National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-06-22
SUBURBAN GOSSIP.



villages, the small stars dotted about the
great central light, My effort, therefore,
TO introduce these neighbors to each other,
to unite them, at least I'm sympathy, as a
loving family, may be deemed commenda..
bic, while pleasure and profit seem prom
ised by the desired result.
This bright morning OF June present
another OF the young ones to the general
mother.
Vienna is pretty name but Of foreign
origin. Something quite as musical, and
more appropriate, might have been selected
from Indian nomenclature or from our own
expressive English.
The village is regularly laid out, on a
map which have seen, though no such
plan is yet dlscoyerable up these pleasant
hills and down these quiet valleys. II Is,
indeed, straggler. At long intervals, by
the side of its railroad, appears a small
house, with large garden; at longerintervals,
either side of its dusty turnpike way,
another, environed with like iiberality
then, promiscuously still, houses and barns,
as II all had been built by contract az one
time, tossed up into the air and, alighting,
settled each according to its chance.
Situated on the Washington, Ohio and
Western railroad, near the center of Fair
fax county, IL is about fifteen miles west
ward from this city, with which two trains
each way per day connect II. To Fairfax
Court House, the county seat, five miles
distant, stage runs In lesurely manner
twice a day The Western Union tele-
graph allows its wishes to be transmitted to
all the world; the slower, but more com
prehensive, postal route offers its opportu-
tunities, and Adams Express Company will
convey miscellaneous articles, light or
ponderous.
Vienna is the center Of q fine dairy region,
inhabited almost entirely by northern farm
ers, the greater part OF whom are engaged
In supplying the city with milk. Under
charge OF Capt. Van Slyck, 400 gallons per
day go to Washington by rail, and Pearson
Brothers carry thither by wagon, In the
same space Of time, 100 gallons. The aver
age price paid the farmer at his door In
summer, IL cents per gallon; in winter, 10.
A planning mill, grist mill, saw mill, and
two linn kilns are within the village, but
none Of them just now In operation. Two
stores OF general merchandise are con-
Quoted, respectively, by A. Freeman, who
is also postmaster, and j. b. Bowman. A
bakery and confectionery, presided over by
Charles Blatchley, tempts with excellent
bread, cakes, and sweets, but among the
latter-alack and alas for the fair ladies-no
ice cream! How can they endure even the
moderate summer Of Vienna, how live with
out continual lamentation, deprived of this
dear delicacyP
Three Jolly and vigorous men make
music with hammer and anvil, and discharge
the quickest, liveliest, most sensible sort OF
fireworks; their names, George NJ. Cannon.
good for noisy trade Thomas Kendrick,
and stephen Lee. Music Of another kind
is produced by the conet band under the
able leadership OF w. IL. Bowman, delicious
strains frequently invited by picnic parties,
dances, and tournaments.
b. +. Clayberger is telegraph operator,
agent, and notary public; II anything else,
why.he is able to be, possessing intelli-
gence and energy quite unusual. The only
village physician, Vienna his home and CEN
ter, his circumference / don't know how
far, but many miles, is DR.. X. ID. Leith, n
young gentleman, highly intellectual, and
very smiling and happy, though his region
is proverbial for healthfulness.
-Four government clerks here wake early
o. mornings, hurry of by rafting cars to
their dignities Of the departments, and re-
turn home to see the sun set. The pref
test and most numerously attended church,
Presbyterian, Rev. Frank Page, stands
among trees on hill top Methodist SER
vice Is held twice month In the public
school house, without a pastor at present.
A Baptist Church, Rev. James Scott, re-
ceives the colored congregation, and to this
society is attached a colored school, Miss
Sarah Jones, teacher, for both sexes.
TheGood Templars are here. Their lodge
has many lady and children members. Pro-
hibition of liquor is the law Of the district.
A lyceum flourishes, and has library of
$50 volumes. Winter lectures are delivered
under its auspices, and Frederick Douglass,
DR.. Merrill, Mrs. Mason, and Mr.. Foster,
all Of Washington, have favored the society
with wisdom and wit. The public school
building Is picturesquely placed on the
summit of the most commanding hill, but,
/ regret to say, by no means deserves It's
prominence-being little better than ruin.
Total neglect, or indifference, marks IT..
TumbliDg doors, broken windows, dilapi-
dated walls within and without, In
appropriateness, discomfort, ugliness and
disgrace condemn it. What wrong and
dangerous influences must children receive
from such surroundings Ipray ye, good
people of Vienna, look to 1t; let your tenn
pie of knowledge be at least decent; If not,
let II be destroyed.
Neatness generally characterizes the
dwellings, and beauty three or four Of them.
Maj. o. Z. Hine, q public-spirited ex-Union
soldier, is doing much for the progress of
the village, and no man could be more de-
voted to the interests Of neighbors, no man
more competent to aid their prosperity.
"Prof.n Frank T. Thurston, In charge of
the engineering and technical branch Of
Century company, New York, labors and
rests. in Vienna. In its.close vicinity dwell
two other distinguished persons, James
Hunter, learned Scotch gentleman, edi-
tor-in-chief of the recent supplement TO
Worcester's Unabridged Dictionary, who,
also, was twelve years engaged as editor OF
the Royal Imperial Dictionary, published
by the Blackies, Glasgow. Gen. Mckee
Dunn, former judge advocate general, U,
s. A., is the second notable character The
state in which the general moves approaches
kingly magnificence, and his arrival and de-
parture at the station or from it to his fine
spirited steeds, the golden glittering livery
invariably attract crowd Of villagers, all
eyes and wonder. =. d.