Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-16
VIRGINIA and VIRGINIANS
Impressions of a Visitor to James,
town.
RICHMOND and Washington SIGHTS

Exposition Affords a Liberal Educa-
ton Historic BattlefeIds Recall
Scenes of Heroism-Farms are Fa-
miIiar Except for Absence of Cot
ton.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
will endeavor to write a short
sketch Of my recent trip to Virginia
In style so simple, so matter Of fact
and natural as to make 1t Of some in
terest to those Of my friends who have
not yet had the pleasure Of a similar
experience.
My brother and 1 left Yorkville, July
29th at $50 p. m, via Blacksburg. en-
route for the jamestown exposition.
After an all night run We reached
Richmond, (that grand old historic
city Of which we will speak more fully
later on), after o'clock a. m.
After breakfast We boarded the c.
& o. train for Newport News and
made the run Of eighty-five miles in
one hour and thirty minutes, includ-
ing one stop at Williamsburg. We
were agreeably surprised with New
port News. We had thought 1t small
place, but were told that 1t contains
$4,000 people.
After getting dinner at Newport
News we boarded a pretty boat, the
(from five to seven miles wide) to the
exposition, went in and spent the even
ing, after which we recrossed the bay
and spent the night at Newport News.
Next morning we again went over by
boat, entered the exposition grounds
and spent the day in sightseeing.
The exposition is a great, big, clean
show, the shortest description Of which
would fll every column Of The Enqui-
rer. So 1 will not attempt anything so
impracticable. The South Carolina
exhibit is just splendid and will make
every true South Carolinian swell with
pride. The government exhibits alone
are we'll worth the expenses Of the
trip.
And just here I'm again seized with
the temptation to give your readers a
full and complete description Of the
exposition. But no; my better self
has again triumphed. 1t would not be
fair to The Enquirer to thus monopo-
lize its space, and it would be most un-
Just to the exposition management, for,
after reading my graphic. realistic and
comprehensive account Of what l saw,
the stream Of visitors, from York
county, at least, would practically
cease, and the revenues thus accru-
ing to the exposition management be
very greatly lessened. No, 1t would
not be right! I've won a victory and
feel better.
We called at the headquarters OF the
1st South Carolina regiment and re-
ceived, Of course, a hearty welcome
from the highest officer in command
down to the lowest officer for, be 1t
understood, that as far as the York
company is concerned, no prlvates are
to be found. All are officers.
We accepted an invitation from the
soldier boys to spend the night with
them and were the recipients of every
courtesy and kindness imaginable, all
of which, We assure them, were fully
appreciated.
In this connection, one Of the most
pleasant experiences was the meeting
of a number of Chester county boys
some Of them relatives and others old
school mates. Such experiences con-
stitute, indeed, an oasis as 1t were, In
the desert of memory. AS 1 received
the warm, sincere hand-clasps OF the
boys with whom l was so intimately
associated as class mates and play
mates, not in college, but in the "old
field" school-the log school house
yea, at the old "McDanield" school
house. forgot for the time the inter-
vening years between then and now.
with their blighted hopes, their unre-
warded labors, disappointments and
sorrows and realized that behind the
clouds is the sun still shining The
older l grow the more l appreciate the
dear friends Of my younger, happier
days!
Leaving the exposition we returned
over the Chesapeake and Ohio to Rich
mond, thence by private conveyance
to the home of our brother-in-law, Mr..
Jno Mcmillan, where we felt-blessed
words-at home.
Some observations on the country
that part Of it on the east side of the
James river:
The country is either gently rolling
or perfectly level. The tillable land Is
free from rocks, much Of it Is choco-
late in color, and makes fine crops of
corn. wheat. oats and all kinds of
grasses.
There is one thing here that may
be considered a curse or a blessing,
just as you happen to view it-Bermu-
da grass 1t covers the country like
carpet 1t makes a fine pasture for
cattle and hogs. However, 1t forms
serious impediment to the cultivation
Of crops. 1t cannot be destroyed by
cultivation, but can be smothered out
| by clover and pease. On the contrary
some say that it cannot be destroyed
that If you gather it and burn 1t and
save the ashes and run lye and make
soap and use the soap in washing your
hands, and throw the water out in the
yard, it will come up as thick as the
hair on a shepherd dog! 1t seems
strange to be in a section Of country
where not a stalk Of cotton is to be
seen.
Virginia roads are the finest in the
world They have here inexhaustible
beds of round, smooth, hard gravel
With this they have macadamized
their roads, which are raised in the
center and slope gently to the bitches
Rain has no effect upon these roads
unless it be to make them better. You
Il DC