Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-04-29


be comparatively unknown to the next and
their names In later times be only familiar te
antiquariaus: that their contemporaries did
not possess sufficient breadth of view to see al
the greatness of a truly great man and have al
lowed their names and fame to sink into un
merited oblivion. There are few who are pre-.
pared to understand and give welcome re-
sponse to great teachers and prophets, ''The
light shineth in darkness, and the darkness
comprehendeth 1t not"
The late John n. Peyton, whose extensive
practice in an unusually large Circuit kept
him much from home and deeply occupied
was In the habit OF dropping short notes to his
young, talented and accomplished wife, some
times from q wayside inn and sometimes from
the county seats. These notes were often only
Of half dozen lines hurried!y written and
confided to the post-boy, who carried the mail
bag on fleet pony, or by the hand Of a
friend or grazier driving his cattle to market
1t is much to be regretted that SO few of these
letters have come down to us, for they are not
only interesting but curious history.
The following letter gives modern members
Of the "bag and wig'' fraternity graphic
picture of the privations of a lawyer on tn q
Circuit nearly seventy years ago.
John II. Peyson to Mrs. Peyton:
WARM SPRINGS. Sept 1st., 1923,
MY DEAR ANN:
On the day we parted ths Judge (Archibald
Stuart) and myself arrived without adventure
at General Blackburn's. THE wilderness 80
miles N. W. of Staunton in Bath Co.. reached
by an ungraded county road. with no bridges
over the streams. The General lived in much
state on his tract of about 1000 acres-culti-
waited by large negro force. These negroes,
we may add, he emancipated in his last will
and colonized in Africa.]
ION the next day at Colonel Cameron's, and
on Tuesday ct o'clock arrived at Hunters
Vile. the seat of Justice of Pocahontas county
- place as much out Of the world as Grim
Tartary. Owing to the bad condition of the
roads we were much fatigued and bore many
marks OF travel. stain. The so-called town of
Huntersville consists of two illy>constructed,
time-worn (though 1t is not time which has
worn them) weather beaten cabins built of
logs and covered with clap-boards. My negro
cabins on Jackson's river are palaces in com.
parison with them.
One of these wretched novels Is tie es:dence
of John Bradshaw, the other is calle1 the
Loom house. for these people are self.suf-
f1cing. They spin and weave. The big wheel
and the nrtttlle rtttle wheel are birring in every hut
and throwing off the wS0iiie2l and linen yarn
to be worked up for family purposes. The
home.spun cloth too is stronger and more
durable than that brought by our merchants
from Northern manufacturers.
In Bradshaw's aweIl1ng there is large fire.
place. which occupies one entire side the gable
end. The chimney is enormous and so short
@lxo 1t
this way. 1t is an ingenious contrivance for
letting all the warmth escape by the chimney,
while most of the smoke is driven back into
the chamber. In the chimney.corner I pre-
pared my legal papers before a roaring fire.
surrounded by rough mountaineers who were
drinking whiskey and as night advanced
growing riotous. In the back part of the room
two beds were curtained off with horse
myself. To the left of the Fireplace stood old
assembled by means Of a ladder. his daughter
and the hired woman slept, and at times of q
crowd wayfarer. The other guests were sent
to sleep in the Loom house, in which was
suspended a half.worn piece of cloth. Three
beds were disposed about the room, which
completed its appontments-one was allotted
to Sampson Mathews, second to John
Baxter, the third to George Mayse and John
Brown. [Mr. George M Cochran, ST., surviving
in 1886 in his S9th year. said that this was not
Judge John Brown, of the Chancery Court,
grandfather Of the late Colonel John B. Brown,
but long, lank, lean. red headed lawyer
living at the Warm Springs The loom was
used as a hat-rack at night and for sitting on,
in the absence of chairs, in the day. AS there
was not chair or stool, beyond those used by
the weaving women, my clients roosted on the
loom while detailing their troubles and re-
ceiving advice Brads hew's table is well sup-
piled. There is profusion, If not prodigality,
in the rich, lavish bounty of the goodly
tavern. We had no venison, as this is shy
season with the deer. but excellent weather
with plenty or apple sauce. peach pie and
roasting ears. AS a mark of Difference and re.
spect to the Court, presume, we had table,
cloth--they are not often seen on Western
tables and when they are, are rarely innocent
of color-and c;ean sheets upon our beds. This
matter of the She cts is no small affair in out
Of the way places, as 1t not unfrequentiy hap
pens that wanderers communicate disease
through the bedclothing. Old Bradshaw's
family is scrupulously clean, which is some
what remarkable in a region where cleanlf.
ness is for the most part on the outside. A
false modesty seems to prevent these salutary
ablutions which are SO necessary to health
and did not commend: myself to the good
graces of the hired woman by insisting on my
foot bath every morning.
We remained five days at Huntersville
closely engaged in the business of the Court
which found profitable. Pocahontas is a fine
grazing country and the support of the people
mainly derived from thel- f1ocks of cattle
horses and sheep, which they drive over the
mountains to market. There is little money
among them except after these excursions
but they have little need Of it-every want IL
supplied by The happy country they possess
and Of which they are as fond as the Swiss Of
their mountains. 1t is pretty country, a
country Of diversified and beautiful scenery in
which there is wealth of verdure and va.
riety which keeps the attention alive and the
outward eye delighted.
On Saturday the Judge and visited Sandy
Lockridge. where we were very Hospitality
entertained. bis house is every way q re-
spectacle dwelling. with plenty of room and
much fine furniture. On Sunday We returned
to Colonel Cameron's and this evening
rived here in sound health and excellent
spirits. Notwithstanding our rough experien>
ces. 1 was much disappointed not to find a
letter awaiting me from my dear wife. Ben
Crawford has. however. relieved my anxiety,
by telling me that he saw you Cd Saturday
sitting at the front window OF your dining
ROOM writing and thought he heard the prattIe
OF Susan in the room. 7 imagine you were
writing to me and hope to-morrow's mail will
-. me the coveted letter.
nther's will has been recorded In ALE.
and your brother William has
.aYecutOr- Ia 90 fr fob q