The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-01

of seven on what tho Governor calls tho
Cecil Farm, which Is on the road to
Eellehamptoa. we drove through a gale
opening from the main road and out
through the wood to the top OF hisn
hill. The luxurjant bluegrass came up
to the hubs of the trap. Some distance
along tho hill. we came upon the cattie
lying In the sunshine which felt good to
man and beast, with the air chilled with
the breath of the first frost. i shall never
forget the Impression made upon me as
the cattle rose slowly to their feet and
stared at us In mild and inauiring sur
prise as wo drove lid. 1 was not used to
such cattle. Several of those in that
herd have been shipped since and were
found to weigh nearly sixteen hundred
hounds sixteen hundred pound steer
is not as large as an elephant, but he is
a mighty big animal to the eyes OF q
man who Is not used to that Kind OF cat
tie ard these made me open my eyes. II
Is the boast Of some Of the cattle growers
OF the Southwest, that they furnish roy
atty It's beef and II a king Is any better
than anybody else 1t seemed to me as
Acknowledged my Introduction to the fat
cattle OF the Virginia bluegrass region
that their majesties could not ask any
finer meat than could be supplied from
the splendid specimens before me- So fat
they could scarcely waddle through the
grass, so fat they would blow like por-
polses upon running fifty yards SO much
fatter than the cattle to which had
been accustomed that at first stared
and then laughed as men laugh when
they see boy Weighing as much as
fat man.
BELLEIAMPTON
And then we drove on to Bellehampton.
where Ed. TYLER lives alone, boarded by
one Of the tenants on the place. We won.
dered through the old house, which was
the home of the family for so many
years, and then we brought up the milk
from the spbnghouse and ate the lunch
which Mrs. Tyler had made us bring
with u.s. Then we all went out on the
porch in the sunshine and the Governor
continued to talk cattle, varying 1t oc-
casionAlly with tender "reminiscences OF
the old place. at which his boyhood and
many Of the years Of his manhood had
been spent. He was Ills grandfather's,
man Of business at ten years Of age and
serving his State In the army OF the
Confederacy long before he was anything
more than boy save In experience. He
told Of the ancestor who was shot and
killed by an Indian on spot now with
In the curtailage Of Bellehampton. not
fifty ysrds from the house, and OF the
Indian. who was shot near the mill three-
quarters Of q mile up the valley near
whore the MIL now stands, and dragged
himself down the creek to a spot oppo.
site the house, where his body was after
wards found, wad Of grass stuffed into
the wound In the side to stop the bleed.
ing.
And then Edward came in from the
field where the hands had been thresh-
Ing wheat and there was much more
talk Of farm topics On the return trip
we drove out to see another fine herd
near the road. and to admire the beau
tifully rolling fields Of that section OF
the plantation. Yet another herd was
| visited on the way homo, but none OF
them appeared to me SO beautiful as
those which saw first, and the same
| may be said Of those which have seen
since, and have seen many in the past
| two or three days.
"A DREAM.
And then the drive home, the Gov
ernor holding the rens. The roads of
Pulaski are the best have encountered
in Virginia. AS we SKINNED along the
hard and smooth highway the sun, al
most ready to go to rest had disappear
ed behind the higher hills, and the val
leys were choked up with the purple
shadows Of evening. Tired farm hands
were coming In from work. and even the
cattle were gathering In groups on the
| hillsfdes, ready to lie down and rest until
the sun should come again. And 1t came
over me that would sigh for this beau
tiful country when was back In the
city, and dreamed Of being the owner
of one Of these bluegrass farms one day
1t Is easy for q man to be good. and in
this one easy to be rich. But then
reflected that such lands as these sell
| for $40 an acre.
And I woke up.
WAITER EDWARD HARRIS.