The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-09-19
Trare.s OF ECO and Alter.

FAREWELL TO THE MGUNTA1Ss--T0EING THE
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AH6Y-THE TRAAPs
TRIUMPHANT T-RESUME-ALTER "PoINTs a
MORAL, -wT 4DMoEITIoN DUE "-THE CUR
TAIN FALLS. ---, r 5.,r ~.a-.
RICHMOND, September 13, 1879.
Dear Dispatch: Having separated for a
few days, the tramps, again united their
forces at Mecbum's river, on "Wednesday
last, and went on to.the. University. Here
we enjoyed suDlptuous dinner with, ous
friends, and were pleased to have.tbe socie-
W OF two Of our acquaintances from Rich
mond. Under the. guidance OF oneI OF the
University's fair daughters bad the plea
sure of going around and seeing the sights.
It is hard to see how any one can neglect
the golden opportunities Tor Improvement
that are furnished here. The classic beauty
and repose in all the surroundings. the sa-
cred memories Of the good and great WHICH
cluster around every spot, one would sup
pose to be sufficient inspiration to ; 1
"Do noble deeds. not dream them ali day long"
Leaving the University, we set out for
Edge Hill, where we expected TO spend the
night with friends and relatives. IS we
passed through Charlottesville we recoS-
niZed in passing carriage q 6evy OF beau-
ties WHO had previously known lis iii broad
cloth and cashmere. We bowed profoundly,
and were greeted with n burst Of morriment
which lasted till the sound of wheels died
away in the distance. When we reached
the Summit, we turned back to "cast one
longing, lingering look behind" at the
beautiful view about to be shut out from
our sight. We have had few glimpscs
Of the mountains since, but never is
then, when they formed dcep-blue frame
to the lovely green hills and meadows which
surround the beautiful home and the noblcst
wolk Of Thomas Jefferson. We regretted
very much not having time TO visit Mon;i-
cello-I particularly, as Alter had been
there, and as the bones OF my ancestors lie
in its sacred burying-ground. Our stay Ut
Edge Hill was brief but delightful. and the
following morning we had to tear ourselves
away. Our route that day was not interest
ing in itself. though part Of it had historic
interest. We passed the place where the
committee from Albcmarle received Lafay-
cite from the Fluvanna committee and cs-
corted him with great pomp to Monticello.
All Of that brilliant cayalcade are gone.
The last link that connected those scenes
with the present time was cut by the death
OF Colonel Thomas Jefferson Randolph.
Our road through Fluyanna was mostly
good, though it is not kept up rs it doubt
less was when John Randolph remarked
that FIuvanna ought to be cut into strips
and sold to make roads for the rest OF he
State" We saw plenty OF chinquapins and
persimmons, for which the county is noicd.
We stopped at farmhouse for The night,
aud when the farmer went i'll to consult his
wife about giving lis lodgings his little girl
said : " Mamma, don't be afraid; they
| don't look hike tramps." Discerning little
lrf Nl,n VT 1n. yN,f1n N,1a
to the crossroads, we we're little taken
aback TO see eco miles to Richmond.H
We walked two miles, and saw 'To Rich
mond, IS miles" The other signs agreed
with this. Has no one in the ncighbor-
hood public spirit enough to change that
to q 5? After pretty long walk-now
through woods, now through tue court
house with its beautiful green and splendid
old oak, now on the lonely banks OF The
dear old James-we came to Eastwood,
where we spent restful and refreshing
| night. In the morning we fingered awhile,
going over our friends farm, and then
| took the towpati for Richmond. The old
canal was quite prisk to-day. large nunl-
Der Of boats passing Us on their way up
| th0uqh none overlook us. We could not
| but admire the massive masonry OF Its
| locks and aquedusts, and it seemed pity
that all that money had not been invested
| in A railroad ut first. But canal is
much more peaceful than railroad,
and suited the old times. 1t Is Ger
talnly much pleasanter walking. About
four miles from Richmond we stopped and
took one more bath, killed one more snake,
and then JOY fully wended our way TO Rich
mond When we reached the bend that
presented the familiar view OF Richmond to
our sight we could appreciate Dr.. Bagby's
beautiful description OF it in g Canal Reml-
niscences." And so we walked on amid
familiar sights and sounds, reaching Rich
mond at haf-past 6.
| $50 now IT'S ended, like an old wife:
tale" and Il brief RESUME is not lnappro.
pirate. II any one will take the map q
Virginia and glance up the western shore
of the Chesapeake bay he will see four
great rivers-the James, the York;, the Rap
pahannOck, and the Potomac. IL the coun
| trv drained by these rivers our route hai
lain, though far the greater ymrt was il
the Valley OF the Potomac and It's grca
tributary, the Shenandoah. The countr1
irayerscd is almost SOU? re, with Rich
mond, Alexandria, Martin sburg, and Staun
| Ton at the four corners, We have by nC
means contped ourselv cs to the boundarle
OF the square, rs we have been in ever.
county in it, eycep'; five Of the interlo
ones. The countif :, twenty-four IN mum
Der, are as follows, in the order we came L
them: Henrco, Hanover, Caroline, spot
syIvania, Staffor d, Prince William, Fairfax
| Alexandria, .ondoun, Washington. Mo.
Jefferson and Berkeley, ". Va, FrederlcE
Clarke, pquicr, Warren, Page, Shennn
dcah, Rock .inghaul, Augu$ta, Nelson, Aibe
marie, F'luyanna, Goochland, and thei
Henrico again. OF these, If will d.
seen, twenty-one. were in Virginia
two in West Virginia, and one in Ma
rylap d. The distance walked was I'll
miles. This is not guess-work. We sc
| down the distance from day to day, AWAY
tP.king an under estimate where there wa
J any uncertainty. s....1. .-
We set out eating blackberries and whor
tlebcrries along the road, we return eatin:
chiuquapins and wild grapes. We hay
seen every variety OF land. Some produced
corn whose tops we could not reach witt
our Alpenstocks, in other places we cou|t
bestride it without its reacn1ng Us, thougl
lit had attained its growth. One lnan com
planned of poor crop OF wheat when b
had made twenty-five bushels to th
acre; another, when he threshed a
much as he bad soWed, ioyously eE
claimed, 'sWelI, Eve got her back agin
but don't think LII trust her in the grount
no more" We have been from ciyillza
1 tion to barbarism, sometimes days wall
bringing us from the refinement oI an Gle
CANT heme to alog house where We alept u