The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-01

ION the opposite side Of the road Is . diiapl.
dated clubhouse. which might once nave
done service as q stable, or 0 corI-crlp, OF
ANYTHING OF the kind. And this Is all tnere u
| of what Is known In Howe's History OF w.
| Qinia as HOMETOWN. Tradition says tna'
| this was the site selected for the county
seat Of Botetourt Tor Augusta when neI
borders extended far westward. NO slsn
of life is visible here now. at least IL wa
not the day we passed, only an old sign-
board, which says "Two Miles TO trout
yilIe."
A row OF low, dingy houses, minus
paint or porch, strung along the base OF
steep hills for about a half mile on eitner
side Of a rock road-this Is Troutvihe.
Making due allowance for difference IN
cultivation, II Is plainly seen that the SOIL
hereabout is inferior to the magnificent
lands on the Amsterdam road.
In marked contrast with the lowering
skies. how fresh aud green the
look this morning! What splendid ields
Of wheat; how spring-like the hill-sldes,
covered with blossomIng peach-trees! NOW
we have crossed Tinker creek. zee TO the
left Of YOU those splendid meadows. ana
that enormous brick barI, and a short dis
lance off that less p~retentious dwelling OF
s~traw-colored brlck-that's the home OF
Caleb Mininger, the largest taxpayer In
Botetourt. ~.
Now we near the Roanoke line. Cast
your eve to the right up that valley dotted
over with cabins. That's "Needmore,"
the home OF the distinguished colored ora
tor Zach. Hunt. There he Is now sumter
ing along, with his hat thrown back, dis
closing a pure African face, though one OF
intelligence, and not the thick-lip, flat-nose
species. This precinct (Caryin's Cove Is
the stronghold OF the COalitionlsts in this
county. go,
We are over the line. See those build
ings Just Il few y9rds to your right on the
banks OF Caryin's creek! No, that huge
%embankment constructed by the valley
railroad, OF blessed memory, obstructs the
view. Now | see; that's Hollins Institute,
rather bleak-looking now, but you Just
come TO commencement, when the trees
are green and the flowers and the girls are
in bloom, and n thing Of beauty you Will
see. All the South knows what a fine
school Professor Cooke has here, always as
many students as he can accommodate, Tor
he won't allow himself to be crowded.
There is sadness here now. for she who but
a short time ago was the bride OF our old
tutor and friend. Professor William Taylor
Thorn, herself a distinguished graduate OF
this Institute, is no more.
The name "Botetourt Springs" still APP
Piled TO this place, reminds lis that this
part Of Roanoke was carved out OF the side
Of Botetourt.
A great wheat-growing county is Roa-
noke, and yet her soil does not show TO adj
xs~otaoc olonp This HIGHWAY mil Won ret
in sight OF the magnificent Roanoke Valley.
Prominent ON an eminence TO the LEFT five
miles distant from Salem is the Wayerly
mansion, built by Mr.. Bruce, Of Halifax.
nov owned by Mr.. William Utz, and said
to be the finest dwelling in the county.
The town OF Salem. But no.; when the
effects OF the smallpox have been erased;
when The mad rush TO Roanoke City shall
have ceased when the clouds have been
replaced by the happy sunshine, and the
mud in the streets has been dried up
then, and not till then, let me give you my
impression Of Salem. ACTON.