Year: 1867

Letter from l1eD. Ut. ASeUfS 500.


1t is rainy day, the second in five weeks
More delightful weather than we have had
there cannot be. For nine months in the year
the climate here is said to be unusually hne.--7
East Of the Blue Ridge and west of the Afe-
ghany, both of which are in sight, the rams are
more frequent.


Staunton is in the middle of the Great Val
ley Of Virginia, (Which reaches, III fact. from
North Carolina to Hudson River, and IS IN
the upper or southern part Of the Valley Of the
Shenandoah, which extends from this place to
Winchester a distance Of about ninety miles
A richer and more pleasant valley is nowhere
to be found. From my windows and portlco, L
can look down upon cornteds where the stalks
are still standing, on which the ears OF corn
were five feet from the ground, and where, IN
summer, a man on horseback could ride and be
concealed Meadows, orchards and vineyards
beautify the scene near by, while the widening
valley, round, sloping hills, and blue mountain
ranges give q charm to the more distant view.
Staunton, which has population Of about
4, 800, is not far from hundred years old 1t
stands at the point where the great buffalo trail
crossed the valley. 1t is in the vicinity OF the
most celebrated Of the Virginia sprlngs-the
White Sulphur, the Red Sulphur and the Sweet
Springs. All these healing waters are among
the hills which lie between the two great noun
tain ranges.


The population Of this elevated valley (about
1900 feet above the level Of the sea- and Of
this mountain district, which is eighty or nine
ty miles WIDE resembles, in many respects, that
of New England The colored population is
only about one-fifth OF onesixth of the whole.


The people have much of the industry and
enterprise of the North, and OF the hospltable
and social feeling of the South. Evangelical
religion is predominant. Skeptlclsm and "hb-
eraf Christianity are hardly known. The h
piscopal clergy are low church IN their views,
and evangelical in their preaching and practice,
They seem not to have fallen upon the device
of sanctifying refined Norldliness and wicked
ness by outward observances and shows.


The preaching of all the denominations here
appears to me more simple, direct, earnest and
practical than what have been accustomed to
hear IN New England 1t is less apologet1c and
less polished, but more racy and psngent. L
have heard Baptist, Presbyterian and Metho-
dist preachers, and this remark applies to them
| ALL
The services Of the colored people are novel
| and interesting. The most original and eftec-
tive PRAYER have ever heard was one made by
| a Young man in the colored church yesterday
| Clear and strong conceptions, simple, chlldllke
feeling. earnestness, afectionate familiarity and
unfatering faith were its leading characteristics.
| 1t began with recognition of the Divine good
ness. and thanksgiving for ''lengthening out
our golden days which have flowed sWeetly On
moment longer" 1t then proceeded to In
woke a series of blessings somewhat thus


Remember Your ancient promise, where
two or three of 7 cur servants and handmalds
are together You will be with them L beleVe
Your royaI ones are here. Coming among them
that they may see Your blessed face. God OF
mercy and eternal love- our friends all around
us are going to everlasting destruction just as
fast as the wheels Of time can carry them. I ou
can stop them You can make them hear and
turn about and go in the way to heaven. God
of eternal love. meet them as You did Oaul
when he went down to Damascus Come and
save our darling ones who are living IN this vain
world for comfort, and ease, and Joyfui times,
which last but moment. You can make tnem
go with us to joy, and bliss, and heaven, which
last forever. God of eternal love, remember
our sick ones on their beds of affliction; COM
fort and bless them, and old people that are
weak and poor, and are just ready to die. Let
Him that died for them be with them and &c
with them to heaven. Bless Your church here,
redeem with Your precious blood the dear
brothers and sisters who love You more than
thew do this vain world Let them see Youl
salvation and glory We don't deserve any OF
these things We have been very great SIN
ners. IF You had punished us as we deserve,
| our bodies would nave Dcen IN the narrow
grave, and our lost soul would be crying, WOE
that was ever born to sin against an avenglng
God"


The people in this part of the State, now
mostly Union men in their sentiments, are {
little restive at their disfranchsement, but no
vindictive in their feelings. They are earnestly
| desirous that Northern men and Northern cap
| ital should find their way here to aid them il
their recovery from the effects of the war, anC
in the adjustment Of their industry to the new
order of things; and [ know of no part of the
country that holds out stronger inducements t.