Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-21
THE SOUTH WEST.
NOTES or A TRIP THROUGH WISE,
LEE, AND SCOTT.
Magnificent Scenery-The Mineral Re-
sources-New TOMBSTONE OF
the Southwest Bellies.
Especial correspondence o, the Richmond Dis
uatrh.l

offered the most sumptuous ana elegant
cars 20 ride in, but you can 90 almost any
where in less than no time. Last night we
babe farewell TO historic Richmond on
the James" and to-day we find ourselves
landed here in the beautiful heart OF the
where each morning we are
greeted by the arrival Of the Dipd'cb:
which reaches the homes and hearts OF
many Of the hospitable families OF the
Southwest, and Is universal iayorite.
What a comfort TO loiteT lelsurcly here
through this enchanting park of delicious
summer GOODNESS, and read IN the papers
of the swcitering heat Of the cities and
thank Heaven you are out Of II. Here the
Alleghancs reach happy degree OF eleya-
ton. and the beauty and fertility OF the
country. its inyigoTating atmosphere
pure, sparkling waters, and Wild mountain
scenery are unsurpassed throughout "a
land favored most highly among the
nations of the world with all that charms
the eve or pleascs the senses
Re,cning Bristol we make connection
with the South Atlantic and Ohio railroad,
and rs we are whirled along through "a
farmland of wondrous beauty, swcetly the
green 0lades. romantic glens. with blue
robed mountain and shaded dell, lead the
eve out into an endless vista of scenes en-
chanting enough 20 sooth into pleasing
fancy the tensioned chords OF imagination.
Hating nj MOccasin Gap we are treated 10
a bewildering panorama OF scenic beauty 10
inspire the artists soul or 10 send the
fancy revealing in the remotest realms OF
dreamland.
RIPPING STREAMS.
Here amid scenes Of ripping streams,
leafy hooks, and sylvan del's we dream OF
loneliness. peace, and serenity of the soul,
when suddenly on the stiffness falls the
shrll whistle of the engine and forward
ON fViue wheels we glide through the
shadow and sheen, catching exquisite
glimpses of the winding Clinch riversweep-
ing between rOck-cliiied peaks-the muir
muir Of lis lapsing waters a song OF praise
to the infinite hand that painted ITS forest.
crowned. rock-girdled barriers. The brlet
history Of Roanoke, Blg-Stone Gap, Poca-
hontas. Bluefeld, and other new towns
that are springlng up throughout Ihe
Southwest assures the tourist that TINS
section is heading for a steady boom and IL
to play grand part IN the making OF an
empire
MARCH OF PROGRESS.
The march ot progress in Southwest Viz
ginia incident 10 the discovery OF what
NAV without exaggeratiOn be termed the
most fertile mining district IN the south Is
eXcmplifed both IN the wonderful growth
of existing towns and IN the birth OF new
and thriving business points whose SITES
but few years ago were covered with
dense mass of brush. The facts and figures
contained in the reports of the BIOLOGISTS
and mining engineers sent forward 10y the
great lines OF railroad that are now active
lypushing their tracks to tins point have
created profound impression among the
wealthy capitalists and IRON masters oil
PENNSYLVANIA and other northern States,
resultngi in theInycStment Of large amounts
of capital in tins vicinity.
INV IRA.
Those who are watching the growth and
development of this grand Eldorado re-
cogniZe that we are on the threshold OF "a
distinctiycly new era in the SOuth's IRON
and steel history, and that the centre OF in
dustrial life is to be transferred from Penn
-ylyania htherWard, where nature mas
combined all the essential advantages and
controlling forces that give employment 10
labor and that underie the development
Of great industrial centres. Though Big
Stone Gap is but small place and as yet
without q railroad, It j, none the less con
centratiOn of that commercial and pushing
spirit which has made America what she ~
tO-day-the greatest among the great lla-
tons of the earth. Standing in tins most
uuioue cap in the mountains through
which nature has forced the passage for
river adequate TO supply the demands ol
great ana pOpulOus manufacturing city,
we look 10 the north and find an mex
haustible area OF coal equal to the cele-
brated cOakiug Goals of COnnellsvlle, and
on either hand behold immense bOulders
of the purest limestone.
FORESTS.
In every direction a boundless and al
t,ls Il ratr m Il
less varieties of the finest timber, awaits
the lumberman's axe; and turning 10 the
south, and within five miles of these vast
coal-beds. are 10 be seen immense deposits
Of the finest iron ore. With such an array
of natural advantages where Is the sec
tion We inquire, that offers such attrac-
tons to capital as does this great cornu-
cOpia which nature has stamped with the
seal of great industrial city:
THE LADIES.
But. after all, that which interests any
body most about any country Is ITS WOmen,
and where can be found such elegant en-
blems of southern WOmanhOOd as our own
glorious daughters Of this favored land
Among the bellies OF yesterday whom the
writer knew here when blOssomiug out
into society are Mrs. William Beale, of
Smithheld. the beautiful Lulah Preston, a
sister of hlrs. 4. l.. BOulware, of Rich
moud. and the second daughter of the
late William Ballard Preston. Mrs. Beale
Is Queenly- Hooking woman, with rare So
cial gifts and tact, and well known III Rich
mOnd society. Added to her charms OF
face figure and presence IS a slow, sweet
grace of speech and manner. with a certain
indefnable high-boln dignity and proud
reserve. Mrs. 4. Black, of Blacksburg,
nee Lizzie Kent Otey, is "A typical southern
beauty. Her manner is marked by the
peculiar high culture observable in blue
blooded southern ladies', and her car
rage is that of queen. Her face IS
of the Grecian mold almost per-
feet in contour, with wonderfully ex-
pressive eyes that never lose their
lustre, and glow with spirit a wild and
CAV and free as the gazelle upon tAe noun
tains.
This country has produced but few
more beautiful women than Mrs. Mary q.
Patterson, of Walnut Springs. She Is as
lovely Is a maiden, as dear and sweet as a
mother, and truly the queen OF song and
music.
Mrs. DIR. w. II. Edmondson, of Christians
burg, is bright exponent Of that retiring
geutleness so peculiar 10 southern ladies.
She Is greatly admired for her social and
intellectual graces, and those who come IN
contact with her winning, gracious man
ner and natural ylvaclty can never expert
ence the trouble of eaaui.
Prominent in the list Of reigning bellies
of today is Miss Bessie Cooke, a daughter of
Professor Charles l.. Cooke, of Hollins In
stitute. Sheisa handsome blonde of the pure
Greek type. with blue eyes, delicate she'll
like complexion, and her lovely neck and
arms look as though carved out Of marble.
Miss Annie Colhoun, of Allegheny Springs,
is regal in style. and with the happy faculty
of making herself popular with both ladies
and gentlemen. She Is tall and willOwy
and should have been named Lily from her
resemblance to that pure, graceful flower.
Miss Mary Cloyd COwan, granddaughter
of the late Major James X. Kent, isa charm
inc brunette with beautiful golden, auburn
hair. and is as lovely in character as in
person. Some faces of women are grand
and classic in repOse, and the beauty is in
the expression. There is a type of beauty
or loneliness which CLOVIS in activity. 1t
seems 10 warm and color and beam with a
certain goodness of nature, of heart, of
soul behind it, You can hardly tell where
il is or what it is, but you see 1t truly,
and il is something of this subtle sort that
men expect and want in the face of
women, and il is something of this indefna-
BILE charm that is very engaging in the
face and manner Of Miss Mary Lou Bell of
Pulaski.
NHaa nnN