Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-29

| idence, becomes known Since the good work
among the railroad men was commenced by
Miss Smith in Baltimore on March 4th, there
have been five hundred and fifty conversions.
Surely, this work is Of God. FL.
| LIVELY LETTER FROM LYNCHBURG.
THE HILL CITY" OF vIRGNIA-THE RICHEST IN
THE COUNTRY OF rs sIzE-s0nE OF RS
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. UPON THE BURG
AND THE BURGERS-LYNCHBURG GIRLS AND
WASHINGTON BACHELORS.
Correspondents Of TIE EVENING STAR.
LYNCHBURG, VA, April 25th 1882.
Although / have frequently maligned your
| paper, and said that It contained more adver-
tisements than news, yet. when received the
| WEEKLY STAR,som days ag0,I assure you it was
| like an oasis in desert; have read everything
| in 1t, even the advertisements. While reading
your paper thought perhaps that some inform
alton in regard to this, one of virginia's oldest
cities, might prove interesting to some Of your
readers.
| Lynchburg is situated on the James river, and
Is about 100 miles west from Richmond, and
about ITO southwest from Washington; it is 651 Is
feet above the level of the sea- and lies about 20
miles east Of the Blue Ridge mountains. The
surrounding scenery is picturesque, and one
never tires of looking at the wild but varied
panorama of nature everywhere presented.
Along the northeast OF the town meanders the
historic James river. sluggish looking, and, at
this point, very shallow; the river is spanned by
handsome br dge, affOrding communication
with Amherst county. From the river the banks
RISE gradually, to some height. The scenery
along the Hudson is grand; the scenery along
| the James is beautiful.
The town Of Lynchburg was Incorporated in
| 1889, and has grown rapidly in population dur
ing the last decade; in 1870. the population was
| about $500, it is now considerably over 90 GOO.
For its size and population it is probably one of
the wealtiiiest II not the Wealthiest city in the
country.
Much has been written about the Chill City, :"
and especially by humOrists, yet. to my mind,
| the hills afford break in the mOnOtOny of a
| continued level. and present, now, a picture of
a snug little cottage nesting in the valley and,
again. grand old edifice standing out in bold
relief upon the top fthe hill, overlooking and
protecting. as it were, it's more l0wly and less
pretentious neghbor.
There are very many handsome private resi-
dences here which will compare favOrably with
| those in your city of Magnificent Distances"
and considerable activity is displayed just now
in building operations.
SOME STORIES THAT ARE NOT TRUE.
| In order to disabuse the minds of your readers
of the opinion which they may have formed of
the town and it's people will say that 1t is not
true that everyone is either bOw-legged or
hunch-backed, bow-legged from constant going
down hill and huncl-backedfr from constant going
up hill; neither is it true that the people on one
street cultivate their back gardens on the roofs
OF the houses on another street, neither is it true
that you cannot either go up or down town
without going up hill all the way nor Is it true
| that by natures great adaptability the animals
have their legs shorter on one side than on the
| other, in order that they may Craze on the hills
without falling OFF These are all base calum-
MES, and are the production Of a brain more
| fertile in imagination than given to TRUTH but
will merely say that either of your crack mill
! tary companies the whites" or Reds would
| be completely demOrallzed on q march over the
| streets Of this city they would be compelled to
remove their shakOs In order to keep their
| center of gravity, or else they would be either
lying on their backs or more probably standing
| on their heads.
The inhabitants are go-ahead people, and
| many northern men have located here who by
! their business activity and push have no doubt,
contributed largely towards the improvement of
| the city.
ODDS AND ENDS.
The streets are wide, but the sidewalks gen.
orally narrow, causing motion along them to be
| accomplished only in single file procession.
Main street is the principal business thorough
fare, and contains many fino business houses,
notably two with iron fronts of five stories each
Hospitality Is distinguishing characteristic
Of the people, and that is dispensed only as vir-
ginians know how to do. I have made many
acquaintances and received many courtesies,
| even during the short space Of tho one week
that have been here, and, when I get to I'M
derstand the dialect better, anticipate that
will progress more rapidly in making friends
Tobacco is the principal staple. and the busy
scenes at the exchanges and warehouses Is re-
| freshing to one accustomed to the hum-drum
monotony Of life as government clerk.
street railway runs along Main street, and
| the animals used by this company remind one
very forciblY Of those used by the Belt line, in
your city; most Of the cars are drawn by mules,
| some by mule and a horse, very few by two
horses, and have been expecting to see one
| pass drawn by Oxen or an OK and q mule. The
! fare il five cents to the reservoir distance of
about a mile, and five cents more to the fair
grounds; truly, monopoly thy name is extor-
| ton!
The colored people here are very polite, and
will do anything you ask them, provided you
| pay them for 1t.
| COW TEAM.
There are comical phases to all serious SUBJ
jects, and just here recall scene on the road.
Near Charlottesville, as the train moved slowly
into the station. noticed a countryman quickly
alght from his team and run to the leaders.
frantically grabbing both by the head. could
L
team might run away; but when inform you
that his team" consisted Of huge country
| wagon loaded with wood, drawn by two cows
and two BOnapartic" horses the latter in the
lead: the immense righteousness Of the sight
| will be apparent.
| Harry Shannon, the "Boy Orator." IL here,
and viii appear at Centenary church, on the
9th inst. In variety Of selections, among
which will be Major Daniels address Before the
Virginia Division Of tho Army Of Northern Vir-
Several heavy frosts have occurred lately. and
much apprehension is felt as to the fate Of the
peaches and other fruit. Sunday. the 2Sd. we
/ experienced q severe thunder storm, accom-
panied with lightning and . heavy fall Of rain.
Snow has fallen In the vicinity, but none hero,
tho sides OF the Blue Ridge mountains being
partly covered with the white MANTLE
Another Washington celebrity, Dr.. ~ Red
Syn, nee Snyder, is here, and nightly holds his
seances to swondering crowd OF Lynchburgers-
wondering not more at his peculiar style OF
/ ntf,rv thon at