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A pleasant ride over a rich rolling country； with an occasional strip of forest； brought us to Union in the evening； with no other adventure than the meeting of a steam threshing…machine in the road； with steam up； clattering along。 The devil himself could not invent any machine calculated to act on the nerves of a horse like this。 Jack took one look and then dashed into the woods； scraping off his rider's hat but did not succeed in getting rid of his burden or knocking down any trees。
Union； on the railway； is the forlornest of little villages； with some three hundred inhabitants and a forlorn hotel； kept by an ex… stage…driver。 The village； which lies on the Holston； has no drinking…water in it nor enterprise enough to bring it in； not a well nor a spring in its limits； and for drinking…water everybody crosses the river to a spring on the other side。 A considerable part of the labor of the town is fetching water over the bridge。 On a hill overlooking the village is a big； pretentious brick house； with a tower； the furniture of which is an object of wonder to those who have seen it。 It belonged to the late Mrs。 Stover； daughter of Andrew Johnson。 The whole family of the ex…President have departed this world； but his memory is still green in this region； where he was almost worshipedso the people say in speaking of him。
Forlorn as was the hotel at Union； the landlord's daughters were beginning to draw the lines in rural refinement。 One of them had been at school in Abingdon。 Another； a mature young lady of fifteen； who waited on the table； in the leisure after supper asked the Friend for a light for her cigarette； which she had deftly rolled。
〃Why do you smoke？〃
〃So as I shan't get into the habit of dipping。 Do you think dipping is nice？〃
The traveler was compelled to say that he did not； though he had seen a good deal of it wherever he had been。
〃All the girls dips round here。 But me and my sisters rather smoke than get in a habit of dipping。〃
To the observation that Union seemed to be a dull place ：
〃Well； there's gay times here in the winterdancing。 Like to dance？ Well； I should say！ Last winter I went over to Blountsville to a dance in the court…house； there was a trial between Union and Blountsville for the best dancing。 You bet I brought back the cake and the blue ribbon。〃
The country was becoming too sophisticated； and the travelers hastened to the end of their journey。 The next morning Bristol； at first over a hilly country with magnificent oak…trees；happily not girdled； as these stately monarchs were often seen along the roads in North Carolina；and then up Beaver Creek； a turbid stream； turning some mills。 When a closed woolen factory was pointed out to the Professor （who was still traveling for Reform）； as the result of the agitation in Congress； he said； Yes； the effect of agitation was evident in all the decayed dams and ancient abandoned mills we had seen in the past month。
Bristol is mainly one long street； with some good stores； but generally shabby； and on this hot morning sleepy。 One side of the street is in Tennessee； the other in Virginia。 How handy for fighting this would have been in the war； if Tennessee had gone out and Virginia stayed in。 At the hotelmay a kind Providence wake it up to its responsibilitieswe had the pleasure of reading one of those facetious handbills which the great railway companies of the West scatter about； the serious humor of which is so pleasing to our English friends。 This one was issued by the accredited agents of the Ohio and Mississippi Railway； and dated April 1； 1984。 One sentence will suffice：
〃Allow us to thank our old traveling friends for the many favors in our line； and if you are going on your bridal trip； or to see your girl out West； drop in at the general office of the Ohio and Mississippi Railway and we will fix you up in Queen Anne style。 Passengers for Dakota； Montana； or the Northwest will have an overcoat and sealskin cap thrown in with all tickets sold on or after the above date。〃
The great republic cannot yet take itself seriously。 Let us hope the humors of it will last another generation。 Meditating on this； we hailed at sundown the spires of Abingdon； and regretted the end of a journey that seems to have been undertaken for no purpose。
End of Volume Four of The Writings of Charles Dudley Warner
End of the four volume series of The Writings of Charles Dudley Warner