Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-12-07
NoRFoLK. VA. Dec. 3. 1864.

=. news travelled but slowly, and lie,
" ingtOn was an isolated provincis
village, reached only by private col
n veyance, or the slow moving stag.
y coach and canal packet. Consequent
ly, occurrences transporting in tn
II State or national capitols, were no
d known il Lexington till nearly weel
q later. AS for European news: Revolu
tions waved and waned and State
were born and died, before the frs
= intiInations of political upheaval, or
: new political birth, found publicity
E in the columns OF The GAZETTR, tn,
, only journal the county could boast
Comparatively few metropolitan
dailia- avar reached LoAfugLVn. the
slow and uncertain mails, ana the high
rates of subscription for the big news
PAPERS, effectuaIly curtailed their
country subscription lists, and left the
country field open to the less enterpris-
ing and expensive, but more conserva-
tive county journal. In Il majority Of
Rockbridge homes, THE GAZETTE was
about the only secular periodical that,
was regular visitor. Harper's Maya
zine and Weekly, and perhaps the
Scientific American, occasionally found
| their way to the mountain village, in
| the hands OF a few venturesoIne
travellers from the commercial metro
polls, but for news, foreign. domestic
and local, THE GAzKTTE was the
main dependence.
The names of the publisher and ed-
tor OF the pape: have faded from my |
memory, out | an sure they we're |
energetic. enterprising ard able, and
the pages Of the little journal reflected
the sentiments of its patrons, or largely
shaped pubic opinion On the ques.
tons OF the day. can recall but one
editorial from the pages Of THR
u AzkTTE of those days. That, brief
aud to the point, vas SO indelibly lm-
pressed OIL my boyish MEMORY that +
can even now after the lapse of half
century, quote it unfaltnringly. 1t
illed out the editorial column. and ran
n this wise.
III comes the devil in devil of a
rage,
And says he wants another line to
fill cut the page" I
Isn't it singular how ''trifies light +
n air" will sometimes stick in ones A
memory, like burr in the wool of a )
Rocky Mountain sheep, |,
Dear, primitive, aud provincial old e
.exsngton! The long drawn out tones t,
the packet horn, accentuated and ir
sndered rythmical by the vigorous b
rot OF the horse bearing the ebon-
ued performer, as the packet nears is
no landing; the sharp crack OF the e,
age drivers whip; the rattle Of til
heels. and the tramp Of the four b,
pirited steeds as the unwieldy vehicle al
ashes up Main street and pulls up q
18th flourish at the Lexington ne
ostelry, are sounds that still, after ia
e passing OF almost three decades. st,
niger in mine ears. m,
And the Virginia Military Institute
I'd Washington College, youthful
en-, but vigorous and promising, with
cir limited complement OF cadets CT
ID students. Wild, ,roistering blades In
lie of them, greatly given to practi- w
joking and playing pranks with
pre- signs and dry goods boxes, COL 70,
&c bell and unwilling kline; while Tn,
hers more studiously inclined, pored Ro
pr their books and drank deeply at
Q fount of knowledge. 1t Is wise On;
d beneficent provision of nature and NH
authorities Of educational institu- ,
ms, that football. rowing and other An
lletic sports have been allowed to ui,
sorb the youthful energies and tone ,
wn the effervescent spirits OF the orr
lege boys, in lieu of the madcap A. |
les and youthful frolcs in which on,
ir irrepressible mental and physical A
'rgies used to find vent. NJ
n the days OF which | write. the nh,
Iege students were fed by a steward Re-,
was more intent on securing gain T.
n on gaining credit for being lust Tor,
ward. The menu he provided for ooo,
hungry students was not always o;c.
class. and was the occasion OF r
CHI kicking and grumbllpg on the chu
OF his boarders: as was attested by ON ,
Incident OF the butter plate that a kim
or mischievous student
spinning to the ceiling of the at
ng room, where 1t stuck. ,,;r
WAC did that" thundered the
Q steward from the head of the
: table. No response but the rat. n,
OF table ware accompanied bv O,t,
pressed laughter. "Who did thatY', NOR,
n voclferated the steward There Sim,
moments silence, and.then ia Rich
'aking voice from the lower end Of was
table came the reply, ASK the meet,
er. It's old enough to speak for Mi
~
wing reached the garrulous age, Clan
nd indulge In endless reminiscent. Mfr
e"'''"h ."ese Ola times, but Wyo
ear lest l should weary you. J. "
ing to TIKI GAZETTE Is like talk. Mr.
o an old friend one has not seen time
lany years. NJ. l. CRoMAe. shouI
- Mr.
mr. Bob" at Buena Vista Firet
r. Bob" comedy Ia two acts days
PRESENTED by local talent at the Mis-
hnusA NJ pnan. VII mo ~