The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-08
LIFE in WEST
APPOMAT T0X
IA New and Modern Town Arts
ing Under the Shadow
E5 Of Decay.
CRITICISM IS DEFEATED
Site Of Lee Surrender Housc
Still Visited as a Type Of
Shattered Hopes.
CRITICISM 6 B! IS DEFEATED
Especial to Tho Times Dispntoh.)

| +II1. \SpeCItLl 10 Inc SIlfneS. DiSpatCn.)
WEST. APPOAfATTOx, VA, May -
10 a visitor West Appomnttox can
easily furnish surprise. In former
years critics from every point OF the
compass freely shed their flippant sneers
at the expense Of Apponattox county.
One critic who posed as a philosopher
| also, and who has already Inherited OBJ
| llvlon, is said to have declared that Rob
ert Z. Lee was invlncibe until he put foot
on the red clay Of Appomattox. and that
| by the time he reached the center Of tho
! county he had to ask rations Of vlcto-
| rious foe. t453
One can safely mention these crtl-
cisms, which in reality were never true
IN any degree. and IL they ever had the
'fl'msiest justification, 1t has long ceased
to exist. i}2
Appomattox is not one Of the large
counties nor one OF the Old ones It is
q piece Of territorial patchwork. having
and Campbell counties It has, however.
quite long ago attained to that ,coherency
ntS oea sentiment me ia and public spirit
ty. 1T has also made almost unmatched
progress In its special lines Of Industrial
production. Portions Of the county are
doing much to enrich their lands and
beautify their homes Appomattox
stands erect in the line with her sister
engaged in the education Of her children
and Astounding in Christian churches.
Her people take the utmost pride in
tesfyinE that there not saloon on
othello. The old courthouse, the scene
e. possibly the most Imposing and sgni-
Ing ceased to be the county, seat, and
being three miles away, from the railroad,
wears an almost desolate air, but It IS
tory. It's houses, highways, neighbour
ing hills and villages are Invested with
mpeF nHE 's1 lhsfsHat HOUSE.
To an observer the demolition. Of the
building In which the, ceremonies INCIDENT
to Gen. Lees capitulation occurred was
| Visible and may be accepted as types of
the shatter hopes which fell when the
Southern flag was fured on that spot
| to the name of AppomattoX, and this ha g.
seat West Appomattox;" The new loc,i-
readily attracts the favorable comment
| OF the passing tourist. A community
has sprung into existence around the
new courthouse which is really remark
able for its taste, refinement and INTEL
ligoncc. A group Of sngularly attrac-
tive and even elegant homes crown the
| nelEnDOTlnS nils ana slopes. aIncy DOaSL
Of no manufacturing establishments and
POSSIBLY are fraction boastful because
they have none. The village, has q num-
Der of handsome mercantile establish
4 ments, and the whole nelghborhood
wears an air Of prosperity. The town
has its bank and 1t is sald to be on
solid basis The, graded school has a
cheney of the teachers was the theme OF
| the town.
Appomattox Is not without its honor
| III JtckI, ,trlx1l Dtxi
p. II. Christian, now retired, would he
| an honor to any county: Hon. J. G.
Jones. who served the county SO hand
somely in the Legislature. has promoted
and is succeeded by the Hon. Benuregard
ThoGnhlll who is held In deserved es-
TEEN by his constituents; Hon. w. III.
Ligon, who has rendered efficient service
to his people, who is honored by his Gull |
t!vated and distinguished children, is yet
among the foremost men Of his county.
THE ABBITTS.
tox without thinking of the Abbitts. !
DIR. William Fl. Abbitt and his excellent
son. DR.. Julian II. Abbitt. both live at
APPROXIMATION and are. eminently success
full In their profession. But it would |
not be lnvidious TO say that the prime
favorite son OF AppomattoX Is Hon. HAL |
Flood, n member Of Congress, almost
boundlessly popular among his constitu-
ents and one of the most powerful and !
graceful orators in Virginia. He is to
make the commencement address before
the Fork Union Military Academy on
May 25th. His baggage has arrived from
washington since Congress adjourned,
but the Congressman himself has not |
become visible TO the naked eye up to
this time,
Equally beloved. If not so prominent,
is Major Joel w. Flood, the Hon Halls
father. M
Mrs. Bledsoe, wife of the late and
well-remembered DR.. Adam Bleclsoe, is
at this time visiting her daughter, Mrs.
Clements, a resident of this place 8
The APPROXIMATIONS and buckingham
Times" D., II. Clements as editor, and
the Southside Virginian, with j. r.
Horseley as editor, and the denizcns OF
this part Of the domain are openly proud
OF these local Journals
THE CHURCHES.
pomattox, the Presbyterian, the Metho-
dist and the Baptist and they live to-
gether In the most fraternal and helpful
relations. On last Sunday the Baptist
people had a visit from DR.. Hatcher of
Richmond, who preached to great con-
gregntions both In the morning and In
pliment to his Baptist brethren for
thor signal liberality in their gifts TO {
Christian education, and especially to {
Richmond College, and suggested that r
they would go. still further and estab- !,
lish scholarship in Richmond College.
by making a supplement- to the amount
which they had already given to that a
ceved the suggestion with marked sat 4
isfaction, and the Doctor said before
that he WAS well assured that the schol-
arship would be forthcoming at an early
day.
eli % nj