The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-12
IN THE BLUE RIDGE.
CRISP ACCOUNT OF A DRIVE OVER
The CRESTS.

somehow our plans always came TO grief
until this summer. A cool spell came, and
we decided 10 take advantage OF IL.
II is very pleasant to hear accounts Of
beautiful sunriscs, but we actually saw one
on that memorable morning when we start
"a on our drive 20 Weyer's Cave. the sun
must have been lazy, for we were up befor,
he was. When he did put in an appear
ANGEL he seemed sleepy and tired at one time.
lie nearly decided not TO shine brightly that
daY. We could sympatize with him, as
over and over again we felt that we had
rather go back TO our morning nap than tC
take our long-talked-ot trip. But like the
sun we yielded to our better impulses and
came ont victorious.
just imagine yourselves members OF oui
party. We are sorry that we did not men
ton the trip 10 YOU before. as we might have
had the pleasure of your company. We
wall do the next best thing-tell you about IT,
From what point did we start! II you
cannot recall it. get your atlas, and you
will see on the Chesapeake and ONO rail.
way. about lOl miles from Richmond. lit
Tie station called Ivy. Pretty name, isn't
itg Right around IL is scenery much pref
tier and more suggestive than its name.
Bat we must hurry on our trip. When we
once get TO Ivy (f only in imagination) it Is
hard 10 get away. and If we don't look Oul
the heated term will give place TO the chill ly
blasts Of winter before We can bring our
selves - leave it,
Jnmp in. now. We are OIL. Don't look
back. Remember Lots wife. A drive o
about two miles along quiet country road
a. sfs.l.f
large. grassy yards, on which tennis courts
are laid out. and flOm whose trees ham
Knocks swing, we come to the highest point
between Ivy and Mediums river. Let M
fake "A good look around as we descend the
long. slanting hill. At first you will have
ewes only for the mountains as they tower
in solemn grandeur above you. The sun il
al our backs and shines upon the mountains
with lust enough force 10 bring out Their
manifold beauties. We are perhaps some
six or eight miles from them, but the atmos-
uhore is 50 clear that we can see the fOllsge
ON the different trees, and we feel as il we
would like 20 break on leaf or two.
4 little 70 the left OF Us freight train is
coming slowly into sight. The smoke as
oends iu great pulls and hides some oil the
trees and mountains from view. Now look
at the fields in cultivation. Did you ever
see finer corn Don't the orchards suggest
an YOU the Albemarle pippin We can tell
vOu m At some OF the finest watermelOns and
cautalOupes are grown right around here.
Consider Yourself eating them now. mere
Is an abundance of game here. As we
drive along we frequently scare up large
nocAs Of partridges. Rabbits frisk in and
ont 0f the bushes along the road.
Another mile brings us to Mediums river
Shall we cross the bridge or the fOrdf The
ford. of course. At the bare suggestion OF
the bridge our noses take a celestial ten
dency. But hold on; that bridge leads neal
10 the shaltorof good manyO OF Hlcbmond
airrst daughters. II Is only O'CLOCK
fh.tigh. and they would never know Of your
ra,rue.s 10 them unless YOU are musical
aud screnade them. If you wish 10 see AL
of the ladies. or rather one OF them, you
should 20 sometimes 10 one OF their balls,
or som. afternoon Just in time to see her
rid. Oh with 1.-THE other fellow Don't be
furious. She is young and pretty. You
would not like 10 love girl that no othel
fellow admired, would YOU; SEINE OF these
DAYS. when YOU and she are one, she viii
fall YOU all the sweet things those "othel
fellows" said 10 her, and YOU will wonder
why she chose You, and love Der all The
more.
so let us ford the river. The old-fashioned
frame mill stands on the brink. The mud
dy water in the race is very often used iOI
bapflZing. \ little farther on, at the sum
Baptist church 1t is a pretty brick edtice
surrounded by gigantic wales. Our Baptist
brethren have done and are doing good
work here. What would we be without
ehurche-s one of our party tells us that
during the war some soldiers were passing
Jh.- church, aud hearing strange sounds
tha verdict was. "GhOstsw Some Of the
brav,st ycnturtd forward. and found not
chests. but sheep within the sacred edihce
While SIC are talking about II we meet
sav.f'l travellers bound for Charlottesville
". nr-t look AT the people and wonder wht
the,. are and then we scrutinlze horses anC
vehicles. Their general appearance ano
thcir history furnish us with topic OF con
ver-ation for some distance, and we nnd
ourselves M twenty minutes 10 elght AT the
top of "a steep hill. We can hardly believe
that one day last spring the tiny brook al
the foot oi this hin rose so high aud rapidly
n- f1 drown "A little boy who was crossing
ON horseback. Right ahead Of lis is a little
lly who is carrying some ones breakfast
iu "a tin bucket
We would like 10 have some right now
W. pass him. but in little while he Il
.b.ld Of Us again. For the second time we
piss hsm, but al turn in the road he bODs
900 sefenely." There, now, little fellow,
tlr have taken your last short cut. We
will keen ahead of you hereafter, as you
will have to keep TO the main road. III
those woods less than thirty years ago there
,y.r.rcal live wolves. That ground Op
p,-it- covered so luNuriantly with grass
was few years ago only bare, RED
nrd, where The school boys Use u
play LAYING Oh railroads. There was not q
-nri, of grass there then. Now the grass Il
$40 abundant that the red earth is hardly
d-cc~nible. We pass where little school
hDuss used - be. II was burned down moi
long ago. The old family residence still
stands though and The grass aud trees lOos
us .rocn now as ever, we suppose. we
tltn boz the road and meet with some wag
un- loaded with tan-Dark. This seems tC
he a great mountain industry, Judging from
tle number of loads we meet.
We cross the river, and are disappointed
That the horses do not drink Of the clear,
sparkling water. We meet some more
loads of bark before we come to White Hall
This il good Methodist place. The minis
fer lives little To your right and short
distance down the street. Two OF our party
have vivid rccollecti0us Of the nice time
they Use o. have at parties In this place;
how they use 90 20 through rain, hail, and
low. over frozen roads, To spend Q
Jew hours in dancing. 1t was all
right fr them, bat at the same time
taey now think it silly for people to care for
such things. Are they exceptions 10 the
General ruler This is very nice little
place. several miles from the IaliIoau
Store. and houses are all white. or course
fasr, is a postOillce. II would be nice e
come TO this quiet place and take good
dong rest. You could Just throw OF all care
There would not even be any whIstling OF
rnging0l Little Annie Rooney TO bother
uu.
Ngain W. cross the river. but this time
on "A bridge. What crop OF sorghum, we
cNclaim. Aud what corn, No danger OF
starring in tins fertile region. Past black.
smith shops. schOol-houses. churches and
residences we fly. We are looking now for
one Of the old landmarks. We know when
syr get 10 the old run at the loot OF the
mountain that we are at Browns cave.
Look here. we are AT the forks OF two roads.
Which one must we takef We should have
asked at some OF the stores we passed, bu,
DO is too late now. We will ask that boy
doiging behind that logcabin. :" Boy, 90
sou know which Is the road to Brown
Al. N.ssar hoo ri al AZ hpfor0N sslDDer