The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-05-13
IN yIRGINIA's MOUNTAi MS
The Peculiar Manners and Custom
OF the People.

The Peculiar Manners and Custom,
of the People.
Some portions of Virginia are shut il
from the great world by a succession OF
mountain ranges, says Rutland, Nd,
correspondent of the New York Sun.
The inhabitants of these hooks have pc
cuiar 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 was
one of corps of engineers engaged in
the construction of the New River Rail
road. 1t is branch of the Norfolk a.
Western Railroad, running through
Giles county, Virginia, and Mercer
county, West Virginia. We were in
one of the most retired sections of these
states. With the natives time has no
value whatever. Nothing is done to-
day that can be put off until tomorrow.
With few exceptions they lead shift
less sort of life, in which they are rs
internationally born as in original sin.
Many amusing incidents occurred in
our sojourn there. A native of. bright
er mind than his associates told me
that when the first wagon appeared in
that country its driver was troubled by
number of men who kept lodging in
and out of the bushes on each side of
the road, and watching the wagon with
great interest He finally stopped his
horse and demanded an explanation.
They replied that they had never 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 boy
who had never seen biscuit. When
one was given to him he turned it
over and over, and finally said that he
was going TO put coal Of fire on the
dumb things back to 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 OPP
posite side of the stream. On reach
ing the abutment they hesitated mo-
ment. Then one of them boldly took
the stringpiece. The swift running
water dazed him, and, turning to his
companion. he shouted: Down, Jim,
down" Suiting the action to the
word, he dropped on his hands and
knees, and crawled vigorously toward
the opposite shore. His comrade fol-
lowed, but the old dog walked along
quietly and serenely, amid roar of
laughter from the camp, without turn
i'm 10 the right or left The string
piece was so broad that child might
have walked over in safety.
Aside from some old fellows who
had been in the army, none of the
natives had ever seen railroad. Even
the veterans regarded the cars with an
awe akin to that of the old negro
when he saw his first steamboat.
When the construction trains began to
run the inhabitants Of dwellings near
the road displayed an extraordinary
interest. Each family was strung on
the fence in front of its rude abode,
eagerly awaiting 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
sjmposing spectacle. The shrill whistle
of locomotive brought men, women
and children of all ages, sizes, shapes
and condition down from the mouQ-
tains. One evening bevy of rustic
beauties were standing near the track,
with eyes distended and mouths agape,
watching a train in silent wonder.
Suddenly there was sharp whistle
from the locomotive. A girl jumped in
the air as though she had been shot. 1t
was long time before she recovered
sufficiently to express her establishment.
On another occasion two men saw q
train. One of them said There she
comes, but amt she beauty?"
His companion replied: "Ah, if
only had my good coat, wouldn't 90
off on her, thought
One day special train carving the
president of the road and other officials
came down on 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 signaled. 1t sped past them de-
spite vigorous waving Of red handker-
chiefs and loud cries Of Hold on,
thar" The party was terribly disap-
pointed at the lack Of courtesy shown
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