The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-07-06

shall |, sir; did not enter this train to be asphyx-
lated" The result at length was that compro-
mise entered upon, and that the air breathed
by the MISUNDERSTANDING gentleman was-half
| and half.
There were among the passengers two or three
southern planters, in large, low crowned, broad
brimmed white hats, wearing their garments in a
careless, "nonchalant," easy, for-nothing air,
enviable but inimitable by the sitter and more
formal northerner. Though destitute of that fash
ionable exterior which the tailor supplies, and for
which they have sovereign contempt, the
southern gentleman possesses an ''air distingue
which is everywhere the most striking feature of
their appearance.
Among the lady passengers beautiful
dark-eyed, dark haired Virginian, and young
married lady from the North, accompanied by two
lovely Children handsome, spirited boy, and
u little golden-haired fairy, as light in her mo-
tons as zephyr, and with cheek like lily
shaded by rose leaf The children and we soon
became great friends, in testimony whereof the
little fellow, metamorphosed into trumpeter, in
sisted upon our trying our skill on this weapon of
war. An apology for his rudeness by his mother
opened the way for conversation, during which
mind, with full share of Yankee inquisitvcness.
She was pure New England interrogatve. So
far as it was in our power, it afforded us pleasure
to reply to her Questions, which, as stranger to
southern scenery, manners, and customs, it was
very natural she should put to any one. But UNI
less we can answer their innumerable questions,
Yankee ladies are certainly, unless rery interest
ing, a little annoying.
About two o'clock Harper's Ferry, with its
amphtheatre of rugged mountains, burst upon
our sight in all its majesty Station after station
we had passed; at some we had stopped with n
mighty blowing off of steam and whistling from
the locomotive, and grinding, and srushing, and
squeaking; and some we had roared and rushed
| by, passing them like vision of momentary seen
walls and dim ghosts of figures upon the plat
form; and scores of miles had we sped over OF
country fair, and rich, and great, broad, dcsolate
roads, and along high cmbankments, scattering
the sparks from the flying furnace; and now tho
speed slackens again, and the engine whistles
again, and pIcasurable sensation was observed
to be ditfilsed among the passengers as they re-
marked to each other, 'sWe stop at Harper 5
Ferry for refreshment." There is grand and
desolate character in the naked cliffs here which
hang III huge terraces over the village, ana the
view from their SUBMITS must be one of the most
sublime and extensive in America. But eight
hours abstinence and jolting in the cars, with
steam to breathe as though exhaled from Baby
lonian furnace, and the growing of the engine
for music, did not brighten our energies for any
profound admiration of its beauties during the
few moments that were allowed us to test the
utility of speedy mastication. On reaching the
depot where our railroad route terminated, we
found stages waiting to convey us to Charestown,
la mile or two distant. Passing rapidly by rich
gafdens, and extensive fields of grain bending to
thd light breeze with the wavy motion of the air,
we reached this rural village in time for dinner,
and were most cordially received by one of the
finest specimens of a true Virginia gentleman.
Your pardon, dear reader, for the uncharitable
length of this sketch we will defer to our next a
description of Virginia watering places.