Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-06-17
JOTTINGS NO.
[For the SPECTATOR. ]
SAM,I. L CHRIsTIAN


sAM'L j. CHRISTIAN.
MIR. EDITOR "A ride over a part of the
Howardsville turnpike, few days ago,
gave rise to these "reminiscences
In its construction it was begun at How
ardsville, and had reached Sherando, when
Sam'l F. Christian became connected with
it as Engineer. He engineered it to Gosh
en-, through the ''Pass," rendered immor-
tai by what Com. Maury said of it. Since
the war an eminent engineer of Ohio, we
regret our inability to recall his name, trav-
elling over that part of the road, in compa-
ny with the late Geo. W. Houston, of Fair
field neighborhood, of the skill displayed in
its engineering said, "Twas as fine as any
he ever saw" just after the war, the G.
& 0. Road, west Of Swoope's, had been Sc
riously injured. Col. Whitcomb's atten-
tion was turned to the great advantages
presented by leaving the road at Hebron
Church via Summerdean and Goshen Pass,
and the question was seriously agitated by
the Company whether it would not be bet
ter to make new road over this route
The Elizabeth and Estaline furnaces settled
the question. Mr.. Christian was the oldest
of the three sons of the late John Brown
Lee Christian, and died years since, in
BandeTa county, Texas.
GEN. LEE AND AUGUSTUS BLAUTH.
As is remembered by the friends of
Washington College. Col. Bolivar Chris
tian was perhaps the first person to suggest
Gen. Lees name as President of the Col
lege. The suggestion was made to him, as
we have learned, in humorous way, by a
lady in Staunton, and it is our impression
it was by Mrs. Col. Baldwin. Col. Chris
tian began correspondence with Gen. Lee,
who agreed to visit Lexington. 1t was his
intention to spend night with Col. Chris
tian, at the time on the home place, where
his brother Archy is now, III a house built
by Samuel F. Christian. He was to leave
the Howardsville pike, just above the little
Calvary Church, we will give you an item
about some day. He mistook the direction
and found himself, when it was time to
seek shelter, in front of our friend Blauth's
tavern in GreenvilIe. His keen eye at once
recognized the General and his famous war
horse, Traveller. We are we'll assured
''the big pot was put in the little one,' that
night, in that famous hostelry. Cudgelling
his brain at once to know in what way he
could best show his appreciation of his dis
bottle of the oldest and best whiskey, su-
emily brings in his little son, of whom he
was very proud. Gen. Lee asked the little
fellow his name. s'Dell him 'tish Kirby
Smit Blauth," said the landlord. 'sMr.
Blauth, why did you call him Kirby Smith,"
erquired Gen. Lee. because he was de
last one to surrender, Gen. Lee" The Gen.
eral laughed heartily, and the next morn
ing, when Traveller" was champing the
bit, the General asked for his bill. 'sMy
Got Gen. Lee, does you dink / could
scharge you? ?"
Remember, gentle reader, this was be-
fore our patriotic, generous, whole-souled
landlord had his name inscribed on the
Bethel church roll. He said s'what id
fool he was, de first time Gen. Lee was his
guest, (as he was several times), to make
two sich burned blunders, as to carry bot
tie of whiskey to his room, and den to say
my Got, Gen. Lee."
In one of his visits he made the General
laugh at Kirby Smiths effort to say mule
being inclined to initiate the vernacular of
the father, "moole."
Gen. Lee held the warm-hearted Dutch
man in high estimation, and desirous to
present him with sourenir, wherewith to
remember him, took from around his neck
a woolen comfort, he had worn upon many
battlefield. 'Tis treasured most sacred
ly, and shown with a pride we can readily
appreciate.
BREEZE JOHNSON.
This name will cause a'smile on the coun-
tenance of every reader, who recalls the
face, the briefest description of which is
embodied in that description by Don Quix-
otte of the '1Knight of the Rueful Counte-
nance"
Somewhere between 1880 and 1885, there
came under the roof of the late Jacob Van
lear, dusty, travel-worn pedestrian, who,
as is remembered, hailed from Winchester,
and sought shelter for night. The famous
''old SCHOOL, building, short distance
from Mr.. VanLear's, amid a cluster of no.
BILE oaks, by the Howardsville pike, just
South of Christians Greek, had for some
time wanted pedagogue. Mr.. VanLaar
was one of three school commissioners, DIR.
John K. Moore, short distance above, and
John B. Christian, yet farther up the creek,
the other two. The pedestrian wanted
school. Mr.. VanLear sent him to DR..
Moore to be examined, who sent him at
once to Mr.. Christian. He, was heard to
say that few enquiries satisfied him, that
did,"
We do not know how many sessions he
taught it, but it is enough to say, his ap-
probation by his patrons may be briefly
measured by saying Mr.. Christian made
him guardian of some of his minor children,
and Col. Bolivar and Mrs. DIR. Richardson,
now of Richmond, we are sure, were two of
his wards. OCCASIONAL.