The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-11

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I FREDEMCKsBURG, July 8, 1879.
Dear Dispatch: at S:45 Z. NJ. on July
4th two young men OF Richmond set out on
tramp. The general opinion OF their
| friends was that they were lunatics. In
| fact, one young lady ran across the street to
the house OF friend, and called out, "Ob,
c.. your friend Mr.. b has gone
crazy; he's going to walk to Staunton,
and think he'd better stay there" In
spite OF these forebodings, we set
out, rs have stated, intending to spend
the night about five miles from Richmond.
| 1t was cn our way out that We really
| learned that it was the glorious Fourth.
Two negroes, whose patriotism was very
ardent. were having a fight, and we heard
one call out, g Yes, you may choke me all
| night, bu: you shan't impose on me-"
will leave the readers OF the Dispatch to
| reconcile that statement. After being hos.
| pitably entertained ct DR.. Norwood's, we
woke up 10 lind it was raining. But
between showers we managed to get
! over to Brookhill. Here we spent de-
| lightful hour, and then the rain having
ceased we started out in earnest. loaded
with apricots. which made delicious deS-
scrt to our lunch. When we reached the
Chickahominy we stopped to take bath in
! its sluggish. sombre, but historic stream.
| Very much refreshed, we again set out, and
| BY taking it eaSily-reSting and bathing our
| feet occasionalv-we reached General
Wick hams little before 7. We spent Sun
day here, attending church in Ashland.
| How much we enjoyed it need not say, for
many arc the people OF Richmond who have
| experienced that opcn-handcd hospitality
! which is dispensed nowhere more literally
than at Hickory Hill. Here we cut stout
hickory sticks, and on Monday morning we
were landed across the Pamunkcy by Gene
raj Wickbam TO save LIS long dctour. Pur-
suing our usual plan of bathing this time
in the MattaponD and resting, we reached
The elegant and hospitable abode OF Hon.
Daniel Dciarnette. We haG intended to 60
further that day, but his cordial invitation
TO remain with him was too strong to be re-
sisted. uls conversation on the events OF
the day was rare treat to us both, for
though he has not been recently in public
lire. he keeps fully abreast with the times.
But must not omit to mention some
thing that we saw shortly before we got to
his house. Turning little OIL the road, we
came to tall brick dwelling, built in the
form OF q cross, with high gables and lat
tice windows, which had evidently been a
place OF note. But the porch was sinking
und falling away. the shutters were hang
ing loose, the beautiful box shrubberY was
completely orcr.rown with rose-bushes and
weeds, calling to mind the line,
! s-Chapgc and decay in all around soe"
We learned that it had been built by Robert
Deiarnette, Esq, but had been bought dl-
ring the war By Stuart. Of the salt-Wo!ks,
and that he had let it out to tenants without
ever comm. to see it or taking care OF 1t.
| Resisting a cordial invitation from Mr.. De-
iarnette to spend the day with him, and let
him send Us TO Fredericksburg, we again
| took UP the march, and reached Bowling
| Green about 10 O'Clock. 1t is much neater
and pretticr than most courthouse towns
| in Virginia that it has been our lot 10 Sce
| We stopped in the po>t-otiice to send OIL some
poStal-cards, and it happened to be the time
! OF the arrival OF the mail. Scene: On one
side OF the store two solitary individuals in
gray bouScs trimmed with blue, long
sticks, wide hats, and wcIl-tiled satcheis;
on the other. Il whole row OF villagers,
with ewes fixed intcnly on the a5oTe'men-
| toned pair, aud ears attentive to the con-
vcrsation they were carrying on with 0ne
| or two gentlemen whose acquaintance they
had made. We felt like Caleb and Joshua
ranged against the whole consrega-
ton OF Israel. We did not stop long
here. but pressed on. After taking bath
! in Mill run we were caught IN sngnC
rain. AS it was very light we did not stop
until we came to sheltered spring, where
we stopped and ate our lunch. Leaving
here, it soon began to rain hard, and we
sought shelter under the shed OF negro
cabin. Here re took out volume OF Lu-
clan and read a dialogue, being, suppose,
the first time that Greek ever was or will
be read under that roof. The occupants
seemed to think we were conjurins"
them, for they got ont little Sunday-school
book and began TO look ut it very diligently
TO keep otf the evil spell.
Fearing lest my letter has been already
too long, I must pass on, barely mentioning
Old Grace church, the headquarters Of Gen
eral D. II. Hill, and the beautiful view OF
the Rappahanock Valley, with the spires OF
Fredericksburg to the right. and glimpse
OF the distant Blue Ridge TO the LETT. We
stopped at the beautiful home OF DR..
Bruce Morton, who. with his lovely wife,
made our stay very delightful. HIS 1arm
is one OF the very finest we have
seen. and he keeps it in the most
perfect order. In the morning we
went 4 short distance down the river
to Belvjdere, the former home of Mrs. Gene
raj Wickham, now occupied by Dir. Boul-
ware, the father Of the rising lawyer OF that
name in Richmond. Here we had beauti-
full view OF the Rappahannock. Retracing
our steps and stopping to bid our kind hosts
goodbye, we walked on through the once
battle-scarred but now smiling fields, teem-
ing with rich crops, until we came safely
into this famous old town. will not say
anything about the town, because, that
being on the railroad, you know all
about about it; but if person wishes to study a
country and see really what 1t IL ne must
,,te il afoot-not even horseback does as
well. So far ali the wofuI predictions OF
our friends have failed. We stepped into
Fredericksburg, after our walk OF eighty
miles. counting detours, feeling better than
when we left Richmond. We venture to
say that "the languid swell' feels much
better to-day than the witty young iadY
who dubbed him so feels tossing on the
ocean. There are many other items OF IN
terest that could mention, but my letter
has much exceeded my original intention.
Ny companion. Alter" will write from
Alexandra. Yours truly, EGO.
AN Ex-OHloAS ON ONO MEN,-lBsln-
-. ./t.soyTo'7-Jf those A marican Bona