Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-01-18
Former Rockbridger Writes
From the Lower valley.

FORMER hOCkDJfu&cI "t'"~o
From the Lower valley.
WINCHESTER, VA, Jan. 10. 1905
DEAR GAZETTE Your regular
weekly visits to our home are most
pleasant events. They gladden. our
hearts with news of the old friends
and "jogn our memory with the fact
we promised you letter by way OF
small requital OF your kindness and
past favors.
We have been In this part OF the
world long enough to begin to feel
some sort OF a local interest and
pride In this "far famed lower Valley
of Virginia. Considering the natural
beauty and historic setting Of this
locality, what wonder the heart pull
safes with a swell Of admiration.
Every eminence along the highway is
suggestive Of illustrious valor, and the
very air still vibrates with the memo
ries OF sthe battle struggles OF tbs
past. The old heroes point their
grand children to the 'fort-hills" say
ing with just pride, Grand pa fought
up there during the war"
The foot prints Of General Stonewall
Jackson are still fresh in the minds OF
the people. and the laugh over
Bank retreat has not died away yet.
What wonder that such memories
painted upon the canvass OF these
beautiful Valley plains and enclosed
in the fringings OF distant mountains,
stir the sleeping possy OF ones soul, for
indeed
These beautiful acres, once scared
And swept by the flames OF hot war,
Now blossom and smile with new
beauty
And waive with rich harvests once
more.
Here once there were tears and cad
ness
In hearts that had suffered their
wrongs,
But the sound OF their sorowful sigh
ing
Is lost in the cornreapers song,
Our brave people do not sit and hold
their hands, nor have they lost their
patriotism. In some respect they are
the Virginians Of virginians-kind,
and honor to the very
core. 1t is a pleasure to know them and
be among them. For solid worth and
genial hospitality their snperiors
would be hard to find. Their staying
quality Is inspiring and atones In
some measure for their seeming lack
of far sighted push.
Above all the people need great
Virginia daily, a paper OF and for the
people OF our own State. We are too
far from Richmond, at least too much
cut off. The New York or Philadel-
phia papers reach us By noon; the
Richmond papers next day.
1t is sad to know that many of our
best citizens knew better how to pre-
pare Maryland ticket to vote than
they / did their own ballot. Why y
Because they bad read the Baltimore
papers and not those Of Virginia. How
can the State expect TO keep
her politics and other interests intact
and pure where great daily OF al
verced tone and policy feeds and
pvisons the mind OF the .peoplesat half
price, and day sooner, with outside
gush. Here Is a star to follow. See it,
AL this Valley must have closer re-
lations with the acknowledged center.
Push on your Chesapeake and Ohio
line from Richmond ito Har-
risonburg. That is the day beam in
the sky. Then compel the Southern
or Baltimore OHIO to make connec-
ton northward, Iand let our people
feel the thrill OF fresh blood from
yonder at our life center. Turn the;
rich fruitage OF this garden Valley OF
earth back from Wis Hagerstown toI
northern outlets, and let it flow down
to the seas by. way OF Norfolk and out
to the world at large. 1t is natures
course OF traffic and there are millions
10 it. Then, in return. give us back
the products of our own Virginia com
Inerce and coal mines rather than
those of the lar north. This will work |
= mutual benefit, The Valley needs
the outlet by the seas, end thei'seas'
need the products OF the Valley.
Virginia's day is dawping, and the
sky is bright with promise. She dare
not lag, or others will come and gar
ner her fruits. So let her open her
syes, annoint her stiffened joints and
prepare for the march.
To enter the worlds wide welcoming
gates.
Abrea st with her naighboring states.
Virginia for Virginians-first, fore
most and always. Z. ii. Is.