Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-06-28
LETTER FROM A PLEASURE SEEKER.

RELAY HOUSE, June 81, 1851
What a coy, delightful retreat is the Relay
House. Did you ever jump into the railroad
ear and in an hour find yourself transported
from brick houses and hot, dusty avenues, to
the cool. sequestered shades of the Relay p
Well, If not, you have lost more enjoyment
than I would like to embarrass you with a
realizing sense of. Only think of it. dear
star, that within thirty quickly-traveled miles
of Washington, you have beautiful, pic
turesaue, wild. romantic spot in which you
may be charmed into a refreshing forgetfui-
ness of politics and printing of gossip, and
gas, and gutter-limed streets, / deem the
place a grand discovery for the brain and
muscle-workers of the metropolis, who like
you and L, can't get away for more than an
afternoon. or, at furthest, to stop for night
and country breakfast Of fresh eggs, cream.
spring chickens, soft crabs, corn bread. and
butter as sweet as a May morning
For a week recreation. and to be in calling
distance of home, we commend the Relay
House its clean beds, airy rooms excellent
table, grayelled walks, shaded bowers. cool
springs, and tall swings, The proprietor, Mr.
Silss ". Conn, is an attentive and very agree
able host, giving his personal superintendent
to every thing.
1t is at this point that the Patapsco has its
head-waters, or rather heads-off navigation:
and, like our own Potomac. tumbles over its
rocky bed with the roar of a juvenile cataract
W hat is now blooming corn field, was three
score years ago, launching dock for vessels
in the Baltimore trade, But the waters like
the business ofElkridge, (Once port of entry
have reeeded. changed, and now run in other
channels. How old remembrances crowded
tha- ~
tavern and stables where the stages" stopped
to change horses, and passengers to take a
stitfner for the next TWO hours ride
The bridge of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road is a massive and magnificent structure.
al of itself we'll worth visit Avalon Iron
Works, for the manufacture of nails in which
a heavy business is done, sits charmingly
down In the valley of the Patapsco. Six
miles up, through mountain scenery, are the
famous ElicOtt Mills-a most int resting place
10 visit
The Cumberland coal trains, of marvellous
length and number, as they come laundering
through these gorges, are curious to behold
There is material enough here for a dozen
Star letters; and we find our pen straying
from the subject of this epistle, which was
simply TO whisper to you, dear, bright beau
tiful, ever-shining Star, that COINS Relay
House Is chosen spot to which you may re-
treat for appetite and brain-rest
The train that leaves Washington at three
O'Clock P IN. puts you down here in about
sIxy-hve minutes, and if you cannot stop all
night, you may return to the city at eight
The conductors are all gentlemen, and know
their business and the responsibilities Better
officers you cannot meet than the popular
owens the shrewd and very pleasan Hum
phreys, and the quiet amiable Collins
The company is always good. We had the
pieasue Of meeting together the other after
noon, Senator Gwin. Gen. Shields, Hon w.
Latham, Mr. and Mrs Mace. Cant Maprn.
der. 5. N, and lady the Wethered.
Spragues- Ellicots and Kettlewells of the
Monumental city. Russ