Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-23
BEAUTIES OF ALTON.
The Charm Of Its Endless Variety Of
Scenery.
The TYPICAL. nouSrArSEEn
A visit to n Dark Camp-A Picnic
"C0umtry COurtatfons"-As
Chicken Ccntrc-Thc Wheat Har-
vest-Summer Visitors.
ororresnondenc. of IN. pIspatch)

Correspondence OF the Dispatch)
ALTON, VA, June 22.-If We seek fo%
places where men have gained least from
nature. morally and Intellectually, we
shall find them. generally, where nature
has been most profuse in her gifts. In
less kindly lands where substance has to
be forced from the soil. man arises as
king over nature. subjects her forces 10
his own purposes. and gains her most
zealcusly-guarded treasures. Happy tho
country which combines the excellencies
OF each. When Goldsmith finished hf
Deserted Village" had he looked around
him, where the land fares not I'll he
would have, OF course, cast his eye hrst
upon the South. and turned most ap-
knowingly toward Virginia. In fancy ne
would have assembled westward TO the
Blue Ridge mountains. and. OF all lovely
spots on natures green earth, have chai-
leneed n peer for Sweet Atom In the
beauty of its location and the glory OIL
its surroundings 1t IL the land OF en-
chantment The valleys and the low
levels OF the Blue Ridge spread pelo"
Alton a veritable panorama, ana loit'er
mountain peaks hold IL in like a huge
vernai bowl. one great charm Is the
endless variety OF scenery. Around are
ponts OF the widest sublimlty. ana near
by charming spots full OF resttuiness anu
ouiet peace With every inspiration Oh
the perfumed atmosphere comes renewed
strength and vgOr The excess OF oZohe
IS like inhaling champagne. IL mis- one
with delight. and nature and life are IN
such perfect accord that IL soon brings
"a the faded cheek the bloom OF youth anu
health.
TYPICAL MoUNTAINEER.
Here may be found the typical noun
taineer-frank. kind-hearted. and gene
rous but full OF shrewd sense and pure
mother wit. Nature is prolific OF her
bounties: but In this favored lana 'ne
son of her soil in not letharstc. lie goes
to work with energy and vim TO develop
the exhaustless resources OF his matchlsSS
country. which, for sllubrity, equabiiity'
and healthfulness OF climate has no SUI
perior on the globe.
There is nothing more delightful IMAM
life in these mountain Businesses, unless
1t be to go sightseeing through the
Ridge" \ visit 10 bark camp,
made by a party last week, was full OF
interest. The mountains are clad with
forests Of pine. oak. walnut beech, and
maple. The bark-men were at work
some distance up spur of iiumpback
and soon after the party started from the
shanty the road ceased altogeth %
the steep slope we were guided only by
the crash Of falling trees. Most or the
camp men were young fellows. and the
red and blue shirts they wore looked very
picturesque among the green trees.
So merry were they with song and jest
that their hard work seemed like play
The bar.I-peelers work in gangs of
choppers. fixers and spudders. The fall
OF a large tree Is an impressive sigh
The chopper cuts a broad opening on one
side. half through the great trunk, and
the chips fly away from its dark-red
heart-wood. on the other side the chop
per cuts a deep cash, a little lower thar
the other. and, as the axe begins 10 toucf
the centre the topmost limbs tremble
then sway; then there is lettering. ;
little leaIung, and the woodman. kecpn'
his eye aloft and his feet ready 10 jump
hurls one last stroke into the strainins
flbres. The great crown bows TO th'
| earth, swifter as L descendx. ami crashc
down upon the brushwooi with
noise like the mufled roar OF n battery
| and n force which shakes the ground
| The 'spudder" prizes of the bark. which
| the "hxcr" has notche1 and split for him
1t Is only when the new wood is forminl
| and the cells are soft and full OF sap tina
the bark can be stripped OFF In large
I pieces.
Peeling is done only in May and June
| Our party barbecued some fish caugh
| from a mountain stream. and picnlcke,
! by a bubblng spring. Freestone and cha
| lybeate water gushes from n thousand
sources on these hillsides at tempera
ture OF IS degrees. and ice Is never re
| quired.
A CHICKEN CENTRE.
Alton enjoys the proud distinction o.
being the great chicken centre Of th'
! Piedmont range. Chickens come in by
the Star route. the Rocktish Valley. tn
| Albemarle lowlands. and tributary cross
roads stores There Is a fine home mar
| ket at the two large hotels. and It IL es
timated that 20,G0 dozen eggs are sold
eaten. and shipped here per annum.
Heavy shipments OF bark are belnl
made this week. Other country courta
! tons most In vogue just now are: Glove
| Gn) the young man with his sheepskii
| and the academic seal. who came up witt
| his best girl" from the university final
this week. Pairs dried an ancient cou
| about &c: bride. g.
| Hay GeveD crop heavy. rs the seasol
advances. (Sn)eezy 10 handle
| Wheat harvesting has begun. Tn
grain has filled In ahead of promise o
q month ago.
| "Woodlawn." the beautiful estate o
the late Mrs. Emily Coles. will be sol
July 18th. Many Richmond people Will re
call the 'old oaken grove" and thi
| model Virginia homestead. with its mas
| ter and mistress. pure types OF the oil
southern regime now fast passing away
quite an improvement has been mad
70 the Alton House by throwing the oiiic
TO the southern porch and adding anothe
room TO the main hall.
| Among others at THE Mountain Top
are Mrs. Robert BOykin, Mrs. Arthu
Seldom and maid. Richmond Va; Mrs
VI. j. Preston. mother. and children, an
maid. Baltimore, Md; Mrs. James I
Wood. nurse. and children. DIR. c. "
Poindexter. Charlottesville. Va.
Lately registered at Hotel Alton ar
Misses Sallie and Mary Williams. Rich
| mond. Va.
Miss Maggie Hall. OF 1.-THE Farm" re
turned home Tuesday, after a pleasan
outing TO Richmond and Old Point Com
| fort.
Mrs. r. W. GoOdloe has had her hous
enlarged. papered. and painted. and ex
poets guests from Baltimore Monday.
Mrs. Lutte Turner has so far recoyere
from the prostration caused by he
| mothers death as 10 drive out.
Miss Lena Williams Is convalescent
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