The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-27
RECALLING DAYS
NOW LONG AC0NE
A Village Which Retains All Its Ante
BeIIum> Features
WITH ONE NOTABLE EXCEPTION.
The Buzz of the Telephone Cell Has
Invaded This Peaceful Spot-Mid-
die Brook Is Its Name and Hos
ptality Abounds.

II IS not often in these days OF rail-
roads that you see a village without any
other means OF communication with the
outside world except q turnpike. Yet. In
the valley Of Virginia there are many
such villages. and though most OF them
have telephone connection with near bus
incsss centres, still the only way of going
90 or coming from them IS as - was
I'm tho ante-bellum days-the horse and
a-foOt The bicycle too. has largely per-
vaded. or more correctly invaded these
sections, and most Of tho up-to-daie
farmers, besides their horses and vehicles,
possess a silent steed.
Such a. district and Village IS Middle
Brook IN the county OF Augusta and the
existence Of this place is a good argu-
ment and fine piece OF circumsiantal
evidence in favor OF good roads. for
though some Of the old houses might be
standing yet, Middle Brook In the writ
or s opinion would not he in the prosper
GUS condition IL is today If IL were not
for the macadamized pike that runs
through &c on its way 10 Lexington.
LOOKING BACKWARD.
To describe the village itself would
require a more brilliant pen than the writ
er Wlcds. for at the first sight one thinks
he has been suddenly transported TO the
UaA OF OAi laAlAHln AANaN ENRA blA
days "befoh de Wah." the stories to
which We have listened with awe and
rapt attention. told sy some old man
my" OF uncle til we almost regretted
being bonn so late.
Especially IS It delightful when the men
come i'm from the fields and the days
work is done The sun sinks behind the
aueghanies. and Il solemn hush falls upon
nature. the voices Of the night come forth
slowly at first one hero and there, then
gathering strength they commence their
nocturnes more sweet and delicate than
any earthly Chopin could transDOse 10
pianos keys. The peace Of It al makes
SO deep an impression that one almost
wonders: Could this lovely vale have
been such a bitter battle ground? Could
all this ever deserve the title, The Valley
Of turmoil"
With such reflections YOU enter the
village and stop AZ one OF the principal
stores. You hear a tinkling bell and on
euquiring you are rudely brought back
10 the present when informed 1t is the
telephone. afore mentioned
LENGTH: NOT BREADTH.
The village itself seems 20 be about 80
feet wide and q half a mile or more long
that is it IS built along the pike, lining
both sides and, II q new house is built
Lit lHNs % OF inc LNWI ~ oNA't'A -'s t4NfN+
the width. Middle Brook has been accus-
ed Of needing a new coat Of paint.
From a thrifty standpoint this may be
true but the artistic mind takes decided
issue on this point For an artist, may
paint from morn till night and besmear
his canvas with any amount or that
article. but tho less Of It on his subject
the better is he satisfied, and sleepy old
Middle Brook with thoroughly new coat
of paint would, 1 think, lose much OF its
attractiveness.
The village is higher at both ends than
II is in the center and on entering the
place from either end you are literally
going down town. though that much-used
expression Will hardly convey tho same
idea It would in a city
Like many, and nearly all villages for
that matter Middle Brook suffers much
NJ the hands of circus posters and fence
advertisements. This summer one OF the
posters showed a tremendous snake in
the act OF swallowing an antelope. one
can Judge Of the size Of the snake when
he realizes that this father Of serpents
IS disposing Of q full-grOwn antelope at
q single bite not q very large bite, either.
Later on, that IS. nearer his tail. this
serpent IS tied in a knot. not hgurauvely
speaking. but I'm a bona hde knot.
Whether he does this 20 help digest the
bones of the antelope or 20 get his full
length on The poster there Is no way OF
knowing
There is some talk Of n car-line being
built TO Middle Brook from Stanton,
eleven miles away. This WILL Of course,
help the place immensely and possibly
start a boom. But the car line has not
arrived yet and the old village IS still
tho same. An old place sleepy. possibly,
but I'm hospitality wide awake. That
kind OF place statesmen Ike TO claim as
a birthplace. the kind Of village that sets
tho poets heart a-singing, truly like
Goldsmiths sweet Auburn" one Of the
loveliest villages Of the plain. T. w. NJ.