Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-26
AGRAND OLD COUNTY
aAppAhANNocK's MOUNTAIN WON.
peRS AND VALLEY 0lORleS.
ecui-stirring EIequencs Of BARNETT 0rims
lsy-aumorsus DIR. Broaddus-A Rich.
naond-AHontpslier Romance
rcorrespoudenc. Of the Richmond Dispasch-i


Va, June IS. ---Rappahannock u'ay Cell be
called the Switzerland OF Virginia. On It's
western border rises Mt. Marshall, the
highes. elevation in the northern part OF
the State. Looking over tho county from
this point. one sees an unbroken panorama
of mountain and valley and valley and
mountain. "Pelion upon Ossa piled" not
at ono point alone, but throughout the
length and breadth of the shire, 1t needs
no Lake of JuceTne" to enhance lts
charms, for its own. Rappahannock,
which Nrxt catches the sunlight far
up the sides OF the cloud. capped
Blue Ridge. and Its siivery tributaries
are as beautiful streams as ever p iolleu y
over pebbles OF gold. Mary s ROCK,
which lies lust west Of Sperrsviiie ana
which is not far east of Luray, extends
away into the upper deep" and has long
bsoa visited bv hearts that wish to beat rs
ono. Five miles west o. WASHINGTON II u
giant causoway known as the Devil STAIRS.
Avc. 400 some conyulsion OF nature rent
an twain half of tho southern slope OF Mt.
Marshall. and from the PintoDian gloom
vhich ever fingers about the silent
stairway deep down in the gorge, TINS
sublime piece OF mathematical want
OF precision" without doubt receit yea
,.s Safanic name Tho "Re0 OAK" tne
"Fodder Stack" the "Hazcl TOP" Tho
Peak. - and Bal tie Mountain stand as trusty
eentinels watching over the smaller noun
ta;ne. which lie like children at their feet.
Jacob was never able 20 fully sing the
praises OF Rachel after he first came INTO
Ithe sunshinen of that Heaven-it face.
Some thin K that not even the facilo pen
of Irving could perfectly portray ,no
beauty and grandeur Of tnppahannock,
whose landscapes have been carefully
tcuched and retouched by the brush OF
nature. and whose rocks and mountains
hay been chiseled and rechiseled by the
Sculptor Of the universe Himseii.
THE COUNTRY.
Rappahannock was created By an act OF
the Legislature in 1881. and formed from a
norton of Culpeper county. IL taxes us
name from the river which runs on lts
northern boundary. It's soil Is fertile and
productive IL wheat and corn. ia US
western portion it has bluegrass sod
which rivals even that of Kentucky.
Washington. the seat of Justice. Is l23
miles mort Invest Of Richmond and IS from
Washington CITY, 1t has five practicing
attorneys and three physicians. II coa-
tains four churches, graded school, three
stores, and about 800 inhabitants. Its peo-
ME are intelligent, genial, and the very
synonym of hospltelity. The other VII
laces OK the county are Flint Hill. Amlss-
vile. Woodville. and Speryyille. AT
the latter place there is large tannery
which gives employment TO about thirty
hands. This tannery MAKES the bark In
dustry an important source OF revenue.
Az ELOQUENT PREACHER
-Four niles east of Washington. situated
in grove of majestic oaks. is Mt. Salem.
Bautist church known throughout this
whole section. Here for many years
preached one of the most eloquent men
THAI tho state has ever known. those
who knew him have said: we have
heard State and national orators, hut We
have never listened to any man who
could surpass tho soul-stirring eloquence
OF Barnett Grmsley." Mr.. Grimsley was
torn in Gapeper NOV Rappahannock)
about 1893. While he received no educa-
ton exc ept nj tho ordinary schools OF the
county, ne always continued 10 be close
student lie had q fine forehead, q large
mouth and piercing eye. He took hold
OF subject with perfect mastery, and alter
Stain his PROPOSITIONS clothed his Illus
trations III tire most beautiful language and
with 5uGn imprisoned eoIuence anu
logic that 1t was impossible TO sit under
his preaching without being completely
electrified. He seemed 20 rise Ike cloud.
His gestures became animated IL the eX-
IRENE, and his voice was raised 10 Its fullest
volume uutl hla eloGuence was IS grand az
the rolling and TUnbnng OF thunder
storm accompanied by the most vivid
flashes OF lightning. Mississippi soldier,
In writing OF sermon which ne heard Mr..
Grmsley preach during the war, SAID:
- His appeals were 30 lmpassioned
and he welded such a power over
his congregation that his hearers
involuntarily arose. spell-bound by the
magic OF his eloguence.' Mr.. i. p. Carter,
leading attorney AZ the bar here, VINO
had heard both GriDsley and Beecher.
SAYS: Mr.. Grimsloy's eloquence was OF q
very superior order. remarkable IN the
fact that he lead on and on until the gran
dear Of his climax was such that no humor
could DO admissible. BeecherS burst or
elOsuence was so short that he could
throw III his humor a. any time. His
preaching might be compared to a
beautiful ride over an unduating coun-
try where the eye Is relieved and
the soul inspired by such diversity
as the eye rests upon IN travelling over hill
and vale. Grimsiey's preaching was like a
propelling power that takes you up through
the majesty and beauty of the mountain
slopes TIL you reach the summit where the
eve bursts forth upon everything grand
and sublime" Mr.. Grimsley lad a num-
Der OF calls to city churches. but be pre-
ferred TO live and preach IN the county
that gave him birth. he died about twelve
years ago. His two sons--Judge ID. A.
Grimsley, of Culpeper, and Rev. Thomas
Grinsley. Of Madison Courthouse-are
both well Known IN Virginia.
HUMoEIsT.
Rev. William L. Broaddus. d. D., was
another noted Virginian IN his day. While
he was known as one of the best preachers
o. the State he was also known, for hls
rich humor ] was born.n said he. lin
Rappahannock and 1 wasn't born in
Rappahannock. L was born IN Culpeper
and wasn't born in Culpoper." How is
that" said friend. WELL" he an
swered, when was born it was Culpeper.
and when the county was divided the
part of the county where l wa. born was
called Rappahannock, and \ thought
/ would tell you all about it," During
the war be was taken by the Federals to
Washington city and imprisoned. One
day they desired TO remove him to an
other prison. When the guard with his
gun was sent ont for him the good Doctor
in his dry way said Ms rsn are y tGs
tSe odd Gae ead % WY, You Bless e@ you NJ
life" replied Broaddds. "Pve been down
there many a time. I'm not afraid to &c
by myself"
OTTER LOCAL NoTABLEs.
-Grimsley and Broaddus "have fought Q
good night; they have finished theil
course" but even while We write the
praise OF one or Rappshannocks sons ls
being spoken by every Virginian. Basil
j. Gordon, chairman of the State
Democratic Committee. and delegate
at large to the recent national convention
ut Chicago. is admired no less by the Ole
Dominion as WHOLE than he il
by Rappahannock. The Gordon manor
situated in beautiful grove. is about five
miles west OF Flint Hill, on the road lead.
ing to Front Royal. BY consulting an old
Virginia Gazetteer. published in 1885, fpd
that there upon a large landed estate his
grandfather Basil Gordon, lived before
him. Mr. Gordon and his brother Douglas
now own about 100 acres of land around
their charming country home.
Just one mile east of Washington
situated upon a gently sloping eminence,
IS Elersie," the home of Mir. James Jett.
who IS well known IN this section as the
author of "A Virginia Tragedy" Mr.
Jett was educated at Washington and Lee
University and Of the Virginia Military In.
siitute, is quite fond of bis library, aud il
an pasv ma ar ft,l N r,ker The