The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-06-12
Over to Charlottesville.

| 1t had better rest untold.
| Over to Charlottesville.
MEssRs. EDITORS VIRaINIAN: 1t was
announced by handful and otherwise. that
on the 10Th of May there would be an ex-
cursion train run from Ssaunton to Char
lottesville, to give all who desired an oppor-
tunity to attend the Baptist Association,
which was then in session, or any others
seeking pleasure or business could avail
themselves of the cheap rates, and not hay
ing had the pleasure of visiting that town
for twenty-seven years, we concluded we
would make one of the number on that oc-
casion, to see what progress they had made,
or to note what changes had been effected
by the lapse of so many years.
We were at the depot at O'Clock A. NJ.
the hour appointed for the start, but owing
to some delayed trains we did not get in
motion until 6:35. We hooked on to the
train of that prince of good fellows, Captain
Pat Wood ward, of Staunton. After the
usual all aboard. aud a conyulsive shudder
that ran through the train, away we started,
with puff and a shrek, a roar and rattle.
From the city and familiar scenes on we
sped, through the fields, through the woods,
| through the corn, through the hay, through
cut, across the river where the null is going,
| by the churcl, were the dead are lying, by
the cot, by the cabin, by the mansions OF the
rich, booming through the tunnel, through
smoke, through damp and heavy air,
flashing ont into the light Of day, sometimes
pausing for moment where a crowd OF
| faces are, that in minute more are not /;
| sometimes laping water gree Oily, and before
| the spout at which it drinks has ceased to
drip upon the ground it is rattling, roar
ing, dashing on, down the mountain side;
out into the country we sped, where the
| sheep were feeding and the cattle grazing,
where the wheat was waving and the flowers
blooming. Louder and louder yet it roars,
as it goes tearing on resistless, until with a
shrek Of exultation we were landed at the
town of c charlottesville 1--WE like to have said
VILLAGE, where we were greeted by Ian
guild, listless, enervated and motly-looking
crowd of both races, though the African
greatly predominated. There were three or
four porters, in whom seemed to have been
concentrated all the life and energy Of the
entire crowd, and who shouted and yelled
as though the salvation OF the town depend
| ed upon the amount Of noise they should
make, and which we think would have put
to shame the noise made by the rams horn s
around the walls OF Jericho. When we
stepped upon the platform and surveyed the
throng we saw none ofour acquaintance Of
bygone days, and would have felt as stran-
ger in strange land had it not been for
those with whom we journeyed.
| Our first object was to go through the
town and note the changes effected by time.
We thought at first it might be prudent to
procure guide, as we had been led to be-
lieve by the growing of the co respondent OF
the Richmond Dispatch about the time the
railroad shops were moved there, that the
town had grown to such huge proportions,
we might not be able to fluid our way back
from whence we started without some aid
but after consulting with friends we con-
cluded not to incur the expense Of guide
and take the risk; so in trepidation we
started out, not knowing but what we might
get Devil dered in the maZes OF the town.
We trudged along in the scorching heat, ard
| finally emerged upon the Court House square.
Alas. what did we see there; not residences
of thrift, but topling walls, porticos in ruins.
broken windows and battered roofs, all one
scene Of devastation and decay. Time had
made sad changes here, and here, as all
through the town, with some few excep-
tions.) if it ever had an application of paint,
all traces must have long since disappeared
We passed from thence to main street, and
or to the University to the business portions
of the town. We saw none of that busting
activity that characterizes the citizens OF
our city; but the clerks and tradesmen were
sitting supinely at the doors reading the
news Of the day, or quietly slumbering, ant
perhaps, dreaming of the lost glory and pros
perity of the once thrifty town.
We visited the museum at the University
which is very interesting to any one whit
possess knowledge Of zoology, geology
mineralogy. ichthgology and ornithology
and must be also to the student.
After leaving the University and arrivin.
at the town we felt like refreshing the inne
man, and, it being too ca rly for dinner a
hehotels, we inquired and were dire: ted t.
an eating-house on Bank street, W here W.
called for dinner, and oh. what a dinner
blue beef, stale peas, corn bread and tepi
water was the bill of fare. We don't thin
the recollection thereof will ever be efface'
during life. Oh that dinner!
We also visited the round.house and work
shops, which were the boast Of "Quip" an
the Chronicle some time ago, and expecte'
to see vast areas covered with stupendou
buildings. But, oh the round-house will
accommodate about five engines, and tn,
shop pointed out to US by friend looked t.
be about Sx10 feet, and had the appearance
of having been covered with cid tin from
from some burnt structure perhaps from
the depot burnt at StaYnton during thu
war.
There are some good business men in th
town, and all such we would advise to pull
up stakes and move to Staunton, as in
year or two more we propose to send detail
over to fence it in, and erect monumen
and engrave thereon sit is Finished A
the same time we will send over the Re,
Leaf Band to play an appropriate dirge.
Many Of the old citizens have crossed tn
river that leave the shores Of the valley {
the shadow, and many others have moved I
other sections. But few remain that wei