Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-08-04
WHEELING in THE NORTH.
TWO STANTON TEACHERS TAKE IN THE NEW
ENGLAND FARMS AND DIARIES AM
NORruEDN rarrrrr.

TWO sTAUNTON TEACHERS TAKE IN THE NE
ENGLAND FARMS AND DIARIES AN
NORTHERN COLLEGES.
!. The following newsy extracts from pr
vate letters written by a Staunton publ
school teacher, who. with his friend, i
wheeling through the agricultural an,
mountuln region of New England. viii
prove OF interest, especially to the farmer
OF augusta and wheelmen of Staunton.
HOLYOKE. MASS, July %.
Am falrly started on my homeward Jour
ney. our highest point being reached at Mt
washington, where we had lovely view Of
the surrounding country from an altitud,
oI o2s3 feet above sea level. Some of thi:
New England country is fine. though W.
nave ridden through some that looked. JUS
as poor and unproductive as that we find il
the eastern part of our own State. The peo
PIE are more progressive as a rule and cul
tiVate every bit of land they own save a few
acres saved for pasture. The variety OF
their crops affOrding occupation nearly all
the year round is where they seem to me to
nave the advantage our our farmers in Vir.
glnla. Then too. large factor in their
| prosperity Is the fact of their being accessi.
Die to the markets. A network of railroads
traverse the country in every direction so
farmer can ship his products at moderate
expense to markets nearby and realize as
much as if he shipped to more distant ones.
Inc farmers in this State seem to be far
ahead of the other New England States,
much richer land, especially in this valley
(Connecticut). Scarcely any wheat is
raised here, they say they cannot compete
successfully with the west. Hay is the
money crop. Some tobacco in this State is
very good, saw none in the others. In New
Hampshire, Vermont and Mass. the dairy
business is most flourishing, we stopped at
dairy farm and were much interested with
everything we saw and heard. The small
dairy farms complain of being dOwn-trodden
by the big wholesale concerns, and IN fact
the whole country talks hard times, Just as
much as we do down south. We would
think ourselves flOurishing if we were as
prosperous as they, at least until we want
ed to be more so. SO it is the world over, it
seems. One thing remarkable l have no.
ticed. Nearly all the houses are well
painted and kept so. From the outside all
seems beautiful and prosperous, but in
many cases, where we CHANGED to stop, the
interior was plain and dirty. the people
were dressed untidily and a general care
lessness seemed to be everywhere. Such
places were generally occupied by some of |
our fine foreign element when we no Ions er |
felt surprise. The fine exterior was what
we could not understand. Weare ENJOYING |
ourselvers though we are both thin as rails. |
Expect to be in New York Sunday where we
hope to get batch of mail from home.
w. NJ.
New YORK, July 81.
Arrived last night little before supper.
Would have gotten here sooner had the rain
lot kept US all day at Holyoke The next
morning we made an early start, found the
Dads ridable but hard pulling, so we did
lot make our usual speed. However got to
Hartford for dinner, went to the top of the
'tate house where fine view of the city
vas had. The Hartford life building doomed
p in fine style and we were told the co. stood
veil in the community. The morning was
Loudly and the rain threatened every mo.
lent. 1t cleared in the afternoon and got
Is ufferably hot and oppressive. We tried
ride at half past two, went miles where
e found shade and water and rested for
ome time. Then we started again, but
bout eight miles further we gave up and
opped at dairyman's house where we
)lled on his green grass and chatted him
ii after five, when it was much cooler and
ore air stirring. We rode till after and
ut up at N orth Haven.
The next morning we rose early and rode
New Haven, miles, where we took in
ale. This completed our tour of the big
Observation-Disclosures, Princeton, Harry.
ID, Columbia, Dartmouth, Amherst, Mass. :
81. Col. and Yale. 1t certainly was a
orcher yesterday, but we had good roads
Id got along very well making stops to
Ike on water whenever needed and resting
few minutes. After dinner we again
arted, but were stopped by thunderstorm
miles from New York. 1t being so hot +
ere was much electricity, several fine
ees and large telegraph poles were struck v
d blown down, some across the road. A I.
rye apple tree right across the road from o.
e house at which we stopped was much n
mayed. 1t was hard riding after that. "
it few miles further 1t rain only enough W
settle the dust. VIII go on to Philadel. M
ia in the morning and come home as fast
we can, suppose we will get to Staunton =,
Lurday, certainly Monday, hope so at sa
y rate. If this weather continues, will Su
tempted to take the train at some places n
ere the rnads are not so good So far, b.
It is up to yesterday ard the evening be- Go
e, we had fine hiking weather Ee
w. e. M. ri
Gil
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