The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-15

| ne probably went through without stop
ping. But know that many times TINS
SUMMER I have wished that l had him
journeying on foot beside us, that ne
might learn something more about the
new South" New enough IT IS In some
places. and practical enough. too. but no
wiping out Of old traditions and no bud
ding OF new ambitions serve TO eradicate
from the Virginian the hereditary talent
for the entertainment OF guest
| remember one day. toihng up one OF
the mountain roads of Amherst county
az night was coming on. had traihpeu
for fifteen miles that afternoon through
the pine woods. and two or three thutner
stoSms had soaked my shoes ana ruDpc,
coat. A clatter OF hoofs sounded behina
me, and turned 10 find myself overtakeh
by a man and woman on horseback.
"Can Won tell me where | can IND
village or hotel?" inquired.
"Tnere are no hotels In this region
answered the man. But you can stop
anywhere. | would gladly ask you to my
own home. sir. but l live .severai iii'ies
farther on. and you had better stop at
once, before dark"
And then his companion turned III hei
saddle and smiled one OF those sfnai
sweet smiles that come from the delicate
Tipped Southern women.
"All the houses are hotels, she sdlu'
"only nobody has to pay.
HONE" nGrrfR THAN ''HoTEL."
An hour later. when sat. dry and com
Portable I'm an old time parlor. and listen
ed 10 the mild hustle Of the household IN
tent upon my pleasure. | came 10 the con-
clusion that she Of the delicate smile was
right. Indeed. the Virginia house seems
TO have something of the hotel about IL,
In the quick anticipation Of ones personal
wants. which IS to be found within H.
But a better word than hotel would
be the word home" itself. for the Viz
ginia host greets you with courtesy ana
friendliness as complete as the homeler
attention 10 your physical comfort. Win
out effort on your part and with no o'her
claim upon his attention than that you
are a Stranger in his region, ne goes out
OF his way 10 find you, and opens at least
the outer door of his heart as readily as
he opens all the doors OF his dining-room
HIS home is yours from the time his
outstretched hand greets you at the
threshold until he walks with you down
to the farthest gate and inquiries whether
you have plenty of tobacco for your
Journey. He Is confined 10 no one class
Of society He may offer you a resting
place in an ancestral four-paster, whose
curtains touch the ceiling, or he may IN
vitc you 10 a rough couch on caDlh
floor. where you may see the moonlight
come through the chinks between the ioss'
but the spirit is the same.
That parting gift of tobacco al the farm
gate seems as appropriate 10 Virginia as
the State coat of arms. II is invariably
the final touch of hospitality, although I'D
the late summer Il has close rival in
the watermelon which is cut before the
departure. and at all times I'm the fare
well flowers. / remember the hrst tlme
that the flowers appeared. 1t was q Ily
In the season and a big and fragrant
magnolia blossom was tucked INTO the
straps Of each OF our knapsacks as we
came away. Then | wrote 10 my friend
in New York to look out as he went up
Madison Avenue for the Nirginians were
beginning TO throw bouquets.
MS WHITE UMBRELLA SMOKED.
II is things like these. beside the scenic
ana historic interest Of every foot OF the
soil which make Virginia the deal region
for such a tour. Yet II is not everybody
who is to be advised TO take one.
tramp trip is not the sort of an outing
for q tender plant, for even In lana
of breezy days and hospitality the tour
list is not going 10 escape vicissitudes OF
weather and surroundings. / remember
one day in the Blue Ridge when the Their
mometer stood at 100 degrees in NE shade
and we walked for miles through ROAD
guarded by the neghboring pines from
any breath of moving air, while the sun
beat down so that the artist said his
white umbrella smoked over his head,
and vet at eight o'clock that night, when
the dav had vanished suddenly behind
the hills. we sat close 10 roaring hre-
Mace for warmth. And the record OF an
other day. in the big woods OF Bucking-
ham county. where the deer crashed away
through the bushes as we proceeded,
reads in my notebook as follows:
Breakfast. corn bread and stewed
apples.
Walked from 6 80 \. VI. to +. NJ.
Lunch. crackers ana spring water
Walked from 10 +. NJ.
sumner. dry corn bread. Bed, floor OF
cabin. with knapsack for pillow.
vnr REWARD.
Anvbody who does not like this sort OF
thing would best kcer TO the ear window
point Of Wow. for there are places where
the pedestrian can get nothing bet.er-not
for a purse full of money lor q heart lulI
of love The man who does not care II
his umbrella does smoke once in While,
who can stand cold plunge in strange
river. Or who likes. after ten mile per
surfing climb, to feel the fecn mountain
air whistle about his ribs. is the one 10
shoulder mis- knapsack and risk the dry
corn bread for the views of the delectable
valleys. 1t does not take The purse fun OF
moncF-half full will be quite sufficient,
for country hotels are cheap Incidental
EXPENSES slight and the railway fare cut
ON of the account Eat II does take
something of the Eeart full loVe-loVe
not only for tn, scene shiftings OF nature,
but for the entertainment furnished by
humanity.
He who can exchlnge views on crops
and politics with the courteous planter
or stumble over the negroes playing
"craps" in the road at midnight. ana en-
ioy il all. has the spirit of the true traNei-
Ter TO whom no land Is barrel lie II IS
who should take a tramp trip through VII
einia. When he returns. with complex
lon like the James river after thunder
storm and a sparkle in the eye IKE inc
snarkle of the Shenandoah at sunrise ne
win have something better yet IN the
nictures which will have dropped into MS
memory from the varied life and scenery
Of the old Dominion.
VI ''' II. A. CROWELL.