Mexico weekly ledger., 1895-03-21
AN ANCIENT HISTORIC TOWN.
At Lexington, Va, Southern Pride and
Fashion Still Prevail-An I'm
portant Parsonage.
,orresponssnce Of the LEDGE.

portant Parsonage.
Correspondence OF the LEDGER.
LEXINGTON, VA, March 14.-It has
been truly said that there is no spot
without its own peculiar relics and
traditions, and there are, without
doubt, places without number, whose
remains take on a wide Importance,
and are the objects of universal inter-
est. 1t is immaterial whether the sub
jects of this general feeling, which
might aptly be called ~veneration, be
men or things. The eastern portion
of this country is particularly favored
with the objects which give rise to the
above described sentiments. OF all
the Atlantic states non a hardly
lay claim to as many interesting char
dcters and scenes as the "Old Domin-
iOn.'
Laying aside Mount Vernon and
Monticello, we are not without many
things of which to write. One single
small spot viii amply suffice for this
short article. / only invite the reader
to Lexington and its surroundings. He
who thinks that old southern pride
and fashion have capitulated to north
ern ideas has only to pay a short VISIT
to this old historic town in order to
have his mind radically changed.
Ancestry still plays its old and i'm
portant part in society, and the negro
still v%enerates the white The
youth is still faithful to teachings i'm
parted him by the memory of his
father. They r loyal both to the
stars and stripes and to those who fol-
lowed their convictions and used their
powers to retain the then order of
things. Virginia did her part,as Lex
ington bears witness.
On sunny afternoons here there may
be sometimes seen ~traversing the
streets, for no other end than eXer-
else, a man whose appearance is strik-
ing in the extreme, who seems TO live
yet in the past, with nc hope for the
future. His step, i'll spite of aged APP
pearance, is still firm and his manners
on all occasions are forcibly attractive.
This man, perhaps, came as near re-
Versing the result of the Civil war as
any Southern leader, and his genius at
one time struck awful forebodings in
the United States naval forces. In the
face of all difficulties this man design
ed the Merrimac, which at one time
threatened the blockade. For this one
act Col. John NJ. Brooke will not 500
be forgotten.
There is, about six miles from town,
a little scene which should delight the
heart of every native of the "Lone
Star" to visit; yet / suspect a great
majority of them are as yet ignorant
of its existence. 1t is a beautiful ridge,
and on its crest stands the house where
others, gave Texas her independence
Gen. Sam Houston. Fronting this
ancient domicile stands a quaint old
church, bearing the date of 1856 as the
| tllilS vi u N1NSLloAs WhC1C GILL; lIO
doubt, the Texas champion first wor-
SHIPPED his Maker. Between the birth
place of Gen. Houston and Lexington,
and about two miles from the city,
stands a genuine southern mansion,
sadly wrecked, it painfully bears wit
ness, by postbellum owners. The
North River flows by a short distance
in front, which greatly enhances the
natural beauty of the surroundings.
The residence is a typical plantation
home, a long wo-story brick struc-
ture with a veranda its entire length
in front. The lawn in front sloping
down to the river is still worthy of
notice, as it gives evidence of much
former beauty. Old stone steps climb
ing the remains of once admirable ter
races, but now fallen into decay, are
| plainly to be seen. Indeed, the whole
appearance seems to demonstrate the
fact that no change can destroy the
impression given the place by its ante
bellum owner. 1t was the home of
Albert Sydney Johnston, who SO gal
lantly died at Shiloh. Who can sur
vey the dwelling of one of the wars
most famous victims and not think of
him, concerning whom Il Confederate
soldier remarked after the battle of
Shiloh: "If Gen. Johnston's head had
lived we would have beaten them into
the river"
But homes made famous by the il
iustrious names of their once possess
ors are not confined to country alone.
On n of the principal streets of Lex
ington stands a building, the appear
| ance of which would indicate extreme
age to any casual observer. 1t has
been a prey to ''relic seekers" Every
one knows it by the term of the "Old
Jackson House" No yard surrounds
it; its one small, low front door opens
directely on the street. Year after
year people come and visit it and each
one takes a little stone from its old
time foundation. One would never
think that the famous "Stonewall'
pliSC NSNA GtbOtt IA cAsh L IIillHuV
rooms. 1t is now a boarding house
for students of Washington and Lee
University and will soon crumble into
ruins. These are the principal scenes
which attract the average tourist. OF
course, he f0rgets to visit the
Jackson monument and the recumbent
statue of r. E. Lee, but these do not
create the same feeling of reverence
as do these remains of greatness.
Each year adds to their Importance
and at the same time dims their true
appearance. Nature is their only pro-
tector and Time the fell destroyer.
Yet human interest in their existence
will never cease, for mar still worships
nan II. IL. LARIMoRE.
Miss Ida Rosamond is home from
Texas, Hot Springs, Ark, and St,
Louis, where she spent several weeks.