The Penn's Grove record., 1884-05-10
Country Innocence.

Some portions of Virginia are shut in
from the great world by a succession
of mountain ranges. The inhabitants
Of the hooks have peculiar manners
and customs. They see nothing
and hear little Of what is going on
beyond the mountain ranges. In the
Summer and Fall Of 1882 l was one OF
a corps of engineers engaged III The
construction of the New River Rail-
road. 1t is a branch Of the Norfolk
and Western Railroad, running through
Giles county, Virginia, and Mercer
county, West Virginia. We were IN
n of the most retired sections OF
these States. With the natives time
has no value whatever. Nothing Is
done to-day that a be put of until
tomorrow. With few exceptions they
lead a shiftless sort of a life, in which
they are as ineradicably born as in
original sin. Many amusing incidents
occurred in our sojOurn there. A
native of brighter mind than his
associates told me that when the first
wagon appeared in that country its
driver was troubled by a number OF
men who KEEP lodging in and out OF
tho bushes on each side OF the road, and
watching the wagon with great interest.
He finally stopped his horse, and de-
manded an explanation. They replied
that they had neyer seen a wagon
before, and that they wanted to see
when the hind wheels would catch up
with the fore wheels. The same man
told me the story of a boy who had
never seen a biscuit. When was
given to him he turned it owe and
over, and finally said that he was going
to put a coal of fire on the things
back, and make it poke its head out.
On one rainy day, unfit for field duty,
we all stayed in camp, A bridge on
which the track had been laid fronted
the camp. 1t had just been built over
East River. Two men and a dog were
approaching it on the opposite side OF
the stream. On reaching the abutment
they hesitated q moment. Then one
of them boldly took the stringpiece.
The swift running water dazed him and
turning to his companion, he shouted:
down, Jim, down. Suitlng the
action to the word, he propped on his
hands and knees, and crawled vigorous
ly toward the opposite shore. His
comrade followed, but the old dog
walked along quietly and serenely,
amid a roar of laughter from the camp,
without turning to the right or left.
The stringpiece was 50 broad that a
child might have walked e in safety;
Aside from some old fellows who had
been in the army, none of the natives
had ever seen a railroad. Even the
veterans regarded the cars with an awe
akin to that of the old negro when he
saw the first steamboat. When the
construction trains began to run, the
inhabitants of dwellings neal the road
displayed IN extraordinary interest.
Each family was strung on the fence in
front OF its rude abode, eagerly await.
ing the advent of the iron horse. If a
father had not enough children Of his
own, he borrowed enough from his
neighbor to make an imposing spectacle.
The shrill whistle OF a locomotive
brought men, women and children of
all ages, sizes, shapes, and condition
down from the mountains. One even
ing a bevy of rustic beauties were
standing near the track, with eyes
distended and mouths agape, watching
a train in silent wonder. Suddenly
there was a sharp whistle from the loco
motive. A girl jumped in the air as
though she had been shot. 1t was a
long time before she recovered sufficient
ly to express her establishment. On
another occasion two men saw a train.
One said: There she comes, but amt
she a beauty2"
His companion replied: "Ah, if l
only had my good coat, wouldn't l go
off on her thought"
One day a special train carrying the
President of the road and other officials
came down on a tour of inspection. A
party of natives thought it would be a
glorious thing to ride on the palace car.
They waited near the track, not doubt.
ing that the train would stop for them
when signalled. 1t sped past them
despite a vigorous waving of red hand
kerchiefs and loud cries of "Hold, on
thar" The party was terribly disap-
pointed at the lack of courtesy shown
by the railroad officials.