Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-04

challenges a peer for the beauty OF us
| location and the glory OF its natural sur
roundings. 1t is the land OK enchahIlns
scenery, pure sparkling waters, ana dell
cious summer coolness-the land OF How
crs. OF beauty, and of health. ms y inc
land where Evangeine sought her lover
Gabriel. the son of Basil the blacksmith,
as described in LOngfellow's exquisite
poem a Tale of Acadia ms IS
perfect summers day, and the morning
sun rests in radiant splendor upon the
placid bosom Of the winding hOlston,
sweeping with majestic curve far away 10
the southwark and upon It's Silly waters
n thousand sparkling CLEANS glimmer and
glisten like great medallions OF SOLID crys-
tai.
PEACEFUL NATURE.
Over the pale, blue sky feecy clouds
float like gauZv banners waved by unseen
spirits. and below the wealth OF teeming
fields. the deep. cool green OF clustering
groves, tho HOstOn shining through inc
midst Of an. rest in fathomless depths or
air with that same lOveliness Of unattaln-
able repose that once smiled unto tho
Mount Of HOreb from the Land OF Promise.
The air is full Of sweetness and fresh with
glory of perfume, balm, and harmony,
with an electric force that makes the blood
Jingle with delight and gives 70 the faded
cheek the bloom Of youth and freshness.
THOUGHTS OF TIE PAST
"Holston" was a popular resort in the
/ ffties. and a thousand tondly-cherlshed
memories cluster around these hallowed
grounds and sweetly WOO the spirit to the
/ happy dreams Of the past. Nature - the
! true ideGlist and serves Us best when sue
| speaks TO the Imagination, ana the man VINO
! has no such memories 20 recall has never
! felt the thrill of pleasure that CLOVIS IN the
Z rot
| look upon the beauty of this vast lawn. as
| lovely as an English park. sacred to the
memory of the brightest hOwera-bellcs OF
old Virginia and our dear outhland who
met here in the halcyon days Of their sun
/ lit girlhood, where taste and beauty and
reyelry Joined hands III common concert.
RELICS OF TIE PAST.
Here and there along the Holston river
we catch q glimpse of some crumbhng
relics of the advance guard OF clylliza-
tion-types Of old houses deserted log
cabins of the early settlers-and at Big
stone Gap the name of Daniel Boone can
still be seen, carved by his own hand on "a
! beautiful maple in his transit from VIZ
GINA TO Kentucky.
These mind pictures Of pioneer life are
exceedingly pleasant TO contemplate, as
/ they bring into pleasant review facts and
objects that in the rush of enterprise ana
progress have been neglected.
HER MINERAL TREASURES.
Shut in by mountain barriers on all sides
/ the star Of empire in It's westward course
PASSED quickly over ,he mountains OF South
west Virginia without stopping. and 1t was
not until within tho last two or three years.
when the marvellous increased consump-
| ton of coal and iron began to be felt, that
| the Grand mineral resources Of tins sec
| ton have been discovered, and to-day she
! is right in the front of. if not leading, the
procession of progress and material rich
| ness. Every Southwest Nirginian. AT home
! or abroad. treasures in his mind the TACT
| that by universal concession he has the
! right to place his hat at an angle OF sn-
prcme satisfaction and youch for VIZ
| ginia's open-handed, warm-hearted hospl-
tally, and last but never the least,
HER BEAUTIFUL WOMEN.
They are not all mere butterflies of FASH
/ ion. but practical women Of grace, spirit,
| and cleverucss, and whenever 1t Is ncces-
| sarv TO buckle on their armOr and enter
| the list of bread-winners they are found
! equal 10 the occasion. In this co'Gte Of
! southern queens who are sustaining old
| Vrginia's well-knOwn reputation for her
! DELIGHTFUL and distinctive social life are
/ Mrs. 4. L. Boulware, Of Rchmond-the
| beautiful jamie Preston. of Smlthheld, Va,
ana Youngest daughter OF the late William
| Ballard Preston.
AN OLD VIRGINIA HOMESTEAD.
Smiihfcld is situated within n mile of
| Blacksburg. in the heart of a lovely Ian l.
scape. and is a model of the old Virgin :
| homestead. The old mansion, with lofty
rooms preserved in ,heir antique style, was
! for MANY years the retreat to which Bal
| lard Preston looked forward when in pub
| lie life. and found, after reaping full har-
vest Of worldly hOnors, that no love, 10
admiration, no applause was so sweet TO
| the soul as that which springs up in the
| hearts of his devoted wife and children,
and which made his home IN very truth a
world.
PLEASANT PERSONALS.
Mrs. Charles A. Colhoun. of Allegheny
| Springs, is one Of the purest types Of the
prOud old southern regtme now fast pass
| inc away. She is well known for her
| charity, benevolence, and rare sympathy,
and her sweet disposition with gentle,
winning manners are ever 20 be noted !;
while IN the matter Of social graces She
! has but few equals. as those who have at
! tended her brilliant Allegheny" recep-
| tiOns can attest.
AIRS. Lizzie Radford Adams, Of Radford.
| Va, is greatly admired for her intellectual
| and literary Qraces and is alwavs the centre
/ OF delightful circle of friends. She IS a
| charming talker and the soul OF refinement
and culture.
! Mrs. Attorney General Ayers is lovely
/ woman. with the sweetest disposition, and a
model hostess. She is q sister of Judge
| Henry Morrison, of the Ninth district, and
eutertains her friends in generous, south
ern style at her beautiful summer home at
| Holston Springs.
Mrs. Charles l.. Cooke. Of Hollins Insti-
tute belongs to a distinguished old Nlr-
ginia family, being a descendant Of Gov
ernor Peasants. She is n woman Of Won
/ derful sefrcliance, spirit, and influence.
and has been noble factor in the grand
| educational enterprise of which her hus-
/ band is the active head and guiding spirit.
Among the lovely blossoms who queen 1t
quite graciOusly over this social realm and
are bright and beautiful enough to win n
coronet are Miss Lulah Otey, Of Walnut
/ Springs; Mss Lizzie Kent COwan. of New
! River. and Misses Fannie Cloyd, Mary Lou
| Bell, and Pauline McGavOck, of Pulaski.