The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-16
lfor the Dlspatch.J
From Rich m Oud TO Goth n IN.

lfor the Dlspatch.J
From Richmond TO Gotham.
One rainy morning not long ago, though
it seems ages and ages, medical student
got on the cars at Richmond with very
long face and ticket for-well, small sta
tjon on the Chesapeake and Ohio road not
very distant from Charlottesville. Why was
his face long? He was going TO see girl.
But not his girl. Is the explanation lucldf
And to this was added rain, rain every
where. The ride from Richmond TO Char
loitesvlle was probably not intended to in:
spire the lover of nature with an ecstatic feel.
ing, though many places on and near the road
have gained place in history on account Of
The war. Trevllian'sl Will those people
ever forget Custer? Frederickshall! In
mortalized by the death OF John X. Thomp-
SOD. Gordonsvilie! Though the old roOsters
Of 1863 and ga have long since passed away,
the darkies Of the vicinity still put new bat
ter on their bones and sell them to famished
travellers. At 1885 our train came 10
stop at the temporary destination OF the
Med" and put him off in pouring rain.
don't know DR.. Holiness feelings when
he saw his breeches, oh his breeches !"
vanish in the wind; but fancy they were
akin to mine when that train sped on its
way toward the Blue Ridge, leaving me
stranger on strange platform, and not
Democratic one either, with rain going
down nv back, because fashion decrees
that a man must wear a collar which opens
like funnel. But an unexpected pleasure
awaited me. While l stood there, wonder
ing which way to turn Il had never been
there before(, little darky came up and
| said, "Is YOU de gentilmun what's gwine
ter Mr.. A-'s?" "Isuppose so. Who
| is there ?" "Miss is dar, and tole
me fur TO fetch you; here's hoss out
here" A horse |! l had not dreamed Of
such
LUXURY.
The steed was led up to the platform and
| mounted. A difficulty presented itself.
| The stirrups "took me" about three
inches below the knee. By sitting behind
and driving, as an eminent divine OF my
acquaintance does, the problem was solved.
BY the alternate application OF cane and
an umbrella the charger kept me in call OF
jim. The house, about half mile from
the station. was reached before dinner, and
the hospitabIe reception given me more
than fully atoned for the steady gait and
character OF the horse.
-Four days of uninterrupted good time Is
treat seldom given TO mortals here below.
Such one fell to my lot. win it ever hap
pen again! Truly it reminded me Of my
college days, made happy by girls who have
gone the way Of all flesh and gotten mar
ried-and, and-oh married.
That country is famous for fine cattle,
| good fruit, bad roads, and mud that sticks
closer than a poor relation. And after all
those hours, so much enjoyed, the time
came to leave. How many tears | brushed
from mine eyes my coat-sleeve alone knows.
Is there grander or more beautiful scene
~ in the world than between Charlottes-
vile and Alton? Grander perhaps, but
not prettier. The 0utposts OF the Blue
Ridge are first passed, and we enter an
anteroom, as it were, 10 the Shenandoah
Valley. AS the railroad ascends the heavy
grade we can see, far below, the little val
ley dotted with villages, single houses, and
miniature forests, reminding one OF 81
gantic chess-board, with here and there
SILVER THREAD,
indicating the line OF some stream just be-
ginning its long journey to the sea. Far
away TO the south we see the junction OF
the Blue Ridge and its spur, the latter COM
monty called, / believe, the Ragged
Mountains" At Alton the iron horse, de-
spsing natural distractions, takes header
through the mountains, and after few
|
dry and mysterious noises from the bidal
party Just in front, we emerge NATURALLY
enough) on "'tother side" in the Shenan-
doah Valley.
The grade here commences rapid de-
scent. But do not imagine that the accom-
mediation from Charlottesville does. Not a
bit OF il. 10 say that horse holds back
well when going down hill is compliment,
but horse and an injine are different
things. II is very exciting to sit on train
moving ct the rate OF ten miles an hour
and wonder il it will stop at the next
tree. Then suddenly it will surprise you
by running a mile in about five minutes.
Some one offered to bet fifty cents that we
would reach Staunton before breakfast the
next morning. But he was frowncd down
as q fit subject for a dungeon cell. The
greatest surprise was when brakeman put
his head into the car and shouted "Stan'n !"
very hurriedy, as though he bad important
business.
Three nights and days in Staunton-days
that made man sigh for /" a seat on blg
chunk OF ice 'way down in thousand
foot WELL" followed by showers OF rain in
the afternoons and OF
MOSQUITOES AT NIGHT.
And such mosquitoes! They sat on the
ceiling during the day and looked like flies.
When one OF the varmints acts fairly have
nothing 10 say. II is all right. But when
they try 10 drag me off for winter use, why
I must say they show exceedingly bad
taste, especially when there were two ba-
bies, and girl babies at that, In the house.
The citizens OF Staunton are too modest.
They think that their town is not large
enough to justify putting the names OF the
streets on the gas-lamps.
Now, have been to Staunton twice, and
was at the Nindicator Office both times.
Yet II my life depended on it l could not
tell on what street 1t Is. II boasts the cheap
est express In the United States. Ten cents
to deliver trunk, and they will drag 1t up
stairs II it weighs ton, even forgetting to
say "Quarter extra, please" How they
can make money by 1t Is dark mystery
known only to themselves and comprehen-
sible only by Chinaman.
The view from Reservoir Hill Is one OF
the finest that have ever seen. The eye
takes 10 an immense exDaDse OF country,
aud far away to the north Is seen the famous
Massanutton mountain, whose rocks aud an
cient trees have heard the roar OF Jacksou's
cannon, the tramp Of Jackson's men, aud
the sound Of bis voice.
Ho. for Winchester But we Will not
60 all the Thy Tonight. At +. d., IN the
same drying rain which had followed Inc
from T.. / got me down and found my