Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-09-04
LETTER FROM DR. QUARLEs

home on the evening of the 5th inst ,
and, after spending ten delightful days
at Louisville, came on here over the
Chesapeake & Ohio r. R., amidst the
grand and beautiful scenery of tie
Allegheny mountains. 1t was won-
der to us how any one could live in the
country which this road traverses. 1t
would seem that very few do live
there, and they in a very humble way.
We passed along at least hundred
miles, where all the corn that was rails
ed on both sides would not equal eigh-
ty acres of good Lafayette county soil.
These mountains, however, have coal
and iron, and may enrich their owners.
The White Sulphur Springs, the most
famous in the south, are situated on the
line OF this road, near the summit of
the range. 1t is delightful resort and
retreat from the heat and dust of the
levels. The Kanawha and Greenbrier
rivers, on the banks of which the
engine pursues its toilsome march up
the mountains, are exceedingly beauti.
full in their wild picturesqdeness.
When we pass the summit of the
Alleghanies, we are in old Virginia,
the land of history, poetry, song, ro-
nance, the land of heroic men and of
lovely women; the glorious state that
furnished this country its presidents
for thirty-two years of its first thirty
six years, and under whose conserva-
tive and intelligent guidance our land
| grew into magnificent power and happy
prosperity. -.
Virginia is divided into two we'll
defined sections: that portion lying
between the Allegheny and Blue Ridge
Mountains is known as the valley ;
while the district between the Blue
Ridge and the sea is called East Vir-
glnia. Lexington is situated in the
former of these, somewhat south of
the center. This valley is fertile, por-
tions OF it quite so. We have ali been
surprised at the splendid ears of corn
grown in the gardens of Lexington.
The wheat raised is of superior quality.
All the vegetables are as good as we
have been used to in the west More
over, the fruit is abundant and excel
lent. We have had, during the few
days that we have been here, cante-
lopes, watermelons, peaches, pears,
blackberries, whortleberries, grapes
and apples on our table. The peaches
are special treat to rs, as our Mis-
souri, winters have SO long deprived us
OF them. The town is supplied with
water conveyed in pipes from q noun
tian spring. 1t is perfectly clear and
is said to contain q trace of the alksli,
lithia, and to be quite wholesome.
Gravity alone carries it to the highest
points in the town.
This is a very picturesque place,
lying at the foot OF the Allegheny
mountains, with the Blue Ridge
stretching out to the east. II the North
fork of the James ran Immediately
through the place, it would supply all
that is wanting to make the scenery
perfect. The air is quite pure and free
from malaria. Hunting and fishing are
good for an old and well-settled coun-
try. The mercury has risen above
ninety couple of degrees since we
have been here. It is about that now.
If you are exposed to the sun you feel
it to be hot; in the house or shade you
are comfortable.
Prices here do not differ materially
from those that prevail in Lexington,
Mo. So far the advantage seems rath-
er in favor of the west. In one res
pect Virginia appears to be blessed. 1t
is as TO its servants. We have been
greatly pleased with those whom we
have employed, and wages are not
much more than half what you pay.
The great attraction of this place is
it's society. So far as limited ac-
quaintance will allow US to judge there
is none better in this country, We
are under special obliga.xuus for
numerous acts Of courteous hospitality.
Ii we had gone among relatives, we
could not have been more kindly re-
ceived. The most distinguished citi-
zen Of the town is the Hon. j. Ran
dOlph Tucker, who is, rs you know,
the head of the judicial committee Of
congress, and is also one of the law
faculty of the Washington and Lee
University. He is man of senatorial
dignity and talent; the ablest man
probably in Virginia and one of the
leading statesmen of the country. He
is philosophic student of the consti.
tuition, and greatly pleased me by his
lucid and profound discussion of the
principles of liberty as they underlie
our complex federal and state system.
He is q thorough believer in state
rights, and holds that the maintenance
OF these is essential to the perpetuation
Of our liberty. His reasoning is quite
simple, being founded upon the polit-
cal postufate, that interests and power
must be lodged in the same hands I'm
order that there may be true and per-
feet freedom; that is, those whose in
terests are to be governed should exer-
else the powers of government. From
this it necessarily follow that q free
government must be q local govern
ment. The farther you remove the
rulers from the people the more YOU
divorce and separate the two elements
OF interest and power, and the greater
tendency and temptation there is for
power to tyrannize over the intereste
of the people. This is the principle.
Its application to our government is
manifest; showing that, if we are to
be free, selt-ruled people, the mini
mum of power should be in the federal
or national administration, while the
maximum Is in the state and subordi-
nate municipalities. 1t seems public
misfortune that DIR. Tucker has deter
mined to retire from the service of
the country. Such men we can i'll
afford to lose. l hope, however, that
he will be chosen to succeed Riddle
berger i'll the senate. 1t is there he |
ought to be, or OH the bench of the |
United States supreme court.
Mrs Margaret j. Preston, the south |
ern poetess, also lives here. | have not |
had the pleasure of meeting her, though |
l hope that honor awaits me. She is |
the daughter of the Rev. DR.. Junkin,
who was for many years the president
of Washington College, and is the sis
ter OF Mrs. Stonewall jackson. She
writes very smooth, beautiful lines.
Gen. Gusts Lee, the bachelor son of
Gen. Robert E. Lee, is the president
OF Washington and Lee University.
He is man that draws you right to
him as soon as he speaks word to
you. There is such generous, cordial
trankness about him that YOU feel as
once as if you can trust him and talk
freely to him. l do not wonder that
The professors admire him and that the
love him. imagine that he
must be very much like his father, ex-
;ept that the old general was probably
'omewhat more reserved. He is
model man, barring his bachelerhOod