The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-28

and ITS FUTURE
Town Has Many Good Things in
It Besides Fried Chicken and
Hot Coffee.
ROOM FOR DEVELOPMENT j
Much Of Rich Piedmont Coutl-
try ii, This Section Going
to Waste.

Especial from STAFF CorrcSponuent) *
r GORDONsv1LLE, ORANGE CO., VA,
June 24.--"F-r.i.e-d c-h.i-c-k-c-r1 a-n' h-o-t
c-o-f-f-e-e on this side,
Who OF the hundreds of thousands OF
people that have passed through Cor
louisville over the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railway In the last forty years has not
heard and remembered that shrill cry,
often waking one from sweet sleep back
in the Pullman. For these vendors OF
chicken legs and stearning coffee arc not
known to sleep. and every train is greet
cd with the cry OF refreshments to be
had, and the same antiquated old mann
niles utter 1t as each train pulls in.
Gordonsville fried chicken Is known from
( one end Of the country to the other and
have mot people in various parts OF the
United States, far from the little Virginia
town. who assert they never tasted any
80 good, and declare they would rise
from their berth to taste some more.
y Fried chicken is sold at other stations
close to Gordonsville, 1t may be had
from the restaurant at the station at
and at Orange, eleven miles distant,
negroes bring it through the train. But
the trade done at these points Is small
compared with that at Gordonsyille, and
others than the old negro women who
sell 1t at the latter town claim It Is
superior. K In recent years some young
negresses have appeared as vendors OF
chicken at Gordonsvllle, but some Of the
old nunties have been selling It there
for a generation or longer. Ono OF them
says she has been doing it for nigh
about forty years. she reckons, and
: she claims she lacks less than ten years
OF being q century old. She quoted hard
boiled eggs to me at two for five. three
for ten" was told she had been maxi
ing this price for years. l wonder she
has not got on to the rather remarkable
fact that the egg-hunting wayfarer al :
ways buys but two at a time.
Where Chickens Come From.
The chicken, coffee pot, cream Jug,
milk pitcher, pies and eggs are on small
stands, which are covered with spotless
linen. The tables are easily carried to
the ed sc Of the platform from the homes
OF the darkes, short distance away,
and they are always ready when a train
pulls in. There is no question the lunches
present an appetizing appearance. and
there Is small wonder that the trade of
the Sdarkies Is good. The Hotel Keegan,
ten steps from the station. serves as good
a meal as can be got anywhere for the
price. but found that the corn bread
and rich sweet milk and cherry PIE. made
from fruit gathered within a stones
throw OF the dining room was not 50 at
tractive to the travelling public as the
spread which the darkies provided on
the station platform. ~
1t is said that some time ago trav-
eler commented on there being so much
chicken displayed on the little tables
beside the train. 81.
II never saw so much chicken in my
life,,' he exclaimed Where do you
get SO many chickens. auntie?' he asked
the old colored woman.
ltLook here boss, you fom de North.
amt ye?" asked tho old woman.
The gentleman replied that he was,
doubtless wondering what that had to
| do with his question
At knowed It,. for sure, replied the
darby. mo Southern gem man ever ask
niger where he git chicken.
The Town Of Gordonsville.
The people of Gordonsville would like to
see. the selling OF fried chicken and hot
soffee at the station come to an end.
Several OF them told me rather plain
lively they believed the people who knew
Gordonsvlle from a distance thought
| there was nothing else sold in the town.
The rather jocular manner in which the
fried chicken Industry is treatey by the
| friend chicken industry is terated by the
business men OF the town. b
Gordonsylle has developed rapidly
within ten years. There is still consldera-
BILE room for Improvement in buildings,
though there are several really creditabie
structures adjoining the streets. The
business houses are not so attractive as
! in some towns OF the size. but several
stores bring up the average. One OF