The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-21

schotttsche, galop. vesuvienna, waltz
and lancers were played; merry. happy
faces mingled in the dance. and bright
the lamps that shone DER fair women
and brave men," Richmond society
was well represented with attractive
matrons and popular bellies, who had
como up for the occasion. and n grand
wartime banquet had been prepared
by the young ladies prominent in the
social life of Orange. The good cheer
OF delicious supper banished from
the warriors every thought of war, as
they looked over the rich viands be-
fore them and contrasted the array OF
luXuries with the mess pork, hard
tack, cush. slapjacks, hoppln' John
and hoppin' jimmie and horrible make.
shifts of food they had endured in
camp.
Lieutenant General A P. Hill, at.
tired in gray uniform. and Mrs. A. p.
Hi We're prominent in the dance, and
they missed but few of the cotillions
and round dances. This was the last
time the old hero ever Joined his wife
in the waltz.
Those hiItops and valleys along
the historic Rapidan have echoed to
the mighty tread of triumphant ana
happy leEions clated witl/ the knowl-
edge of well-merited victory and hard
fought battles which Will leave their
indelible Impress upon the canvas of
history and quicken with patriotic
thought hallowed memories of the
boys in gray" WHO breasted the iron
storm of war.
We find here a land graced and
adorned with picturesque homes, as
charming as the people who live in
them, and there are still soft Southern
voices In these homes to tell us war
stories of terror, devotion and humor.
Perhaps upon q day an old chest Is
opened and sabre bitten deep with
rust an ancient musllet and a stained
uniform with furnishing buttons. or a
soldiers skull recent plowed up in
a cornheld. are taken from their store
places and spread out in the sun for an
airing; and their use is explained to
the growing child who learns with
sharp perception that his father had
had wonderful and heroic experiences.
and his mother had felt the heart
aches. the an4!etIes. the thrills and
painful emotions OF stirring times
Not all the readings OF history can
present or convey such conception
OF the fire and thunder of war.
over all these historic fields peace
has resumed it's sway: the plowshare
has been busy with it's oblivious la
bors, the thoughtless whistle OF the
IL,
the trumpets clangor; the team slowly
tolls up the hillside once shaken by
the hoofs of rushing squadrons and
VIDE fields of corn wave peacefully
over the soldiers grave. where rival
warriors, after their fierce and ftful
struggle. sleep quietly together in the
lap OF their common mother earth
Here amid devastation OF war, amid
the change of revolving years and the
busy tumult of our strenuous genera
ton. hospitality, the pride and stand
ard of the gentleman: Virginia nos
pitality, that ancient and redeeming
grace, stands out sweet and clear.
The stranger who would form n
correct opinion of Southern character
must not confine his observations to
the metropolis. He must go forth into
the country far from the maddinr
crowd" he must sojourn in villages
and hamlets; he must visit farm
houses, loiter about country churches
and camp meetings; attend the tilt
and tourney, the fairs. the dance and
other rural festivals; and cope with
the people in all their conditions and
all their habits and humors Follow
ing up these sentiments. / drove from
Barboursville to Stanardsville (thir-
teen miles distance, an isolated and
romantic village, resting upon the
foothills OF the Blue Ridge and re-
mote from the onrushins sweep of
commercialism. Above it the noun
talns are piled to the sky. 1t looks
ike the unburied part OF the bygone
regime. But the people are big
hearted as OF yore. The road thither
is winding. and does not abound in
grand and sublime scenery, but rather
in little home scenes OF rural repose
and sheltered quiet The eye is de-
lighted by q continual succession Of
small landscapes of ravishing lowell
ness, The antique family mansion.
standing apart in some little rural
domain. looks down with a protecting
air on the surrounding scene, and
seems to reflect the growth of ages
OF reverend custom and peaceful ex-
istence.
All these charming features evince
calm and settled security heredi-
tary transmission of homebred virtues
and local attachments that speal,
deeply and touchingly for the moral
character OF the people of Greene
county.
Back among the hills, in close con-
tact with nature. is found the typical
Virginia mountaineer-a character sui
generis. His nature leads him not
torth into the struggle and hustle of
'"e Worlu lie seeks not for fame,
nor fortune. nor space in the worlds
thought. nor dominion over his fellow
men. He rcvels in the beautiful and
simple hearted customs of sequcstered
rural life. He is at home with a gang
OF men around a spittoon. He has the
eye OF a man who has been true to
himself, clear and kindly--un unaues-
tioning faith simplicity. a gracious
ness OF spirit that make hospitality
proverbial and give undying strength
TO friendship. He likes Just to sit
around and smoke and talk. He isn't
cynical, though he lacks fulness of
knowledge. and is like a person with
hopes that lie over the horizon line,
which he knows he won't live to see
realized. but which look good to him
In the quiet of his soul.
1t is a hardy race, simple, generous,
brave. loyal. Their fortune is small.
but their wants arc few. Under the
humble cottage roof they eat a simple
fare with the appetite of perfect