The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-21
a Party Of Twenty
Have Delightful Trip
to Charlottesville
ALL COUNTRYSIDE
GIVES GREETING.
Fences Lined With Pretty Girls,
Who Showered Them With (
Flowers-Old Man Of
NinetyAwaits Them, L
Seated on Camp
Stool.


The party OF twenty-slx autonoblists.
who left Richmond Saturday morning
and returned yesterday afternoon, all
youch for the fact that they had never
so much enjoyed an automobile trip be-
fore. Withnot a lnishnp to mar the long
Journey, the six automobiles safely
reached their tourncy's end on Sntur-
5 day afternoon. and found waiting for
them in charlottesville most cordial
and hearty Welcome. The people were
evidently prepared for then. ana all
Il along their route country rustics and
blooming, laughing girls were awaiting
their passing with the ingenious eurios-.
ity OF the unsophistocated countryside.
Many of5thcm had never before seen u
horsccss vehicle, and eager eyed ana
wondering, they stood around and stared
upon The laughing invaders aB upon sou'c
strange visitors from an unknown world.
$ Everywhere tho tourists made n halt,
the wondering Gro wd would gather near
and approach with mnrveling 7hesltnncy
he latest wonders OF the age that. Will
L out any apparent nieans OF loconotaon.
u SKINNED over the surface OF the ground
4 as lightly ms some giant bird. IT WIS q
bizarre groupAthc city tourists in their
strange vehicles and the 5bOtlrgeolsc Of
green wnySides and tyerdant trees, with
the distant hills looming up IN the far
E background
8 The party left this city atln!nc O'clock
4 IN the morning. arriving IN Charlottcs--5
Vile at half-pasl four In the afternoon
K Midway between the leaving point ana
thc, destination the party rested In ~ beau
stiful grove OF trees for luncheon, and
stretched full length upon the long YER
dant grass, seated themselves In perfect
u enjoyment with the contents of#the many
II hampers which each vehicle carried. Here.
while they sat and lunched, n group of
men, women and children Y approacheni
and, with something akin 10 awe, mace
t due ana siengiky examination the ~
White steamers. Here was something Of
which they had often read and heard put
a never before seen, hut the proof or the
automobile, 10 change an old saying, lay
IN the seeing, and the curious cro"d was
fain to believe that such carriages real
~ exist.
A Beautiful Country.
The route lay through one Of the most
beautiful and prosperous parts q Sie
state. All around a smiling landscape
greeted the eyes OF the tourists; crops
In thriving growth and abundance ihs
all around, and the country green anu anu
yerdurc relieved eyes more wont 10 gaze
,,non the tall buildings and Commissioners
& ~ tho city The air was refreshing;
cool breeze famed their cheeks as they
sped along, and at every few miles old.
fashioned wells. With the proverbiafi
'.i.on- bound bucket gave opportunity Got
relieving the thirsttness that arose from
i travel,
Arrived in Charlottesville. I'VE Of the
cars. led BY Or. Stuart Mcclure, made
a triImphal entry, and We're greeted wi,ll
a warm and hearty welcome by the citi-
zens who had turned out en- masse TO
I. give them as 1t we've, the keys OF the
town. The party then continued up 10
the University grounds, where many OF
them. who had crstwhile spent their stu
dent days there, revisited old scenes and
recalled memories OF days gone by.
All of them put up mt tho Claremont
Hotel, where they were visited by their
many friends. and where they related
the anecdotes and experiences of the ex-
petition. Mr. Iurgen's car did not get
IN until about two hours later, and the
party had much FUN at his expense lie
excused his delay by saying that he had;
lost hts way and Travelled far upon n
strange road. But rumor had 1t that a
far different cause lay ut the Lottoua- of
!. the matter. However that may be,
Mr., Jurgcns took 1t all very good natured--
ly, being apparently very willing that he
rs should afford them all some fun at his
IL
about 81 .nllcs, and, considering the many
halts was madc in mnrvelously quick
time.
Homeward Journey.
The homeward Journey was begun at
10 o'clock the next morning, this time
nv q different route as the members or
the party wanted to see MS much or the
country as possible during the trip, The
route lay by Goochland Courthouse ana
along the banks of tho royal James,
whose many wlndings gave them the
homcward direction In Il silver thread
This time every one in the countryside
was expecting them. and they were fre-
Quently halted by tho admring and WoI-
dering throngs. For frequent Intervals
along many miles of tho route the old
fashioned snake fences. so typica| Of
tho South, We're lined With young girls
who would have 1t, without gaihsRy, mat
the party must stop and exchange the
days greeting In their arms were
wreaths aud clusters of dew-wet flowers.
which they threw into the automobiles
( and over the members of the party as
did tho maidens OF ancient days before
the royal entries OF triumphant cmperors.
From one old colonial farm house two
elderly ladies stepped out with dainty
mien to inquire for Colonel "Jnen Will
lard, who had expected to be among the
party. but whom circumstances forbade
from the trip. They We're sadly dsnp-
pointed not to SEQ him, but nevertheless
exchanged courteous greetings with those
+ they saw. Colonel Joe" is popular
throughout the State.
Brought Camp Stool Out.
Perhaps the most picturesque coloring
to the whole trip occurred at ono place
along the wayside, where an old patri-
arch, lloon whose head ninety winters
had hut lightly touched. sat among hin
three generations Of offspring to await
their passing by.
He had carefully brought a camp stool.
upon which he was seated, and IN a cor
ner of the road, with the oyerhangng
I, hn,1phs above him. and with his numer-