Such were my mental exclamations,
as looked on aud enjoyed the scene,
much M an old man looks on stout,
happy boy. and sees IN him the strong,
inil, handsome man that is to be On
tho other side of Beaver creek. thick.
set already with mills aud factories,
rises u little mountain on the very
edge Of town, which ought ut once to
h slezed by the authorities aa the tit'
,ost place for park. How beautiful
~ would he, with its gently graded
roads, its grass and its trees, and what
lovely views II would command. Then
there is the lightly scooped vale
through which the narrow gauge road
Ia 10 run--the site In coming years OF
more factories and long lines OF level
streets. The eye OF the mind could
zee them already built and flaming
with gas or electricity; while from the
tops OF the hills hard by twinkled the
lights from the parlors OF suburban
villas tenanted by the wealthy classes.
what u charming city II IL going to
bel" said alone 10 myself And po
II will II these people do but nccept
and welcome IN loving spirit the beau-
ty Of nature which God has plven
them. say nothing Of the more dis
tant scenery, bold and picturesque,
lying youder. away Ia dim azure haze,
aud fading out Of sight, nn anthem OF
form trembling Into silence Nor do
Ispeak Of tho mellow climate, tropi.
cal In the midsummer noons, but cool
ing quickly under the mountain night
uews-a soft belt OF lowland enveloped
by highland, In which there IL varl-