The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-29
MECKLENBURG.

MECKLENBURG
A VISIT TO BoYDTON AND DESCRIPTION on
THE PLACE, WITH SOME ITEMS OF iNTE'
REST-wHAT &C." HAS TO SAY OF ROA'
NokE, AND HOW FORMER LETTER WAS
NlSUNDERSTOOD-THE NEW PRESBYTERIAN
PREACHER FOR RICHNOND-Is TIE RICH
MOND AND DANvILLE RAILROAD FRIENDLY
TO RICHMOND! IT WOULD SEEM NOT-FINE
RAINS. ETC.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.l
BOYDTON. VA, June y, 1889.
! am enabled 10 verify my predictions
when | wrote from Fincastlc about the
wheat crop. ] said then the wheat crop in
all that section was superior, and though
not harvested was very large. Where. 1t
was then standing, much Of It has now
been cut and shocked, and the general re-
mark Is that il i very fine, aud complaint
i baseless, and, besides, the oat crop l.
quite an average; all the fall sowing
being good and the spring sowing very
promising. As 10 the corn, II is yet too
early 10 prognosticate about il; and yet it
i proyerbial that a late corn season has in
the average the best chance, since corn
stands drought best in June and July. and
severe August drougbts are Of rareSt oc-
currence. And so / like TO write good
news, and to contemplate the happy hus-
bandman, whose genuine toll claims ever
lasting consideration and praise.
Life is a bargain we make with a munif-
cent and kind Providence, for rs we wish
to live we should perform our part OF a
contract toward which He is daily and
hourly contributing His. Reminded con-
tinually Of Ills goodness and bounty, we
should be ashamed to 20 down to a lag
CARDS grave marked with the cpitaph OF
unnatural bankruptcy.
should here mention. by the way, that
have just returned thus far from re-
visit to
ROANOKE CITY,
in Roanoke county. Va, the spontaneous
outcrowth Of civilization and enterprise
in the Valley the beautiful Valley OF Nir-
ginia). that has surprised the whole coun-
try with its strides Of population and strUc-
turc i'm so short a time. Scarcely eighteen
months ago the first pick was planted for
uncovcring the rich bed OF incXhaustlble
ores that laid within stones throw Of the
little village then known ~ "Thc Lick"
but which i now an aspiring city, laying
down it. pipes for supply Of delightfully."-
clear water from mountain elevations near
bv for general use and for protection
against fire. Ii Is also earnestly at work
putting down curbstOnes 10 mark of
the roadway OF lis gas-lighted streets,
which are regularly laid ont. and are
being graded 10 answer the demands
Of civilization. With the exception OF
a rather temporary aspect OF construction
OF many of H. buildings IAN incident in
the history OF all rapid srOwths and great
cities. il i a surprising town OF now some
four or five thousand inhabitants. The
din OF industry and enterprise re>Ounds on
every side. while | noticed there was a
very limited patronage OF its tOO-numer-
GUS saloons. II has a magnificent hotel.
and while | SAID in a former letter the ap-
pearance Of the city suggested the arrival
OF a great body Of sappers and miners.
assisted by an earthquake. Of course an
Of industry o. the miners. IL
enterprise bespeaks, all things considered.
a vast future OF opuIence and wealth.
when we shall no longer hear there that
awful and narrowing whistle or earth
cIoan that utters rs means from manu-
factory near by. a. if the day Of judgment
was the next thing we had to face.
BOYDTON
4 great many OF your readers never saw
and others may care but little about il. rs
il is bv 10 means great or aspiring city;
but it i associated with the great past OF
VIRGINIA. and Is not to be sighted by any
because it is not new place. All, it is the
STIGMA that i attached 20 strangely to old
things that Is making our atiIirs-comIler-
cill. social. political. and religious-mattcrs
IL Ina in -,
many other places IN Virginia, remain
ing evidences Of her peoples dignity
and bountcOus competency, which cOn>ii-
uted the simple grandeur OF those days
when she was power in the land Of STATE,
and wore the crown Of political and social
supremacy. here we have some Of those
ample OLE Virginia mansions. with extern
sive grounds and surrounding buildings,
that still wear the aspect OF lordlv
estate. but that look 10 eyes Of
this generation so homcly that the
child Of to-day must needs apologize
for the inelegance Of its birthplace. within
the h Ills Of which had been enacted scenes
OF galantry and noble hospitality, such a
the world may never see again. How sadly
history j. now recording these incidents OF
a glorious past, with forebOdings Of the
future which boast, Of the convenience OF
the hour as earth's only heritage. Con-
trasted with the remaining specimens Of
Virginia comfort. with here and there q
representative masterpiece OF the ola r.
ginia gentleman, surrounded by his classic
beirlooms. all the gaudy tinsil and sputter
OF display Of the present day l. but mis-
cradle cheat
Bovdton is the cOunty-seat OF Meek
nebnre county, and like so many Of
the old county-seats Of Virginia. il i
constituted OF courthouse and jail,
sundry merchandising establishments and
merchants residences near by, few
LAWYERS Offices and dwellings. few
corpenters' shops and their dwellings, a
doctors Office or two, blacksmith and
wheelwright's shop, and a cour lie OF hotels
and bank-their occupants all constitute
ing happy society-with church for each
~ orr principal religious denominations.
II i located on a knoll that furnishes,
though not mountain view, picturesque
one i'm every direction. The courthouse
and iail and several Of the stores and
churches are OF brick. and the churches
all well proportiOned INTELLECTUALLY. and
the streets regularly laid of. The lands OF
the surrounding country are pleasantly
undulating, Of excellent agricultural quail
ity. and growing crops good. \ short dis
lance. and within sight, stands the stately
buildings that comprised once Randolph
Macon College. an institution now removed
10 Ashland. The grounds OF the college
are spacious. and its appearance credltable,
the methods resorted 10, IL we
are told Of prayer. 10 keep it agOing-
PRAYERS by one Mr.. Cults, Of Boston.
About a mile and half from the place,
and westward Of it, mineral spring has
been discovered that is said to have great
medical virtues. and the water is now be-
ing shipped to the eastern cities for invalid
use.
A railroad is in contemplation that it is
supDosed will run from Deep Water, on
lanes river, to Danyille, and that will pass
hv WAY OF Boydton.