Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-10-31
AN OCTOBER LETTER.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
Country.
A Splendid Piece of Word
PaintiUg.
Correspondence Ledger.

That contained an old c INTO
OF A very young poem Aedged early ono aay
And without further heed,
Made with very great speed
To the G. and o. depot my tiresome way etc
The cry of 'fre-wat,r" in Ohio ha'
sent more than one of us on a surprls
inc new tack. At Richmond thu
Democrats were spreading themselves
ike the banyan, instead Of the bal
tree. Soon [ found myself in the
great State of Ohio, or, to use correcI
political phrase, in the lap OF the step
mother Of Presidents. In Richmond
we did not find Mahonism the tiniesi
influence in the world. Still, it may
be among the notions for we fine
vet the same old advertisements
which appeared there when Ton
Moore, the poet, visited the
State. He said the idea Of
advertising goods and etcetera:
as motions was very oOmical and
made him laugh. But it strikes me
easily that if all the motions" in the
land we're on the counters for sale,
what a show would there be, my
c-ountrymenl just imagine how some
of Senator C-'s, or President BIS,
or Congressman H--s motions.
would look on SALE a few of the tariff
commissions aud some DOW and then
of the American Congress-
That might be a sale worth attend
ing aud cunDis bargains made, espe-
cislly with some we'll known assessor
for salesman. The debris might go
of better than Toodles' marbles, for
grayestones.
From Richmond on, the Chesapeake
and Ohio route brought US through
much interesting territory Of the Old
Visitors from the North
seeking Florida and other winter
quarters, should not fail, en- route, to
the historic old capital, whence
they traverse over this road some OF
the most charming country, full Of the
scenery to be found any.
Especially is this noticeable
passing Charlottesville, White
Sulphur Springs, Stanton and
Falls. Almost every
curve and turn OF the road
give glimpses Of the matehless beauty
IF the famous Blue Bidge, with many
4 far off palpitating peak, trembling,
as it were, under the somuoleUt touch
of dreamy clouds above them, so that
one would hardly be surprised did
some snow capped glacier suddenly ifi
its g~iittering bosses to his vision.
Along this route in summer OF fall, one
sees the rarest% scenery Witnessed from
car windows to be found in America.
Along the edges Of bills, or skirtiUg
the mouotaios, one sees
"Hiils running up to heaven for light
ThrOush woods that half way ran"
by islands in the midst Of emerald
waters
"All rumpled and uneven,
With green recef ses. sudden swells,
And odorOds valleys dri, en-
So deep and stralght that always there
Tae wind is Graded to soft air."
la short, Que fuds here revelations
Of American scenery-behOlding suct
wealth Of beauty, touched now BY
magical 0ctober's raby waves of air
"You must believe in earth's communion,
Albeit, you witness not the union"
The officials Of this road
who are always polite and kind
do not answer inquiries with stab
Of steely indifference. There are alsC
many pleasant stopping points, if tn,
traveller is longing for the dolce far
niente" time of going for pleasure
only, and ample time for meals at th,
stations, or dining points, and pre1ty
good luucheons between times ar,
offered by dusky deDizens coming t,
the cars with their trays Of edibles
Fried chicken is standard goods here
aud one would suppose, from the erie
OF here's your fried chicken" morn
ing, noon aud midnight, that "olC
Virginny" was a %monoDOlist, and al,
something else besides "parcheC
corn" From Washington one cal
make pleasant stages of travel direc
to Louisville, or Columbus, o., O
Mobile. in short, take in the country
aud have the benefit of sleepers, an,
passing through a marvellous region O
the Switzerland Of America, where ar
many OF the most noted, delightful
watering places.
This route touches the Ohio rive
az Huntington, passing through som,
Of the Kentucky blue grass region
Before reaching this, though, yoV
have passed down 10 the head
waters of the James river, or through
the wild. beautiful valley
oftbe Greenbrier, New and Kanawhi
rivers through the most diversified
scenery.
Looking at the glorious panorami
spread out, it seemed but the fines
Of things that in this lovely region
October should come and 20, to us
with rainbow wings, aud azure crow
and golden ruby sandals, charioted b,
winds that
"Wiih stolid feet
In wandering dowo these aile,s sweet
Step lightly on the sJBshine!'
1t is wonderful how this picturesqu
Alpine like scenery is combined wit
its glow, color and s%oltuess of Italian
loyeliuess revealing intense repose o
light and spaces Of SKY whose foss.
chain work ofmountains looked 10 tb'
distance like terraced gardens lie
down from an invisible orieot.
From cloud aud mountain. wave
aod flowers, throughout all natur.
where color is so divinely lavished, W
coue TO ask, that since the advent 0
a certain craze 10 England, discusse,
there by Mr.. Wilde, is there not dau