Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-03
RICHMOND's EXTENSIVE TRADE.
The Drummer GInddens the Hearts
of the Country Folk.

ALTON, VA, February 2.-(Special)-
We are making ready, with last weeks
slight thaw and sush. for our dear old
chestnut, 1.-THE backbone of winter Is
broken" Alas! for weather fallacies!
Tuesday the snow came again-large,
feathery, and deep. Though the air Is
cold, II is bright with sunlight and in
toxlcant, and Notwithstanding the wintry
snow and sleet the avant courier OF
spring Is here. lie has arrived, multi
pie. and with much baggage. Square
trunks, fiat trunks. boxes, long and OBJ
long. follow In the wake OF the Ubiquitous
drummer, to gladden. our hearts as the
harblnger OF brighter skies and spring
calicoes. The drummer-like hope Is Pc
rennial. No cry OF hard times" daunt
him, and he does a steady, safe business
in these inland mountain towns. Two
stores at Alton. Mays's, Williamss,
Oman, Greenfield, Pughs, Lodebar,
Slaughter s-eighteen miles Of healthful,
active trade on the main mail route
through the Valley, and smaller tributary
stores off in the country, give good sales
TO wide-awake drummers. Most OF this
custom Is filled from Richmond markets
and the number Of our merchants going
away TO Baltimore or other cities 10 buy
stock has materially decreased. Selling
by sample brings the wholesale house
TO their door.
SHOULD HUSTLE.
Alton is the natural outlet of all this
rich back country because OF its easy
facility, by the Chesapeake and Ohio
railway, to reach the large trade-centers.
Alton should be built up; 1t should have
streets and new houses GROWING its
beautiful hills; its merchants should
hustle and extend their lines OF mercan-
tile goods. Above all things, II wants
resident physician-sure and skilful-with,
as our drummers would say, small side
line" of drugs. The mountain is ma
tural barrier. Seven miles across us
rough roads, when life hangs by thread.
Is not keeping up with scientific ad-
vantages and II is down a steep de-
clivity, certainly at night dangerous
mountaih-road to reach medical assist
ance, nearly four miles away. In the
Rockfish Valley
LOST HER CHILD.
A horrible thing happened at the upper
Rockfsh few weeks ago. The intense
cold OF that date forced the wild ami
mails down to the settlements for 1000.
a colored woman, named Lucy BAR, iost
her child in a fearful way. Early In the
evening her husband had occasion to go
elsewhere, and told his wife to join him
later at a dance to be given at some
cabin not far from their own. 1t was
agreed that he should meet her at renee
near a little thicket, take their chiiu'
and 90 with her the rest Of the distance
The woman started later than she IN
tended. and II was quite dark when she
reached the fence. She saw. dimly'
figure that seemed to be standing on the
other SIDE and handed the infant over
as she turned to climb a lower panel.
The woman at first thought her husband
was trying to fool her." as she said
when she could not find him, but ran on
calling, and met him coming toward the
fence. He had not been there. Lights
were gotten and a search made. Nothing
could be seen or heard. In the morning
the tracks of an immense bear were
found leading on through the thicket ana
I'D toward the mountain.
The grist-mills which were frozen by
the very cold snap, are now running on
full time
The freedman is little blue at the
severity OF the winter. The snow Is such
a palpable thing that he loses confidence
in his ability 10 feed through. Every
country neighborhood has it's sable Solon
Ours gave this 70 his colored brethren
the other day: Eyer wants to wok mo-;
eat less. an dom spen' nothin' tall"
A wooden wing OF Mr.. Zimmermsn's
residence was crushed In by the heavy
snow last week.
SEED CATALOGUES.
The busy farmer is having a needed
rest. but the wise gardener Is COM
mencing operations right now He be-
gins when the snow is foot deep. the
Thermometer in the thirties, and bic,
roaring fires at night stimulate. thought.
His tools are a pencil and paper and
the excellent catalogues coming In with
every mall. The new seed catalogues are
things OF beauty-artistic and complete
In variety.
Witnesses for the Commonwealth In
the Walker trial at Stanton left here
Friday. They are J. III. Robinson. w. n.
Goodwin. Tom Critzer. DR.. Garth, and
Henry Loney.
Mrs. ]. II. Clemmons died Tuesday OF
consumption.
u. Taylor McCue. Esq. Of Richmond.
spent last week among his relatives ana
old friends. Mr.. McCue Is native OF
Nelson. near Alton. belonging to the
old distinguished family of that name.
He Is brother OF DIR. Massie Mccue. Of
near Greenwood. and OF the late James
McCue, OF Brooksvilie.
SUDDENLY ILL.,
Mr. Francis Baker. hasgage-mastsr ~