The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-19
In ALBEMARLE.
THOUGHTS FORMED DURING
SUMMER RAMBLlNGS.
The origin OF Lawn Tennis-An EnSi- sh.
msa's Reasons why sheep-Raising IL
tmrcied-A unique Negro settlement
Autumn Mountain GIorIes,


msH's Reasons why sheep-Rai.ing IL
tmrcded-A Unique Negro settlement
Astumn Mountain GIories.
ALBEMARLE CoUNry, Va, oct. ls.-
lsPcciall-l forgot to refer, in my last let
ter, TO the game most in favor among Tao
attendants at the social teas therein dc.
scribed. or late years, even among a Ger.
tain class OF Americans, "iawn tennis has
been the fashion. Il is found at all the
PAGES Of summer resort; has become
necessary cdjgnct to every small boarding
retreat in the country, and now even the
Srecn surfaces Of private lawns are almos (
universally occupied by its courts. With
our English friends this ancient aud hon
orcd game is much more than a
mere fashion. IL is one Of their
national institutions; It's practice among
them amounts 10 passion. and
j. as necessary 70 the full endowment Of a
scason,as Is the breathing Of the air in itself.
J have noticed that among most of our peo.
ple the game res'iy appears 10 consist m
first knocking The light and airy balls with
unnecessary force, and then spending the
resi- OF the time in pursuing them over the
occasion 20 indulge their mirth AT the ex-
pensc OF their luckless companion. This
violent cNcrtion and utter want Of skill
snay appear quite amusing, but they do not
constitute the game; and II has been for
this reason that | have generally look d
without interest upon what seemed 10 me
so pOintcss a pastime.
ORIGIN OF TENNIS.
10 was not until | had witnessed a game
of lawn tennis played by an English team
that / duly appreciated the skill, the adj
dress and "aplOmb' with which IT could be
rendered The ease and dignity with which
they controlled their movements, the deli
cate manipulation 10y which the balls were
kept describing graceful curves in midair,
and al last tlc keen relish Of triumph after
prolonged suspense awakened for the first
lime IN me an interest in the game. In the
meantime the participants, like billiard
players, seemed totally unconscious OF the
amount Of cXcrtiOn they had taken; so that
body and mind had been agreeably en-
plOyed In the pursuit Of both health and
pleasure.
/ have Just said that this time-honored
game was an Institution among the Eng
lish. but 10 did not originate with them
We ina America. are indebted 10 all our
dold sports and outdoor games TO our Brit
i-h ancestors; but they, IN turn, received
some oi these from other nations. Thus IL
was with tennis in its various forms. The
game now 80 popular in our country is the
most cileminatc form in which it was ever
practiccd. Away back in the middle ages
Do was known u have been the rough pas
time of prince and peasant. Ii was then
PLAYED inside Of cOurt-yards surrounded by
lofty and thick walls. The heavy balls
were tossed high up upon the sides Of these
fn Doe met 10y the open hands OF the
players and knocked back upon the first
bound. This process was Kept up in ac-
cOrdauco with the strength Of the players.
lu the course Of time, as people became
more civilized and luxurious, 1t was found
necessary 90 protect the more tender hand
with stout gloves, the inside OF which
were reinforced by elastic network OF
strong cord, and this arrangement was sue
cccded hN q small racket, the predecessor
of the modern implement Of the same name
now univ rsally employed in the modern
game. some say the modern world Is III
dehted 20 the Italians. others the French,
and stan others 10 the early SaXons, for this
ufscicnt uastime. But a. have not intended
40 give you history Of this or any other
popular diversion, ! must leave 10 readers
ufLuslish literature all that need be known
lu thi- subject remarkiug only that there
was a time IN England when every teudal
stronghold had IL tennis court for the rich,
and for ali Corners, every village IFS bowl
lu---reen.
SOME GLOBE TRQTTERs.
Not many years ago an Englishman who
was visiting his friends in this neighbor-
hood and who like SO many of his country
men had made the circuit Of the globe,
stood looking with admiration upon the sur
rounding country. 10 turned out lac was
taking more practical view Of things
than merely enjoying the scenery. These
people. YOU know, are the most lnVeterate
frrrar IA no
purpose Wherever they 40, their prac-
iced INDICTMENTS and quick discernment
discover opportunities. The world Is indebt-
ed more % this trait in the British charac-
Ger than any other. They are TO be found
everywhere. ana are neither deferred by
danger. nor discouraged by failure.
They have ever been the best OF colonlzers,
because tine individuality Of the race VIII I'D
the end Doe sure 90 assert Itself. Ihey are
collectively and individually the most en-
teruri~inc people in the world. An English
man. for instance. will DE found digging
sulphur 1ut of the simmering depths OF vol
canoes at the risk of his life II NE can make
10 uaN. he 10 is who alone on the parchng
ul1iu. of Iarapaca succeeds IN gathering
nitro for the demands of commerce and
wherever failure may have visited the ef-
forts Of Others, if it be possible, the touch OF
his master hand will restore llie and action.
wits specially impressed with the truth OF
these reflections once while travelling
through the rocky wastes Of old spain.
There was literally nothing 10 be seen 70 IN
tprest the eve. when suddenly white Jet OF
steam shot up from the dismal horizon.
Upon inquiry it proved to he from the ma
'chncrv OF copper mine, worked by En-
rli-hmsn. there nm one OF tho Oldest ana once
The richest country IN the world.
4 week after this an Englishman was
found down among the casks Of shorty,
controlling the most important part OF
that wonderful industry. although sur
rounded hy the descendants of those who
first founded the cellars of seville. Ana so
might r9 ON. but must return To our visitor
whom / lel lust Iiow looking on the tempt
tu. .ian.. of th, Blue Ridge. You may ask
,vlli Do Was be- saw. After some minutes
,Iapparently earnest thought he expressed
Cine Greatest surprise THAI the country, ihen
before him. should be- allowed so 10 lie
waste and neglected. lie had lived in Au'
trAla. and especially in New Zealand
where climate and pastures were emincnuy
adapted o. the demands OF sheep culture
ne declared that there was nothing IN that
...iou that surpassed this for the same
purpose. and that II no possessed
ID few thousand acres on the SIDES
IF these Nireina mountains he should
consider in himself a most fortunate man.
Dr. combination and the necessary arrange
m-uf- the mountains and the lowlands
m..ef l,o SO utilized that i'm time the coun-
try would Doe swarming with nocks, and
tecming with the proceeds Of sheep hus-
hlndry II capital were needed TO begin
fae enterprise he felt sure II could be got
ten. The farmer, now encountered with
troubles OF every kind, annoyed by the
the character of the labor, by repeated fail
ur.,. low prices. and higher freight charges,
at one time ruined by Hoods, at another by
IrDughts. would under the new system be
eventually di-enthrallcd from the tyranny
Dl old usages. And 80 he contn-
ned % eXpatiate upon the future
ID Doe opened before the depress-
eI and despairing tillers OF Virginia
e1ll. The latter knew as we'll as he did that
nothing paid better than sheep. One OF
their neighbors had already purchased "A
small n0ck. mainly for private use, which
-. - ~. ....lI l.r lL.mADlNns Inn Ind