The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-08-29
sTAuNToN, va.
oar MoandsriIIe Correspondent ON his
way u Charleston.


srAUx7ox, Va, August %, 1879.
EdltOn IntOliiEOncer;
You may be surprised at the heading Of
this letter, and indeed I feel almost sur
prised myself in being so suddenly trans
ported 10 such Q distance from home.
left Moundsville yesterday evening in
company with E. Bonar, our destination
being Charleston, ". Va, and our object
to attend the Educational Association
which Conyenes in that city tomorrow
and We have tho pleasure to be forced "a
remain here tonight to take the carly
train on the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail.
road. II nothing prevents we will reach
our destination some time tomorrow even
We spent q few hours this morning in
Martinsbure, from which place VIC were
taken in a carriage 10 Slephenson's depot,
in time for the train on Valley road. Il
was a grand ride up the old historic val.
ley. / caughta glimpse Of the Old Fort
as We entered Winchester, as | did also
OF several OF the old battle grounds; but
find the place much changed from what
It was fifteen years ago. This change In
some respects Ia for the best, in others It
Is not. There Is the appearance Of neg.
lect in many places. It Is q charming
country, and but needs enterprise and
muscle 10 make II blossom as the rose.
There Is much beautiful scenery. The
towering mountains are visible in many
places on either eide, whilst the beautiful
villages, such as NewtoWn Middletown,
Strasburg, Mt Jackson, New Market, Har.
risburg, &C., together with the farm
houses surrounded by their orchards laden
with the delicious fruits, lend almost an
e%nchantment to the visw. We were
charged one cent per mile more than what
We pay on the main branch OF the B. & O.
road, while We were permitted to cat q
twenty-five cent dinner, and forced to pay
seventy.fiva cents for 1t.
There Is q great deal Of travel through
the Valley, made up principally OF persons
visiting the caves and springs, the latter
Of which abound in the greatest abund.
ance. 1t is surely no sign Of hard times
to SEQ so many persons TtHing, il not able,
to spend 80 much money for pleasure.
But now we are comfortably situated, In a
very comfortable room at the Commercial
Hotel, in the city Of staunton, the county
seat Of Augusta county, Va. / had hoped
to spend some hours this evening walking
around the city, and, indeed, accompa.
MED by Judge Moore, OF our State, who
is on his way home from Charlestown, |
started to do so, but was prevented by the
rain, which Is now falling in q CopiOus
shower.
Staunton is situated on several, not
Seven" hills. 1t contains about seven
thousand inhabitants. 1t has a One Court
House, though built somewhat on the
primitive style, while the streets, though
narrow are nicely macadamizedand paved.
It's educational institutions are ilrst.class,
consisting Of its public schools, four female
seminaries under the care OF the Presby.
terrain, Methodist Episcopal, Lutheran and
Episcopal Churches, respectively, and one
boys academy, which is a preparatory
school, intended to fill up the gap, as II
were, between the public schools and the
University. There are eight churches, viz;
two Presbyterian and one each OF the N.
E., Baptist, Lutheran, Episcopal, United
Brethren and Catholic. The State build.
ings are the Asylum for the Deaf, Dumb
and Blind, and the Insane Asylum. The
scenery around the city is delightful. The
citizens, as far as | am able TO judge, are
very pleasant and hospitable. They are
proud Of Virginia, and why should they
not be? for they have q State capable 0.
great possibilities, and II they would hold
out proper inducements 10 men Of enter
prise they might soon be the foremost
State in the Union.
But this letter has grown too long al
ready. l close, promising to write again
atterI reach the permanent seat. \.