The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-05-28
FREDERICKSBURG, Va, SATURDAY. MAY 28. 1904
a WANDERING SPoTSYLVANIAN


States Words of Sound Advice &c
Young Men Stick to the Farm
Don't Leave a Good Country te
Wander Over the. Earth.
Atlanta, Tia May 18th, 1904.
To The Free Lan1e:
The name, and address Of your paper
carries me back many years, when | " "a
II citizen OF Spotsy sylyanis, and scOnstant
reader of The Free Lance
Many changes from place TO place, and
the very busy life WAS forced To lead, in
order TO acquire a sutliciency OF Uncle
Sans legal tender u meet the necessary
needs of growing family, gradually
eaned me from old sssOciatiohs and
friends. Your paper IL a welcome visitor,
and source Of pleasure, bringing words
and messages from aud Of friend and sc-
quaintances Of my boyhood and early
manhood days
left Spotsyyania and the old home
about 1851, and have only been in the
county for short periods since that time.
Have roamed more or less over twelve
OF the Southern and Central States, and
gained legal residence In three, long
enough for the stork To bring TO Us. re.
spectiyrly. IN kenturky, Virginia aud
West Virginia. two girls and IL boy, all
chips oi the old block, especially the boy
About eighteen month ago Uncle Sam
persuaded me To come down here, and
help take care Of his wards detained In
an institution located ia the suburbs OF
Atlanta. Tia, 80 our teepe Is now set up
in the greatest city and State of Dixie,
barring fredericksburg aud old Virginia
This institution was constructed on
fully up 90 date and modern plans, and
when entirely finished and enclosed with
the 30 foot high and ten acre around
concrete wall now under construction
will be the finest OF its Kind 10 the world.
The present building can accommodate
about 500 dodgers and the new addition,
II completed under present planH, about
1900 more, 50 with probably tWO eXcep-
tiOns, will be the largest Oi lts klud.
There are now 400 boarders, minated }
sent here tup) from twenty States, and
for every reason (Oiisnse) un the calendar.
y
would be hard To lind in any other place.
The principal occupations represented
are bank efs, postOilice officers doctors.
preachers. lawyers. gentlemen of the road
gentlemen Of the highway, and the siald
quiet maker and dispenser of Mountain
Dew. From al institution standpoint
they might be separated into three
classes. good, bad aud very bad, the
latter two being in the majority. Some
half doEeH have recently arrived from
Virginia. all of course Of the good Kind.
The institution Ia located on Govern.
meDt reservation, originally before the
war rich Georgia plantation, but now
badly worn down aud quilted, but grad.
ually being improved, and in q few years
will produce all the vegetables aud other
crops uq tired for the maintenance OF
the inmates
The reservation, and ia fact al OF this
section, is rolling and Ia many places
hilly, and the soil red, resembling ia ap.
pesrance Orange and other counties adj
aeent to the Blue Ridge; the soil is much
less fertile and famous, and buildings gen
orally run down and dilapidated.
Here was fought forty years ago one
)f the blOodiest battles OF the Civil War
and in many places lines Of earth works
and redoubts can still be seen
Before coming to Georgia was led
to believe that this climate, particularly
right close around Atlanta, WAS all that
could be desired, and this had much
weight In inducing me to leave the Little
Mountain State; but after two winters
and summer here the Illusion Is dispell-
ed. IL il not 80 cold as in Virginia, but
changes are sudden and decided, ire
quently difference of 30 degrees occur
ring In - hours, and the winds blow al
most necessarily during the winter and
early spring.
have taken up too much Of your val
liable space, but a word OF advice to the
young men OF Virginia: After seeing much
of twelve States, am convinced that
Virginia compares iavorably with the
best OF them, and is far ahead of Others
in climate, soil and other conditions usu-
ally sought by young men looking Tor
new homes. II one will make the same
effort and self denial In Virginia that Is
absolutely necessary in all new and un-
tried countries and among strangers. he
will in the long run be much better of
and happier by staying In the
Old Dominion. This is my firm convic-
tion from personal experience and obser-
walton, after twenty years OF roaming,
generally among friends, and often Fir-
ginians, who had left their old homes,
hoping to better their condition. Young
man. stick to the farm. Keep the farm
10 old Virginia, and you will live hap.
pier, die happier. and be DOW, hereafter
and always among your friends. Would
that had followed this advice, as some
Of the more sensible of my friends did; (;
but the spirit of roaming took possession
Of me, and am now firmly in its tolls,
30 will have to continue to the end. The
spirit Ia now whispering, "To Panama
to help dig the big ditch, and | may
have to 90.
With faith In old Virginia,
Wanderer.
non,t think for a minute that any