Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-08-20
LETTER FROM LOUDOUN
Correspondence OF the Alexandria GAzErr

after Il ride ON the rail- and the beautiful
scenery that presented itself TO the eye, as
bowed along the delightful drive to this
place was rendered more attractive by the
sinking sunlight that cast its expiring
splendor with golden glory upon this land
of plenty, this home of wealth. This is a
county of health and beauty, and Oh every
side the eye is feasted with landscapes OF
| unusual loveliness, and the appetite is sat
| sfied with the first fruits OF this beau tltul
season. In this section is TO be found the
courtesy Of the old school, and the hospital
| ity of the Old Dominion rs it was before
the war.
The mountains here are as harmonious as
the waves Of Il tranquil sea and flow into
each other with the same even and grace
iul undulatons. Even as | write ! am be-
Meath the shadow OF u mill built in the year
III. 1t shows no evidences of decay, lis
walls being as firm and well knit as the
day the mortar was laid.
Nesting beneath hill whose graceful
slope finds its termination in the mill-race,
stands this ancient fabric, monument to
the labor and faithful energy of an age for
ever passed away, and whose erect and
constant walls bid fair to defy the assaults
Of another century.
In looking on this mill the thought was
mine how many changes and chances has
this grim sentinel witnessed. How many
| brides decked for the altar and how many
bodies dressed for the tomb have passed her
| uuspeaking form, Hthe one with JOY and
| laughter, the other with funeral tread"
Ii this old mills wooden heart had throb-
bed with human passion and her frame had
tenanted human mind, how many tales
rich in romantic interest and fertile in hui
man experience would she have to tell
stories of conflict and peace, of ambition
and dispair, of love and hate.
But these are all buried from human eye,
and the wise ordination Of Providence hides
the skeleton and gives us in its place the
first and joyful reality of the present;
q reality that is active, beautiful and in
structivc, and il we do not learn from its
beneiicent character the lesson of wisdom
and happiness the fault is ours.
This county seems jewelled with thou
sand hills and sparkling with thousand
streams that crown almost every home with
beauty and pour their limpid waters down
mountain side and on the meadow. The shin
ing sunlight that spreads its yellow mantle
on the tangled grass the golden grain that
waves with the tassled corn, the purple tWi-
light that deepens into the cleaning and then
darkens into the night; the lowing herds;
the tinkling cow-bclls-thcse are of Lou
doun. Other counties may be and are
boundlcss in historic interest, healthful in
climate and abundant in mineral wealth,
but for the rich productions Of the earth and
for the Joyous plenty Of The land Loudoun
stands the first.
The Association of Baptists which has
been holding its meetings ut Zion Church,
in this county, has attracted large numbers
Of people from the adjoining counties. 1t
was u great and impressive sight, for like
the Christians Of old their temple was the
forest and their pulpit was the earth, and in
this primitive, but honest, way they wor-
SHIPPED The crowd was immense, good
naturcd and brimfull OF kindly feeling, and
every one felt that every other person
should break his bread and taste his salt.
The people numbered from eight to ten
thousand. the most perfect order prevailed, i,
and one idea seemed to animate all present,
the desire that the recollection Of the oc-
casion should be Il pleasant one, and that
nothing should occur to mar the happy
order Of things SO we'll was this result
attained that all who participated in the
meeting considered that an event of consid
erable moment had been chronced in their
lives when they could say they were at
Zion during the association Of 1851.
passed in going TO Zion, Oak Hill the
former residence of James Monroe, once
President Of the United States, and although
only caught :: glimpse of the house, it
seemel 10 bear Il striking resemblance to
Arlin ston The estate is now owned by DIR.
Quimby, formerly Of New York, who has
brought every thing connected with his
| thousand acres up to a state as near perfec-
ton as possible. l saw field from which
| crop of hay had been cut this summer, and
vet the grass stood at least one foot high
and was ripening for another harvest.
| Here also is an orchard of one thousand
apple treesall of the famous Albemarle pip
pin variety, in fine condition, and thriving
vigorously. When bearing to the full the
apples will be exported to England.
The nomination Of Cleveland was very
acceptable to the democracy Of this county,
and with usual patriotic zeal she will give
the ticket unbounded support A gentle
man prominent in politics here assured me
that Cleveland would poll as large vote as
Tilden did in 1876 and that no democrat
could do more than that.
! Mr. Barbour's nomination although expected
was none the less satisfactory, for the party re-
| cocnizes the fact that Mr.. Bs. usefulness Is not
confined to the floor of Congress or TO the contest
| in this State but that his saSacl1y ano sooo jug
! mcut is required by those who have charge OF the
national campaign. Virginia owes Mr. Barbour
4 debt that no elevation will repay. no honor will
discharge, for in the hour of her supremest trial
he assumed charge of the destinies of the demo-
cratic party aud his skilful leadership won the
victory whose triumphant swell was heard
througout the land.
, The farmer element is discriminating and
throug ghtfu and their judgment is the result OF
reason and right, and their conclusions may be
| generally accepted as embedying the sentiments
of most men interested in their country S good.
! This element is almost unanimous for the demo
cratic nominees, and with such a backing 1t looks
now as if political miracle will have to re
wrought to prevent the entry into power OF the
party whose motto has always been Power is