Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-08-23
An Interesting Description Of a BeautI-
fuT Country.

with the freshness of rain upon it, al
it has been recently, it looks like
dlmple on the cheek OF nature.
| The foothills of the mountains, thai
stand like great barriers on every hand
reach their wooded slopes well dowr
into the valley and often stand with
| their feet in the cool waters of the lit
tie stream, as it winds it's shining way
in and out among them, until there is
comparatively little arrable land; yet
| Nesting among these old bills, like a
child in the strong embrace of love, is
many happy home, sweet in it's sim
plicity, and abounding in comforts
which friendship gives with lavish
hand to virtues call.
Upon entering the valley from the
east the first place that attracts atten-
tion as having been reclaimed from the
forest primeval, is Variety Springs, a
quiet, well kept place, that looks like
the home of rest, land many indeed are
the weary tOilers that find refreshment
here. as they 60 apart from the care
that ladens these summer days. Its
cool shady lawns and broad verandas.
speak of comforts, while it's health
giving fountains drives away disease.
Slanting upwards for miles-maybe
A from the smooth beds of the mead
ows which lie at the foot of the lawns
OF this charming place of many waters,
is a great mass of mountains upon
which Elliott's Knob sits enthroned
the prince of the high peaks of the
mountains of Virginia, and the Jewel
in the effections of all who are born
here.
Since the day that the buffalo passed
this way and rested tor a little while
as he made his pilgrimages between
the seasons, there has many herd of
the "placid eyed. lazy footed" kline fed
upon these broad slopes, and grown
fat and shapely; and today the tinkling
of bells is heard far out upon the
mountains where, during the summer,
feed the cattle of the thrifty farmer
who has his home in this favored place.
With an atmosphere as pure and clean
as the life of bird is free from sin.
with water as cold and fresh and
abundant as the solitude from which
it springs is vast, and with freedom
from pests of nearly every kind, it is
indeed favored place, in which the
man of industry, if contented, may live
in comfort and build a home that will
be blessing to those he loves.
As you go about these shaded ways,
here and there you come upon the ruins
of an old charcoal furnace which speaks
of the past, and as you stand and look
back through the days long gone, you
are in the midst of busy scenes which
gave to the world the highest grade of
iron, and you live again in that period
from which came the best code of
1t is here that you witness
that affection which existed between
master and slave. and 1t was return
ing from these scenes at the joyous
Christmas times that the darkies' hap
py voices were heard making melody |
in the night as they went down to |
their homes in the plains beyond the |
ridge for the holidays. But time has
wrought many changes, and today
great Taneries and Cement works are
the industries that draw supplies from
these rich hills and give to the world |
product of rare quality.
Following the murmuring waters
of the little river as it hastens on it's
life giving mission, you come to Pond
Gap, where the mountain bends it's
great back to make the way a little
more easy to get over. Here is a clus-
ter of attractive homes, and stretch
of smooth, well cultivated land. lying
apart from the rugged hills that
makes a picture fair to behold, and
the traveller, as be looks out into the
deep shade that shelters the home can
but admire it's comforts if he does not
long to abide there. A spur of tn e
mountains, of shapely form, that looks
like huge grave in which whole ma
tion of people were buried, breaks
away from the main range here and
running parallel with it forms the
Estaline Valley, which is for situation
like the Valley of the Doons, that
Lorna, because of her beauty and vir-
tues as compared with the sin and
depredations committed by her fami-
lY, made famous. 1t is valley of
springs and brooks, of slanting fields
and smooth meadows, of pretty name
and picturesque scenes. A valley of
peace, valley of Invitation, which
holds many comforts in the hollow of
her hands for those who will come and
pluck them from her open plans, and
here it is that those who are tired of
being slaves to their fellows can come
and live apart from all bondage save
that of love.
Craigsville, with Its long struggling
street and architecture that speaks of
another day, is the capital of this
Acadie. Sweet and simple is its home
life, lived in the fear of God, and hap
py indeed is he who is received into it's
friendships. Here, as in Grand Pre-,
1.-THE richest are poor, and the poor live
in abundance" "The evening brings
back the star to the sky, and the herds
to the homesteads. ''and as patiently