Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-09-18
LErrER TO THE EpIroR,

Il [1DAAoh A. =.
For the last ten sImmers it has
always been the most delightful
feature on the program of nv outing
season to haunt the vicinity of Diyid.
ing creek. / am not anative of Vir-
ginis soil, but before that said time
L had heard and read 50 much abort
The Old Dominion" and its charm
ing inhabitants that at last INV
longing desire to Welt its shores
materialized.
"A new broom sweeps clean" is q
saying that may be well applied in
some cases, but not SO in Virginia.
It atfcoFs sweeps clean, old or new.
The same cordial welcome that
greeted me the first time seems to be
warmer than ever upon this, nv
present trip, and in so expressing
myself, ] mean in general (not
Individually way.
Coming, as it were, by mere chance
to this beloved spot aperfect stranger,
1T has always been one great problem
In this past decade that | cannot
solve: Why so many friends herep
Why SO different their natures from
others I've met? Why always that
sincere devotion to his fellow worker?
Why that culture aud refinement
even amongst the poorest glasses?
And, lastly, why do ! never tire of
Virginia?
Had Whittier lived here wonder
what more fitting could he have
written about the "Barefoot Boy.n|
Every time come here the lines of
that poem seem to materialize within
my soul and make me the real "Bare-
foot Boy" of Virginia.
Truly enough has this State ex-
perienced in its severe losses, but ever
for once has she lost courage. Most
fitting land for the strong name
that she bears! All, Raleigh could
you awaken from your long sleep
and smile upon the land you named,
would you not Say with me: "The
Oldest and yet the youngest! She
still possesses the same purity in her
character she did in the days of her |
infancy. No scar Of time has
changed her beautiful countenance.
She is the same, dear Virginia."
Yes. this problem is one of the
impossibilities. 1t remains a mystery |
yet. ! simply conclude that she is |
land particularly loved by Christ, as |
was John, his virgin disciple, whose |
head rested upon the Sayior's bosom, |
and it is His beautiful influence that |
We feel running through the veins Of |
our virgin State. 1t is His breath |
that penetrates her very atmosphere. |
Please pardon my long introduc-
ton. i. simply meant to tell, You
that Q friend of mine wrote me re- |
Gently from the Philippines q most |
interesting letter, describing his Wat |
70 Japan and China, and, after read
ing your paper, the VIRGINIA |
CITIZEN, thonght you might like |
to use an extract from it in yonr
colnmns. Perhaps this news would |
be OF special interest to some OF your |
foreign missionary workers. /
IL this meets with your approval
l have Q series Of letters written by
the same person, telling about his
personal observations in the Philip
pines. which l will lend to You pro-
yided they be of benefit to your paper.
II sos please write me.
Beeides the aforesaid, I think 1t
would give special satisfaction to
those interested in the doings around
Dividing creek to note that one of
it's gallant widowers has been having
q new apartment built to his home.
and that the clssh of the scythe has
been heard In submission to his
stardy command, doing great work
In leveling every obnoxious weed and |
tall blade Of grass that obstructs the
travel OF friendsto nearby cosy homes.
The old maids, as we'll as the
youngsters. can now trip along on
light fantastic toe without making
the slightest complaint.
RED-TOP.
THE Japan letter will appear in
0 subsequent isaue.-ED