The Washington times., 1903-10-18
By ]. L. RoDIER.

n | ESTLlNG on the brow OF the Blue
" Ridge foothills. Culpeper. Va. is
the most attractive town in
piedmont Virginia, and has few rivals
in the tidewater sections of the Old Do
minion. 1t is one of those struggling
villages, growing fewer and fewer in the
South. where the traditions of the ante
beilum days touch elbows with the pres
ent, neither suffering from the contact.
Half old. half new. the one patriarchal,
the other commercial. Devious lanes,
bordered with quaint, vine-hidden cot
tages and embroidered with flower
patches turning scarlet in the glowing
September sun. Strips of granolithic
pavement separated by streets guttered
ing alike TO your memory and your agil-
Gity by the stepping stones placed there
as an insurance against wet feet In rainy
weather. Modern brick and stone houses
cheek by jowl with architectural relicts
sof other days. Bustling men of business
with twentieth century stamp of fever
ishness. and the bearded merchants of
other days, content to live in modest af-
fiuence with never a dream of millions.
A city population without guile, a rural
people surrounding that city and tribu-
tary to that population untainted Of for
eign invasion or of factory life. the
men 1.-THE and strong. riding a-saddle
or striding the roads with equal grace,
the women typical virginians-the
average good-looking to the point of
handsome. the many as beautiful as an
old mans dream of youth.
A Modern Ponce de Leon.
1t was to this point of interest to the
city sick I wendell my way one bright
Sunday In latter September to share
with the Artist his enthusiasm over
the beauties OF a mountain road. the
atmosphere OF which he claimed was
surcharged with elixir OF life. And he
proved his claim.
After dinner at the hotel-the only
drawback to which was the inevitable
drummer with his likewise inevitable
tales Of conquest. bawied hoarseiy
down the length Of the table-the
Artist procured a team. two stockily
built brown ponies which were safe
5n anybody's hands and can travel all
day without fatigue" I doubted the
Iiveryman when he made that decIara-
ton; 1 believed him later. There are
stages of travel positively restful to
the traveller.
Up through the town in quest OF
station of the name OF Mitchells-re
member you this; It may stand you in
hand some day-we went, taking much
the same road as did those troopers
under Phil Sheridan that hot and dusty
day in August. 1862. going half way to
meet JubaI a Early and his butter
nuts. who were crossing the Rapidan
some sixteen miles away.
Team Excites Wonder.
While yet in town we made a dis
covery. We had queer team. The near
horse. mare, was as curious a critter
as was ever hired TO city chap. With
q curiosity which almost excited admir- |
alton she would gaze at every unusual
thing on the road and turn her head TO
view Il as she passed, as though asking
It questions. meantime dragging the
team into all sorts OF embarrassing sit
nations.
The other-welli
whats that fellows name?''
81 know not: have been lost in |
speculation as to his purpose in this
team; he tolls not save 10 avoid the
swingletree going down hill. I believe /
he was put in TO I'LL out
Hold therei He lacks no more for
name. You have christened him in that 1
phrase. Henceforth in this journey he /
ssS~~~=~@s~@-s~~S~yg