Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-12-23

tne university VI NAB
Louisville Boys, Their High
standiBg-.-Fine Farms, and the
Rehabilitation of Virginia, but
Not by Billy MOhOne and his
CIaqueurs-
Courier-Journal.l
NEWPORT News, Va, December
10, 1881. II left White Sulphur
Springs yesterday morning, and passed
through some ofthe finest counties in
the State, rich in mining and agrlcul-
tural resources. The train did not
slack up in going through the Alleghe-
nv tunnel, on the very summit OF the
mountains, where the air is always
crisp and invigorating and where the
scenery is absolutely enhancing and
delightful. At Williamson's we stop
ped for breakfast and got a good one,
too, at the McCurdy House. One mile
below the hotel we passed clifton
Furnace, owned by a large and very
wealthy corporation. The forge is
located in a narrow defle between two
very bigh mountains, whose submits
were lost in the mist of the morning
clouds. The scenery was purely Alpine,
and beautiful beyond description.
This forge is the pride of that section,
and very deservedly So. Below this
are the new furnaces Of Longdalo and
Goshen, both historical places, known
to the fashionable thousands VITO
throhg this country in the summer. as
we'll as to the commercial world w.o
take a deep interest in the iron devel-
oped there.
We passed through Panther Gap,
and soon found ourselves beyond the
Alleghenies and ascending the North
Mountain. famous in our late wal as a
strategic point. At Buffalo Gap we
looked down into a rich valley, and
up the road that Sheridan took when
he swooped down like a Yulture upon
his prey. Half way I'D the mountain
we could look down below US and
count every chimney in the town. Far
in the distance we could see a faint
blue cloud it was the Blue Ridge.
Before reaching Upton we passed
through the Blue Ridge tunnel and
entered at once a succession of views,
startling for their sublimity, and for
the high state of cultivation visible
in every DIRECTION.
Stauntonis a large and fourishing
town, noted for its schools of high
grade, for its asylums, and for the
wealth, enterprise and prosperity OF
its people. 1t is a fine little city, and
seems to be happy with its progress.
The next place ofimportance is Char
lottesVille-named after Queen Char
lotte-every place about here has its
English traditions. The University
buildings look as bright as in the days
of Jefferson, and very much i'm
proved. The old rotunda is
as grand and as massive as
it was in the early days; the
ranges and the lawns are as neatly kept
as ever, and the Professors house just
as stately and a%ristocratic. Tho new
Museum building is a great ornament
to the MAGNIFICENT grounds surround
ing the University. 1t is a large,
modern building, and filed with
inestimable treasures in the way of
natural history, ornithology, fishes,
~crustaceans, ganoids and arachida, in
fact everything that will enlarge our
ideas and help the student of compar-
alive anatomy. AT the Central depot,
near the hotel, with Monticello in full
view. | was met by our youpg friend,
Mr.. Bruce Haldeman, who had played
"hooky" fromliis studies in obedience
to a telegram TO meet me. Bruce was
looking remarkably well and happy.
He was glad TO hear from home, and
asked just one thousand and one ques-
tions about Louisville and her good
people. / promised to call on my re-
turn and spend a night. He was so
anxious to ask questions that he would
not answer any; so | will write a
University letter on my way back and
tell the Kentuckians how we'll their
boys are doing and what compliments
| heard showered upon them among
the fine, old academic people Of Char
l%ottesville. Everybody here is classic
and talks Of the old Latin aud Greek
authors. No one here is too utterly
utter" and are aifectedly aesthetic.
The %satires in Patience" would have
no application to these people.
The train in leaving Charlottesville
for Richmond passes around the base
Of old Monticello, the ancient resi-
dence Of President Thomas Jefferson.
The old mansion is still standing 10
excellent repair, and owned by a
wealthy family OF Jews, the Lewis. At
Shadwell you win be shown the bride
path leading from the mountain, down
which Nh. jefferson made his escape
from a detachment Of British soldiers.
by making his horse come down back
wards. The tracks being thus re.
versed, his escape was effected. The
people still believe this story and retail
1t to gaping tourists, and | have not
the least doubt Of its truthfulness in
every particular. 1t is too delicious
AN old tradition to yield to modern
prosiness. Even the object aud design
Of the old Delavan House. near the
University, begin to be questioned.
since the ancient building has been
torn down, and a glaring, uncouth
vulgar looking Baptist church for
colored people erected on its site.
The road bed Of the Che a1oake and
Ohio, from the first tie at Huntington
down to Richmond, is we'll ballasted
and kept in the best condition. LIS
grade is nowhere excessive or alarm.
ing. No matter whether the train il
climbing mountains end whirlinl
around curves, running through tun.
nels or skirting the banks Of Wild,
rushing torrents, the same a grad,
is maintained. Between Huntingto,
and White Sulphur Springs the roaC
follows the easy grade Of the natura
waterfall in the Kanawa, New Rive
and Greedbrier. The grade is creates
at North Mountain, but nowhere dan
gerous. Down the Blue Ridge afte
leaving Alton, and down a great ele
walton, the grand perspective woull
naturally induce any one to dread tn
descent. But the train runs a