Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-12-13
A VISITORS IMPRESSIONS OF OUR
TOWN.
IFrom the Frederlck, Md.. Examiper. !

From the Frederick. Nd, Examiner.J
LEXINGTON, Mo-, Nov. 25th.-For
two months past have been sojourn-
ing i'll section of the country that is
new to me, and finding much that is
we'll worth arresting attention, l can
readily believe others may desire such
information as l have to give. One
town naturally feels livelier interest
in another of similar size and resources
than in great city, be it never SO i'm
pressive and self-satisfied,
Lexington, like Frederick, is enroll
ed on the page OF History, for here was
fought, in September 1861, the battle
named for the town, n hot contest Of
three days, ending in inevitable sur
render. Since the war the town has
lost its southern characteristics, be-
licving that the golden age is rather in
the future than the past.
] Pressing forward in the work of ed
ucation, Lexington has, besides eff
cient public schools, three scminaries
for young ladies and military acade-
my, bringing about 200 boarding
pupils into the town. Among illustri-
Gus pupils in days gone by was he who
since immortalized our national sense
of ht,Inor under the pscudonym of
Mark Twain.
In the line of sight seeing. the GrAat-
est curiosity here is a water tower.
This black column rearing its head $50
feet high demands investigation. In
place of the commonly used reservoir,
is huge tower with capacity for
300, 600 gallons of water, which is to
be pumped into it daily by an engine
at the river mile distant. 1t is known
as the improved Perkins system, and
this is SAID TO be the most costly and
elaborate experiment OF its kind.
Thirteen churches, representing a
goodly array of denominations, exert q
salutary influence and this is very
marked in the social life of the town;
dancing, card playing and thcatiicals
being universally vetoed. Social in
tercourse is therefore dependent upon
sclf-culture, and the people here have
not only the individuality belonging
generally to town people, but far
more polished and elegant address and
more highly cultivated conversational
powers than are usually found in our
best circles. Fine amateur concerts
are frequently given, anu music is q
prominent feature in every social gath
ering.
The streets are pretty, adorned with
shade trees, and most of the houses are
set back from the sidewalk with an
attractive yard, the general appear
ance thus reminding one of what Phil
adelphia was once designed to be-"a
greene countrie towne."
The business houses occupy the CEN
trail portion of the town exclusively,
and among these the handsomest is the
new Commercial Bank, which is unan-
imously pronounced the finest in the
state. An iron front with its immense
plate glass and English Cathedral
glass, the interior finished in solid ma
hogany, tiled floor and dado-all go to
make up an object of great pride to the
citizens. l shall not close this brief
mention of Lexington and its attrac-
tons without word in regard to it's
climate. The unrivaled beauty of this
autumn season, both i'll temperature
and appearance, will be something long
to be retained in my memory, and am
assured that it is not unusual fer this
beautiful weather to continue until
Christmas.
Among the most interesting family
possessions here is work in two vol
umues, belonging to the Wentworth
family, carrying their genealogy back,
without a break, to the time of William
the COnquerOr.
After all the pleasures of my visit
have been recapitnlated, none will re-
main so indelible as the hospitality so
freely and unostentatiously rendered.
Long may the bencdictlon rest
| That none can utter like the strangers heart,
| Long be the gracious givers blest,
And thus receive their own-the heller part.
| FLORENCE TRAIL.