Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-01-09

f1ict. and were first treated to this near
Bull Run, where Confederate cemetery
is located, and in which the chief shaft
was draped with Grape in honor of the
death of their late chieft,in.
Ever the indications of the chief cause of
that war were present in the cabins dot
ting the hillsides, and from each of which
as the train sped by, two to d dozen little
pickaninnieS were visible. all waving
their hands and displaying their worries
Their dress consisted mostly of a slip
reaching about to the knees, while shoes
and stockings were diScOuragingly alb
sent. The cabins consisted of one room
apparently, with one door, one window,
and the chimney built on the outside
The houses were evidently built without
regard to location, as frequently road
was not in sight, and nothing which
would indicate an advantageous site for
building.
At every station at which we stopped
large crowds of both whites and blacks
would be assembled, drawn mainly by
curiosity, for but few boarded the train.
The whites occupied one end of the plat
form, the blacks the other, and the blacks
were of the blackest black, and we could
detect no signs of the miscegenation of
the races.
The soil is red and apparently unpro-
ductive in cereals, but indicated fairly
good grazing qualities. Here and there
the crumbling remains of chimney
presumably marked the location of some
probably prosperous home in ante belL,tLn
days, but which Succumbed to the flames
of an opposing army, for the country
through which we were passing is replete
with incidents of the war, and veritably
as a resident expressed it, 1T was jeff.
Davis own country
Every town we paSsed-Culpepper,
Lynchburg, Danville differed so essen
TALLY from the towns of the North, that
each had its attractions. But this ram
bling reverie would not be complete did
we omit to mention our Christmas din
ner, which we ate at Charlottesville, Va
Never before did we behold such sump-
tuOus repast upon entering the dining
room of railroad hotel. Everything
one could wish-not even the Southern
appetizer being omitted; and after we
had dined to entire satisfaction the Jolly
colOred waiter urged us to partake of
more, but in the interest of safety we de-
sisted We were informed that what we
received was but a sample of the every
day meal which is dispensed to the hun
CRY wayfarer, and it was bounteOus
# asst.
Lynchburg, though unlike Rome, it
has not seven hills, but five, nestled be-
tween the mountains, presented busy
and NOrthern-like air, with iron mills
and numerous railroads. The "Jeems"
flows by and is lost in the windings of
the landscape.
DanVille next claims Onr attention, sit
uated in the open country, and on the
river Dan. Apparently thriving city it
is, with electric lights and modern i'm
provements. Here the negroes were
maSSacred so numerically few years
ago. A short time before we arrived, a
white man was shot by a negro, but as to
what disposition was made of the negro
we did not learn. The next stop was
Greensboro, and we were in North Caro-
lima, the tar heel and scrub pine State,
and famous for "moOnShine" whisky
Soon cultivation almost ceased, and
nothing appeared to the wearied eye but
red gullies and scrub pine. The country
not hilly but rolling, except where near
towns, was one vast barren tract as far
as habitation was concerned, and we
learned that the greater part of the land
is not held, it not being worth the own
ing. The red soil of both Virginia and
North Carolina, and i'll the latter State
the entire absence of sod, placed the
mark of sterility upon the land, and the
greatest enigma to us was to determine
what supported the towns. AS ma
tive with whom we talked a short time,
remarked while passing through small
town, THAT ere is a right sharp town,
but this is the dog gOnedeSt country on
earth" Most of the towns are loosely
built, and cover large amount of terri
tory for their size. The inhabitants have
the appearance of listlessness and inertia
At last, after long trip and tired, we
reached Charlotte, n. c., the point for
which we were bound. Here we were
met by friends, some of whom we knew
others whom we had never seen, but lit
tie difference to a frat" man for that
Here convened the annual assembly of a
college fraternity, and we had gone as
delegate. Soon all were acquainted, and
we were conducted to our hotel, where
we were royalty entertained during our
stay. We walked the streets in the warm
mellow sunshine, and listened to the birds
or laid down on the ground in the open
air to keep cool. The climate while we
were there was everything that could be
|
South, and having the mountains on the
west, the air is dry and pleasant during
the year and quite healthful. The town
is situated near the South Carolina line
and is an important railroad center fol
that part of the South, having roads di.
verging in every direction. 1t has cotton
mills, and an attempt at an iron mill, and
here is located branch of the L. s. Mint
1t supports both morning and an even
ing daily newspaper. From Charlotte
went forth the Mecklenburg Declaration
of Independence in 1775. 1t now has a
population of 1900, has wide streets and
some fine buildings. The people are hos.
pitable and very courteous. The blacks
about equal the whites in number, and
are polite and respectful. We were treat
ed to the best fare North Carolina afford
ed, so we were told, and certainly it Was
good. One feature characteristic of the
people is the universal indulgence in
liquor. Everybody drinks, and nothing
is thought of it. 1t is on the table and
everywhere.
After stay of two days, during which
we saw much, and having transacted
some business, after an elegant banquet
lasting till o'clock A. NJ, we said good
bye to all our newmade friends, and with
the pleasantest recollections started
NOrthward. North Carolina, Virginia
Maryland were crossed, and we were on
the hither side of Mason and Dixon's
line, and well on our way home. Penn
sylvania, the Pan Handle are traversed
and we are at home on the New Year
thankful that we live in Ohio, and thank
fui for everything except this bloody
] beastly weather. Ell. McM.