Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-07-19
Impressions of a Stranger Who
Visited Lexington
RocKBR1DeE ALUM SPRINGS,
July 18th. 1905.

: Ouc6O 10 Tue III your TOWN. VI heAlul
ton on the 10th instant, where th
writer had the pleasure OF meetin
you, and many of the people of Rock
bridge county, and also the pleasur
Of hearing the Hon. Claude A. Swan
son deliver a speech in the interest {
his candidacy for Governor-elect G
Virginia. AS this was my first Wis;
to this historic part of Virginia, l vii
attempt to give you and the reader
of your paper some of the impression
made on stranger that lovely Jul
dav.
In the first place desire to say tina
my business is such as to take me tt
many different parts of the United
States, and in my travelling the people
and country of the United States have
ever been my constant study, and no one
now knows what a Heterogeneous mass
of people the United States contains
unless this peculiar subject has been
made a matter of study. There are
more different nations represented in
the United States than in any other
nation on earth, and consequently
more languages spoken here in AmerI-
ca than 10 done on the same extent of
territory In ans other part of the
world. Nor is this at all incredible
when we reflect that North Am erica
has been the asylum for the poor and
the oppressed people of the world
for now nearly four centuries.
AS the train sped up the Valley Of
Virginia on the morning CT the 10th,
inst, l saw a beautiful country, with
the blue mountains in the back
ground Oh each side Of this great VAL
ley. With the nearer approach to
Lexington, could see that the coun-
try became more abrupt, with higher
hills, deeper rsvines, and the scenery
more picturesque, and when the stop
was made for Lexington, could see
some mighty mountains just west Of
the depot.
To the writer it was a matter of
disappointment that the train had to
back to the station, and the thought
occurred that the railroad authorities
might remedy this lack of convenience,
by an outlay of no great amount OF
Upon arrival at "Hotel Lex
ington," l met the proprietor, Mr..
Brockenbrough, a genial, gentlemanly |
man, who has the faculty of making |
his guests feel at home. On inquiry,
found that he was to the manor |
born" and tibet his father was the
founder OF the law school at Lexington,
1ow part of the curriculum at Wash
ngton and Lee University, and also
/ United States judge, and that he
Virginia in many capaci-
lies of trust, notably as one of the
Commissioners at the Peace Conferenc Q
hat assembled in Washington prior
20 hostihtieS between the North and
south, and also a member of the Con-
ederate States Congress. There was
political stir at Lexington, and even
o stranger it was evident that there
vas something Of great importance to
axe place that day.
At the Courthouse, was introduced
o Mr.. Witt, one of the officials of
he Circuit Court, and TO a Captain
Ioore, who is said to be the oldest
leInber of the Lexington bar, now
ngaged in an active practice. Through
'aptain Moore the writer obtained all
to the Hon. Claude A.
wansoHl " This was my first meeting I
18th Mr.. Swanson. In appearance, he I
not over forty years of age, and 1
hen it was made known by the gentle
ian who introduced him that he had |
lready served in Congress twelve q
ears it seemed almost incredible that I
MS man had been a member of the
-ational Congress so long. Mr..
wanson is virile looking man, with /
fine face, Of medium height and ex- /
pleasant address, I
l was informed that the speaking a
ould take place in the upper part OF I
le Courthouse, so vending my way o
p stairs, | saw door open, aud G
ersOns standing near, it naturally s
,curred to me that this was the room q
here the audience would assemble. 7
t the door made halt to look in, Z
here | saw a number of faces that II
as having seen an hour or Il
70 before on the street engaged ip I,
leh earnest conversation. But now Il
ere seemed gleat change to haYe Y
ken place, all was perfect quietness r,
I'd as my eyes went from face to face
ere was depicted on every yisage
9 greatest sorrow. AS stranger, | G
ordered what had happened; the
ct thought was that somebody must Il
dead, but as saw no corpse, then 81
thought there must be a criminal
al of great importance about TO TAX g @
ace. From this place OF gloom l T
at hasty retI eat, and asked the
ry first intelligent looking man for .oI
explanation, He told me that tn SO NJ
IN, liz that room, composed the
moeratic Executive Committee OF s.
county, and that they had O
lvened that dey for the purpose OF F
pointing the judges OF election, who be
re to preside and manage the Dam
attic primary election that was to W
Re place on the 9snd, proxl no, and n
1t the reason Of the sorowful faces h,
hese men, was the conflicting in.