The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-07-17

BY MARY J. wINDLR.

|
BY MARY J. wINDLR.
| SHANsoNDALE SPRINGS, Va, July Is.
! 1t has occurred to us that some of the lady
readers of The Southern Press" ought occa-
sionaly to furnish it's editors with gossipping
sketches from their summer retreats, our sex
being SO proverbially excellent in that peculiar
branch Of feminine accomplishment.
The greatly increased facilities of lecomotiou
which these latter days possess over former
times, induce many to leave their own immedi-
ate orbit, some ia quest of health, and Others
for pleasure. The lightning trains" the swift.
est boats, the most rapid modes of traversing
land and water, are sought with the greatest
avidity The present season will be noted as
one of unusual activity on the part Of persons
in pursuit of health and pleasure.
Having decided to make one of company
for visit to the Shannondale Springs, we pre-
pared to leave Washington on the morning OF
the 18th of July. At given signal the great
Iron Horse"-devouring burning Goals, and
breathing forth flames and smoke,-carried US
from the dust and heat of the city with speed
which outstripped the feetest oourser After a
ride Of about 80 miles, there was sudden tink-
ling of a BELL pufing-whish 'sh 'sh 'sh
and the furious monster came to stand still at
the "Reay House. a place of pause for the
traveller,--situa in lonely glade, carpeted
with moss and grass. Its spacious accommoda-
tons and welcome cheer invite an hours delay.
Here we prepare to leave for Harpers Ferry, not
with numbering coach and tugging horses, but
still seated at our ease, in steam-drawn car.
| From the Relay House 10 miles of railroad
carried US to Harpers Ferry. On this route the
very foundation of the hills have been cut away,
and you glide along their bases, the precipitous
crags ascending with their garniture of ever
greens almost touching to the clouds Often
does the traveller turn his eye, almost wearied
with a continual vision of sublimity, to feast it
upon the beauties which art has painted upon
the face of the wilderness. Among its charms
is the river, along whose banks lies your way,
its pure water sparkled and flashed in the sun
shine that peered through the dense branches,
which, even at midday, cast refreshing gloom
over the waters; and 80 luxuriant is the soil,
that vegetation continues to the very brink of
the river, every stone and root being draped with
its heavy coating of moss.
Before leaving home, on this summer trip,
when the prospect was before us, of wonders to
be seen in Virginia. for the first time, above all
things and places, Harpers Ferry filled our eye.
Virginia was the frame it was the picture
Virgna'the cdsket, it the diamond. We have a
passion for wonderful places, and for wonderful
creations of art but above all we have passion
for wonderful scenery. From our earliest child
hood Harpers Ferry has been associated in our
mind with all that is sublime and beautiful. One
is generally disappointed after great expectations
have been raised, but in this instance, enthusiast
as We were on this subject, our expectations were
more than realized.
i This country may in its extent contain more
beautiful scenery, of different kind,-but we ven.
ture to assert that there is nothing at all like it
in three out Of four quarters Of this our globe
and Judging from the general silence upon the
subject, we are inclined to believe that many art
not aware of this scene of wildness, beauty, ant
sublimity | would as soon attempt, with unhal
lowed lips, to incucate the sublime truths of tn,
gospel, as with ungi6ted pen, undertake to do j
! justice. Some lowering angel might transfer i
to his immortal tablets and lay it up among Tho
records of Heaven, as one bright spot upon thi.
sin stained earth.
Tier on tier, rise galleries of bare granite
with but a step between the uppermost ant
Heaven. There they STAND in majesty sublime
towering two or three hundred feet above oul
car, and overshadowing the village, whose
clustered smokes arose quietly and gracefully
| he ~. o;v &c tko al
!. The first sensation was one Of indiscrbabl,
awe, which increased, until the mind was over
whelmed with sense Of the presence Of Ma
lures God. For a moment, the shackles o
clay seemed really to fall of, and our spiri
+ grew large, as though we had looked into thu
boundlessness Of eternity, and were lifting
wing with the angels. But we soon came bacl
again-for we are prisoners in a very little cell
and too large draught of Heaven, now, woul'
not be good for us.
The reader will ask what produced such al
effect? We answer, It was that beauty tina
wide-spreading beauty which God hath showers
here to make us feel his presence in his works
What American can stand and cast his eye owe
this sublime scenery, and not feel proud of hi
nation, and the splendid dowry Of its natura
beauty? 1t is, indeed, land Of which we ma
] we'll say with high emotion: This is m,
country over what an extent OF the earth
stretches its territories; what country is there
that does not feel the influence Of its mora
energy the emanations of its free and popula
institutional Every pulse of love which beat
here-every principle of justice that is NOR
clearly recognixed--every sentiment Of chris
> tanity that il elevated on the broad basis of tn
human heart--spreads through the earth as frou
a centre of moral life; il is something to max
a part, however small of such a nation, it j
something to feel that you have such scope o
power in the earth.
Are there no poets here! Should not thi
Z glorious view inspire hymns Of praise IL Their
} not one among virginias gifted sons to raise
queen-altar to the beautiful, and throw new
glory over this glorious spotl
81 From Harpers Ferry, 10 miles Of railroad car