The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-17

There goes a legend IN the country
round-a bout that when the Saviour of
mankind was crucihed unon Calvary S
brow, celestial edict placed upon the
fairy world the duty Of announcing to
humans throughout the whole earth. the
death Of mans redeclner and in that
death that man had found eternal life.
Each fairy herald was to be furnished
with cross Of indestructable stone as a
symbol of truth and divine authority. A
band Of the most skilled artisans of the
fairy world we're instructed to be Quick
and dilie,nt in preparing a sufficient num-
Der of fairy crosses that each herald
might be at once supplied with tho proper
credentials.
This little army Of mystic work1nen. Ia
boring by divine command for mortal
good. made a quick and sure survey of
the surface Of the whole round world and
in the twinkling of an eye made their
wise selection and established there work
shops upon the rough and rugged slope
of a giant mountain in the good county
of Patrick and the old State of Virginia.
EVIDENCE STILL VISIBLE.
It would be folly to question the truth
OF this bit Of folk-love. for the evidence
is still visible on this self same mountain
side and what the eye can see the heart
doth surely believe. In their great haste
the elfs made many crosses that were not
quite perfect and these were left scat
tered on the ground and here many OF
them are to this day. Made by stone so
hard that the hardest steel will not in
dent them: perfect crosses save for some
slight flaw, which caused them to be re-
iectcd. no two alike; all nearly perfect and
none larger than the end Of a mans fin
ger. And here they are in Patrick coun-
ty to-day mute but interesting evidences
CT the good judgment of the fairies in Sc
lecting as the place where they would
labor the spot where their happiness
would be most complete and where their
work could be better done. For here in
the county Of Patrick, under the peaks
Of the mighty Blue Ridge. close to the
meadows Of the Dan, they found that
which adds even to the health and happi-
ness Of a fairy queen or to the robust con-
stitution OF the sovereign Of the elfs
Here nature has declared her master
work and has touched the whole country
side with a hand of beauty. Here the
fairies found stone as hard as adament
and as clear as crystal and in abundant
varieties from which to make their Sc
lection and here they found the virgin ore
Of iron. Of copper, of silver and of gold
from which to form their cutting tools.
They found, too, climate almost perfect
never hot, but tempered even in mid
summer with refreshing breezes and
protected so BY mountain ranges that the
broken. Tho air on these hills of Patrick
is free from every contamination and is
as pure as that Of Eden itself, while the
water. which gusEes from mountain
springs and rushes in sparkling streams.
is clear, cold and pure. The outside world
knows little Of Patrick because through
lack Of railway facilities and by reason
Of Its steep and rugged mountains, it
has been inaccessible and its people in
years gene by had become so accustomed
to its beautiful scenery. its wealth of
forest. of son and Of climate, that they
failed to appreciate how lavishlys the hand
of nature had blessed them
BRIGHTER AND BETTER DAY
But better and brighter day has
| dawned and old Patrick is shaking of
| the legthargy Of by-gone years and be-
ginning to assert herself and to claim
| her rishtful position in the very front
rank of the counties Of the Old Do
minion-a position that is hers by rea-
son OF natures own decree She pos
sesses unbounded wealth in her virgin
forests. Her soil is rich and productive
| and her climate make possible the most
abundant harvests Of all the standard
crops grown in other sections Of the
State. Her hills are simply bursting
/ forth with the richest minerals. and
above all, it is Patrick that offers to
the invalid and the convalescent such
life-giving and tissue-building air, sun
shine and water as to make the county
a veritable haven Of health and rest
A &C mparatFyely new Industry for
Patrick. but one which Is making rapid
strides and which promises to be the
| leading industry Of the county, is that
| Of apple raising. Here are grown in
the sheltered mountain coves apples OF
| the finest quality, taste, and color and
| in a profusion that is almost bewilder-
ing There are many orchards yielding
now in the greatest abundance, and
young trees are being planted by the