Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-07-28
From Our Virginia Correspondent.

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From Our Virginia Correspondent.
HINTON, July "a, 1885,. Il often con
trast our situation here with those who
have their abode in the crowded thor
oughfares of our great cities.
Here we are 5000 feet above the
sea, with the pure air of the mountains
and the clear, sparkling cold water
which gushes from the hills on every
hand. Then the climate is mild when
compared with that of yours. This is
owing to the fact that we are sheltered
in the valleys by the high country
from the northwest and west winds of
of winter. The mean rain fall is 81 )
inches. The average number of rainy
days is about ninety.
We are fortunate in having land of
rich loan not too stiff or too light,
permeable to water, but does not
parch, and is quickly warmed by the
sun, rendering cultivation easy and a
ready responding to the action of
manures, while retaining them for a
long time.
The bottom lands along our rivers
are very productive. Some Of them
for fifty years past have given heavy
crops OF that most eXhausting Of all
crops, Indian corn.
As to our fruit, the apple is a sure
crop and the most important OF the diff
ferent fruits raised in the State. The
peaches do about is well as with you,
If not started too soon by warm spells
in February and March. The Bartlett
and Seckel pear thrive here and appear
to give satisfaction. Ounces do re-
markably well. The fruit is larger and
freer from blemishcs than that grown
in the same latitude on the Atlantic
slope.
Our nurseries are few and far be-
| tween. Small fruits do well. The
strawberry and raspberry crops arc
large Grapes succeed we'll The
Catawaba, Concord, Isabella and Della
ware are cultivated for both wine and
table use. Vegetables of all kinds are
cultivated with great case and yield a
large return.
In time West Virginia will rank
with any of her sister States in agri
cultural resources.
wish Hersey or some of you wer,
out here now to take a fishing time
with me. caught bass few day!
since which weighed four and q hal
pounds, and made good supper TO
the whole family. w.B.w.
| Superstitious Relic of Barbarian.
The ordeal trial prevailed in Franc
| from before the time of Charlemagn(
down to the eleventh century. The an.
| Gent Germans, too, were in the habit O
restoring to divination; and their super
stitlous notions, writes Mr.. Gibson, lie,
them to invent many methods of purga
tion or trial now unknown to the law
1t should be added, also that the Gel
mans were specially tardy III THROWN
off this relic of barbarism; for, at perio
when most vulgar ordeals were fallln
into disuse, the mobiles Of Southern Gel
many established the water ordeal as tn
mode of deciding doubtful claims o
tieis; and in Northern Germany it was IL
sttuted for the settlement of conflictin
titles on land. Indeed, as recently as tn
commencement of the present century
the populace of Hela near DantZ c, twic,
plunged into the sea an old woman, re
puted to be a Sorceress, who, on pcrsis
emily rising to the surface, was pronoun'
ed guilty and beaten to dea'h. Grotier
mentions many instances of water ordei
in Bthyn!a, Sardinia, and other countrie
having been in use in Iceland from Vel
early period. In the primitive jurispru
dence OF Russia ordeal by boiling watt
was enjoined in cases of minor impor
ance, and in the eleventh century we fin
burning iron ordered "where the matte
at stake amounted to more than half
grivna OF gold" A curions survival {
ordeal superstition still prevails to vel
large extent in Southern Russia. Whe
a theft is committed in 4 household u
servants are summoned together and
s)reeress is sent Tor Should no COME:
sion he made by the guilty party, tt
sorceress rolls up as many little balls {
bread as there are suspected persons pr
sent. She then takes one Of these bal
and addressing the nearest servant, us
this formula: "If you have committe
the theft the ball will sink TO the botto
OF h vase, but If you are innocent
/ viii float on the water The accuraC
of this trial, however, is seldom tested, {
the guilty person Invariably contesses b
fore his turn arrives to undergo the o