The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-04-09
A stranger,a impressions.


lMessrs. EdStors:-A stranger here in
your magnificent upland country, / have
Thought to present you something OF my
impressions caught in my wanderingS in
this neighborhood. AS everywhere through
out my old State Il am a Vlrginian-What
you people have irreverently denomlnated
Ittckahce) [ find open-handed generosity
on every side. Although from the very
jumping off point on the Atlantic coast,
where the land lies as level and fiat as one
of our characteristic ancestral pancakes,
l vet fail not to discover and appreciate
the picturesque beauties Of your more ell
eVated and broken landscapes, lying in
noble and majestic stretches WhlthersoeV-
er the delighted eye Of the beholder may
be directed | saw it not long ago when
the scenery was grandly impressive a
brilliant sun bespangling the tleecy vest
ment with which old Winter had endowed
it, the deep and lessening shadows OF the
Valleys superbly contrasting the cold
sublimity' of the illumined peaks
Ere the blushing landscape had drawn
around it the bright folds of its candid
robes. [ had beheld it, also, in its naked
beauty and all over the fair swell OF Its
undulating surface, and on the rich, black
| bottom lands on either side OF winding
streamlets. were evidences of the previous
seasons successful tillage, notWlthstand-
| ing the summers unusual drought, Wnere-
ever during the warmer and more open
weather of the present year, the pillow had
not already prepared it for the coming
crops.
Among the more elegant farms in the
vicinity of StauntOn, there IS one estate y
willow notwithstanding OF special no.
tice. 1t is that of George 3. Schumacher,
| ESQ.,, Just four miles from the city. Inc
entire length of the farm fronts directly
| on the C. & O. r. r.. distant only from 1t
1G0 to $50 yards. There is way sta
tion one mile from the residence III the
direction of Staunton. The land Is beau
tifully undulating, with the exception OF
one large field Of black loamy soil, lying
near the house. and on both sides OF little
stream. which is as level as q floor and as
rich as an asparagus bed. A number OF
roads converge to thi point, and there are
a large mill, smithy, &c, within one hun
bred yards of the house.
Mr.. S. informs me that he mas IN
StauntOn ready market at far prices Iol
every kind of produce. Within the nos
pitable walls of the old brick mansion, one
behods evidences Of prosperity recalling
vividly the ante bellaml days OF Virginia.
Located on an elevation overlooking the
surrounding country, the view from tins
fine residence is exceptionally Deautlful
and imposing. Indeed, | have mentloneo
but few of the attractions that cluster
round this charming abode OF Virginia
good taste and hospitality
Really. for all that can see and hear o.
this marvellous country of yours, should
, think that doctors and druggists would
find but poor encouragement TO settl
here. Almost everybody one meets Is tn
very picture of atfluent health, and onl,
now and then do we learn OF somebody Il
=. some remote locality either dying, or dead
$ of consumption. paralysis, pneumonia, o
some such disease. not at all, or but slight
= ly in their origin dependent on atmosphe1
i ic influences. OF miasmatlc diseases
have never heard word,
One thing surprises me-the scarclt
: of fine fish in the beautiful streams tina
!. are SO attractive feature of the lanC
scape in this section. AT this season, /
1 certain other regions of the Virgini
mountains, the beautiful speckled mouI
tain trout is never failing and abundaI
q | luxury do not think have heard of
= trout being captured hereabouts since
= haye been here. The sucker seems
{. be lord of the waters, but even he puts
a rare appearance. l have heard it su,
{. gested That the superabundanoe OF lin
j. stone in this region may have some effec
by too strongly impregnating the water
both to reduce the supply of fish and ket
away certain species entirely.
le Rev. John A. Barb, the Jealous and pc
. ular pastor of st. James Lutheran Churc
on Barren Ridge, near Fishersyille, he
very interesting continued services la
week. in his beautiful little Gothic chap,
ia / had never before attended the Luther
Y, services, and was much impressed wi
their quaint beauty and earnest simplicit
Eoalinn to annrnIAriatn tnn larore q Sha