Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-15
ARlDE OHUMp-BACK
one Point In the Trip In Albemarle,
Augusta, and Nelson.
JEFFERSON At MOUNTAIN TOP.
How "Ccntra, College" Became the UNI
versity OF virgiois--Ascent to the Rock
and Glorious View Tbcrcfrom.

CRoZET. ALBEMARLB COUNTY.
VA. July 1l-CSpecial)-!t was typical
July morning in the Blue Ridge noun
tains OF Virginia, The myriad jewels OF
the universe sparkling In the frescoed
dome OF the heavens far surpassed in
brilliance the lustrc OF all the countless
diamonds that have ever rested upon
royal brow: the Thousand and one noe
turnal insects were uniting their chants
with the bass and tenor OF the frogs IN
the marsh and along the banks OF the
quiet stream; even the crawfsh and
spring lizard had caught the enthusiasm,
and In their dreams seemed TO be wig
Cling their tails to the tune OF 'The Star
Spanglcd Banner: the cock had sounded
his last clarion note for the midnight
hour. and had once again tucked his head
beneath his wing 10 avail; the time of
the next watch; O'Clock came. and
at the sounding OF the alarm. n bevy
OF maidcns-the masterpiece OF Gods
han3-arose from their downy couches 10
prepare for the duties and pleasures OF
the day; the gallant lads had already
gone out 10 saddle or harness silver
Foot" Jack" Charley" and their
other prancng stecds in n short while
lily hands had placed upon the snowy
cloth In the dining-h hall one Of the earliest
breakfasts OF which IL has ever been our
pleasure TO par1ake; upon the air Of
''the Silly night there now rings out "A
blast from "A fox-h0rn. wheels begin TO
rattle the sound of hoofs falls upon the
ear. and the members OF a happy party
are of from Brownsville. in Albemarle, to
a huge rock-"Pelion upon Ossa piled
known as Hump Back" far up among
the clouds on the top OF the Blue Ridge.
In Nelson county Virginia The rock
takes its name from its "hump-like"
formation.
The objective point was about eighteen
miles distant and as we went on. the
stars went down one by one. the Pleiades
sank behind the eastern spurs OF the
mountain. and ere we had climbed the
heights TO Alton. dawn had passed and
day had come.
\ WEIIs-KNOWN BLAST.
IS we crossed the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad near the Alton House. the
f0x-horn was blown and several OF Pro-
priet0r James Goodies hounds followed
us up through RoCkAsh Gap. and were
lost 10 view as they went of on trail
into the underground so wild and weird
There We caught the first sunlight Of
morning. and rs its golden beams mel
lowed the deep blue Of the Ridge. we
drove upon large fat rock. and were
in the three counties Of AioCmaIlo, Au-
gusta. ana Nelson.
ROCKFISH INN
There we halted, left the horses with
our boy, Israel. and walked down 10
Mountain-Top. or Rockfish Inn. In olden
psb au IN efgsr. n fTlf
mont Virginia TO the Shenandoah Valley,
this was one OF their noted stopping
places Here, August /. ISIS" says Pro-
fessOr ScEcle de We're i'm the semi-Cen-
tcnnial catalogue Of the University OF Nir-
E.nia at this modest country inn. I'M
pref ending in appearance. but Offering an
abundant and well-scrved table. far from
the turmoil Of cities ard the excitement Of
politics. met q party Of men remarkable
for their ability and virtue amidst a
people which had already given four Presi-
dents TO the Union. and was well known
to possess as much private as public
worth. In the lOw-cciled. whitewashed
room. The whole furniture Of which con
sisted Of dininS-Toom table and
rude 'spht-bottom' chairs of home make,
sat the President of the United States,
Mr. Monroe. and two Of his predecessors.
Nr. Madison and Mr.. jefferson, besides a
aumher OF judges and eminent statesmen.
yet says one of Mr. Jeffersons
oioFraphers. II was remarked by the
pokers-on that Mir. jefferson was the
principal object Of regard both 10 the
members and spectators: that he seemed
. be the chief mover of the body-the
soul that animated it: and some who were
present. struck by these manifestations
Of Difference, conceived a more exalted
dea Of him on this simple and unpre-
tending occasion than they had eyer pre-
iously entertained. He certainly gave a
striking proof here of his marvellous sa-
gacity. combined with unweaTying indus
Try. He had shrewdly fOreseen that com
peting interests would conflict with his
own wishes. and especially with the Sc
lection Of site for the new university.
His saGacity was not at fault, for Va
rious other towns, and among them Lex
inetOn. where an Institution. endowed by
Washington himself, was already doing
much good. urged their claims through
able representatives.. But he was fully
prepared 10 meet them, and came armed
cap-a-pie. lie first exhibited to the board
an imposing list of Octogenarans who
were still living in his neighborhood and
thu, proved more conclusively than all
reasoning could have done the remark
able salubrity of the county of Albemarle.
Having thus completely defeated his adj
Versaries. who founded their special claims
for the Valley upon its supe. ior
healthfulncss, he next produced
piece Of cardboard cut in the shape of
the state Of Virginia, and showed 10y
glance that Central College was actually
the territorial centre Of the Common
wealth thus establishing a strong argu-
ment in favor OF his own choice But he
md not rest there. by another ingenious
device he proved on a similar piece on
when he had, with pains-tSlking industry,
entered the population of every part OF
Virginia, that he had succeeded in select
ing nearly the centre Of the population
also and thanks 10 these practical proofs,
Of the wisdom Of his choice. and the
almost paramount prestige which his
name exercised on the commissioners
they agreed unanimously that Central
College should be hereafter the University
Of Virginia"
THE PARTY.
We drank OF the iron and chalybeate
waters at Mountain Top, and in short
while were rolling over the highest road
Of the mountain on TO "Hump-Back,
which in the distance resembles q huge
caterpillar climbing the heights. By .
o'clock We reached point where Israel
unhitched and tied the horses beneath
the shade Of the oak and chestnut.
There. upon the carpet Of green, beneath
the blue ceiling or the Skies We sat uS
down and Vartook of a lunch prepared
by the children of Him who is the
giver Of every good and perfect gift.
Around the fried chicken. old ham, pickle
pies. and ten-story cakes gathered the FOL
lowing merry party Misses Bette Il.
Tilman, Lenori Bolton. Annie +. Rea.
Fannie Lipscomb. Maud Woods, Sallie w.
Rea, Mrs. Carrie Thornley,. and Messrs.
Willie j. Tlman. Jr.. Kirtley NJ. Lips
comb. l.. Templeman Pace. Joseph Dean
T1lman, Willie Robertson. and Henry I.
Iouthan. while not far distant was placed
the ebony-hued Israel 10 break up tine
super;titious number-thirteen."
THE ASCENT.
1t was even now mile to the great
rock. and. leaving our horses. We con-
tinued the ascent on foot. We met
mountainerr with his rife, and asked
him If II was any sleeper higher up:
lie wittiiy replied. Eyes. but you VIII
find some ladders near the top"
After much weary climbing over stones
rocks. and fallen trees. We stepped upon
the ''Hump-Back" in its mountain mas
siveness. As we stood there high up
among the clouds, and had new breeze
10 cool our heated brows. and felt be-
n Naea 100. a 4