The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-09-30


stumps what city numbskull tuck al
tuck a fancy tn, an | was gwin to E
an see fur myself ct Lish let on hone
bout his doins' an bout Chicago. MAJ
she flows t'well find it all as Lish writ
down but has my doubts
thought of La Rochefoucald's sayin
that lin the adversely Of our best friend
we always find something not entirely dis
pleasing to us - and wondered if the oil
man. s II tole you so, ole woman" woul
not have little exhultation in it's tone i
the sons pen picture should prove to b
drawn largely from the Imagination.
Evidently he had not kept pace with tn
biographies, for when in response to hi
question
Reckon as how you're gwine to Chi
cage, tn. beant YEP" said : II am go
ing to Old Point Comfort y He exclaimed
"a Point o. Comfort Rless my soul
an whar on aith be that ?''
"a Point o. Comfort ~ The name
suits it admirably, 1 thought as filled my
lungs with the pure. invigorating. salt
seasoned air.
We had come across the blue grass re
gion of Kentucky in night time, but were
early astir that no part of the mountain
scenery might escape us.
Every car was full-most of the passen-
gers being bound for points in the noun
tains some going in pursuit of that will
o'the-wisp, health some for pleasure
some because they "could follow the fash
ion and at the same time live cheaper than
they could at their home in Louisville. .
One man was, / judged, travelling to find
something to grumble about. After ex-
hausting everything at hand he fell to
growing because man had not the wisdom
to see that road through that country
could never pay expenses. mo agricul
ture; no manufacturing interests scat
tering inhabitants who never go anywhere
nothing but few cars of coal ana the
summer travel Pshaw You oughte1
see New Y ork State
The man VINO attempted to tell this
grumDler of the development Of this re-
gion since the iron horse went through,
and oyer, and around these mountains,
wasted his breath. There will always be
those. who, ''having eyes, see not, and ears
hear not They belong strictly to the
class of persons who are never happy I'M
less they are miserable, and their attempts
to be happy are usuallya success.
Barring this man from New York every
passenger was enthusiastic over the seen
cry, and blessed the management of the
road for the observation Car which enaoi' d
us to enjoy it SO fully.
When I am shut in from all the world
by these grand old mountains | always
wonder how the Creator could bother to
make SO insignificant thi'ig as names
pecially man that grumbles.
Steel rails, skilled engine driver, aid
comfortable coaches, make the ride
through the canons and around the feet of
the towering mountains a luxury, giving
such a feeling of security that the most
timid ones forget to hold their breath when
the train hurries across high tressel or
shoots into the mountain which stands
directly across the path.
In the five years which have gone by
since l went over this road there have
been many improvements. Little villages
have found room for themselves between
the track and the steep mountain side, and
the green slopes are all cultivated. Coal
and lumber are everywhere waiting to be
carried to market. Men wear a business
air as if they had come i'll contact with the
world, and with the cobwebs brushed from
their eyes, are ready to lend a hand at the
turning of the big wheel. New life seems
to have been aroused all along the line.
AT OLD POINT COMFORT
we rested after long day s ride, and such
rest | think that forevermore, when |
am weary or fever tossed, shall think
longingly of that rest at Old Point Com
fort, where the salt-sea air swept through
the rooms, quieting tired nerves and slim
ulating tagging appetite. had dreaded
the confusion and hustle and delays OF a
crowded hotel, but the Hygeia Hotel had
none of these except the crowd. They
told me there were six hundred guests in
the house, but so well balanced is the man.
agement that every ones comfort was
ensured. For ladies and children it is a
paradise. / saw them everywhere except
in the BARRIERS chairs, and presume they
are not excluded from that place. Clean,
well-furnshed rooms, excellent beds,
abundant. well cooked food, unobtrusive,
but prompt attendance, the sojourner at
the Hygeia Hotel is sure of whenever he
takes a room at five dollars day or at half
that price.
Fortress Monroe, a hundred yards away
serves double purpose. 1t is pleasant
place to spend morning. looking on dur
ing dress parade, or watching guard mount
and the uniform of the officers help the
effect in tie dining and bali rooms of The
hotel ndtrfully, to say nothing of the
material they furnish for managing
mammas with marriagable daughters. Ii
the library of the Fort, where any we'll
behaved person is made welcome, is ar
abundance of food for thirsty minds
AT THE SOLDIERS HOME
we found the fifteen hundred inmates
ready to march to their supper room fol
ratious. Aged, crippled, weather beaten
they stood out in striking contrast to thu
hundred or more bright, happy Sunda,
school children, who with their friends
were having picnic on the grounds.
What longings for the dear ones a
home, or for wife and children who have
gone ON BEFORE" must have stirred tn
bosoms of those soldiers who are restin,
while they wait their summons!
1t is a lovely place. The grounds horde
on Chesapeake bay and are as beautiful a