The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-05
In LOVELY ALBEMARLE.
INSPIRED BY THE BLUE
RIDGE.

In an Amphitheatre Of Mountains-Tra-
ditIons-Changes Since the Wsr-Settle-
ments by EngIishmen-EsrIy Customs
Passing Away.
ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va, Oct. i-lspe-
cial. AN amphitheatre Of mountains al
most encloses the spot from which write.
The Blue Ridge rises before me to the
height Of 1900 TO more than 1900 feet above
the sea. My eye follows it, fading outlines
north and southwark, inviting a nearer in
spection. feel impe.led by fascinating
desre,t to see what is still beyond my pres
ent limit Of vision. Were this wish graft
fed, should find but the same effects OF
| light and shadow and cloud and sky now
before me. do not intend, however, to bore
you or your readers with sophomore de-
I scriptions Of mountain scenery, the details
OF which become at times lnsufferably tedi-
Gus. Ii is enough to say that the cultivated
eye does not often fail to receive its impress
siOns nor a sensitive nature refuse its tr-
butte when the sublime In nature demands
our recognition. People are affected very
differently in this respect.
was once travelling in a stage coach at
night in company with two persons who had
never seen mountain. One OF these was
| a highly Imaginative lady. the other was
her negro servant. The driver had told us
| that we should pass through an elevated
gap about sunrise. from which we should
enjoy fine view Of the highest range, to be
crossed the same day. Our expectations
increased with the slowly passing hours
and the tedious advance of the numbering
vehicle. At last the dawn began TO appear.
The lamps were put out and the curtains
rolled up TO let in the morning air. shadows
took the form OF trees and gaunt rocks
were seen Ranking the PERCEPTIONS road.
BY this time the sunlight was upon the
SUBMITS of the distant mountains, when of
a sudden the aforesaid lady, catching but a
glimpse Of the scene, cauld not find words 10
express her emotions, but lifted up her
hands In silent and adoring admiration.
The negro, meantime. had eyinced no con- |
cern. Ii was not until enquiry had been
made as To his impressions that he stoically
remarked in reply, ''dat de would do"
NOT WITHOUT LEGENDS.
10 is a rare thing that a neighbOrhOod in
this country is without its legends. Some |
times a blood curdling ghost story makes
some deserted house terror to the young |
and an object of interest even to the Old |
spot i'm the roadside at some uncOnsci- !
Gus, but ill-fated tree is pointed out, where |
the favOrite equestriene OF the leighb0rhOOd |
had lost her life, long years ago; or it may |
be the still unsolyed mystery of murder in
the past century still fingers gloomily over
the remains Of some deserted farmhouse.
The mountain in front OF me has none OF
these, but is not without its traditional
story. Ii is short one, but TO this day Is
referred to, il for nothing else than its mere |
mystery. In climbing its steep sides on
horseback one reaches cleared spot in the |
forest Of original growth, in which the ruins
OF a small house built originally OF stone
and brick are seen. The foundation
was made of material near at hand: but one
is surprised that the builder thought it neces-
sary TO transport bricks TO such an eleya-
ton, when timber was so abundant and so
much less expensiye lie must have ''come
20 ttay," Judging from the fragments that
remain" Of this ancient ruin.
AN OLD RUIN.
II has been only within the last few years
that this house has not been occupied. Its
massive tmbers are now in perfect state
of preservation, but its dilnpidation has
been gradually accomplished by the severe
alterations OF heat and cold at its alpine
situation. In all this region the peculiar
shape Of the unattached rocks makes IL |
fields. The thaws Of the spring slowly
loosen the underlying earth, whereby the
foundation stones are AT hrst but slightly |
disturbed This process is repeated year
by year. until the superintendent weight of
the rocks above causes the foundation TO
give way at different points, and so brings
about breaches IN the wall. Although the
foundation Of the old building had been
strengthened by the use of cement, and
a roaistaI IA siIapt AMI
orable forces of nature, it had at last to sue
cumb. In the mean time, generations of
people have come and passed away. Great
trees have grown up and died near it. The
venerable relics of an apple orchard, the
date of whose beginning no one now knows,
are still seen staggering near, bearing the
scanty fruits Of old age. A turf Of the rich
est green decOrates the base OF the ancient |
ruin, as if to commemorate its beginning, |
as well as adOrn its decay.
THE TRADITION.
Some time in the last century, according to |
tradition, an unknown well-pres2ryed man, |
considerably passed middle age, accOmpa- |
MED by young and handsome woman, ap- |
peared in this region. No one here had
ever seen them before, nor could the few |
settlers in the country find out who they |
were or why they came. lie and his fc- |
wife, were allowed to board in such of the
families in the neighborhood rs he might |
select until he could fix a home for himself. |
70 all enquiries he continued 10 maintain
silence AS to his history and the reasons
that Influenced him to come to that cOun-
try. After some months Of apparent I'M
certainty, he suddenly determined to fix his
| abode at the place described above. This
added to the mystery and interest already
tb.. Eh..N hsI a.
mitted the strange couple 10 their homes.
They had seen them under all circum-
stances, and had never had cause TO sus-
pect that they were other than what they
appeared to be. The man seemed To have
means; always paid his bills, and put down
the cash for the land he bought on the
mountain side. But why he should choose
TO retire from the settlements in the valley
below and bury himself and wife CT she
were his wite) in the solitudes Of the Blue
Ridge was never satisfactorily explained.
In that time the Indians were still linger-
ing in the Businesses 6f what Is now known
as the North Mountain. and the >hawanees
from beyond Buffalo Gap occasionally made
predatory fOrays upon the settlements at
the foot Of Massingnutten mountain. The
panther. the bear, and the wildcat abound
ed. Ii was scarcely necessary To hunt for
game: people often killed the deer at the
neighbOring spring or in the corn-patch
near the house, and the wild turkey took
the place on the settlers tables, now so gen.
orally occupied by its domestic congener.
After the strangers had taken possession
of their mountain home they were rarely
seen by their neIghbors below. Ii was OBJ
served By the latter that an opening in the
forest grew by slow degrees into a consider
able clearing, and signs Of cultivation ap-
peared. The man had procured seed for his
crops, "a single horse, and a few agricultural
implements from the people in the valley.
| At that time mail facilities were more prim-
| tive than now. A stout young fellow, arm
ed with pistol, brought on horseback.
once or twice each month, in "A leathern
bag, few letters and fewer newspapers 10
a settlement where was a store and where
squire filled the important place Of
postmaster. On his way TO this place he
sometimes halted opposite path leading
up the mountain, on the side OF which,
nailed 10 a tree, was stout wooden box.
Into this rude receptacle he dropped any
mail matter directed TO the man on the
mountain, or took from II letters, upon
which it was noticed decorated seals on