Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-03-26
rror the Dally In,sliIr aesr.l
EDIToR DAILY IxrEllIorscEE:


Bear SIR
Twas "a pleasant afternoon in February that
weleit Wheeling on the evening tram for the
way of Cumberland, not knowing how far we
might go. Opposite us sat young Frenchman,
and IN front tre9e several young men, who, IN
caps and Kossuth hats looked frsIate; and the
ride TO Moundsyiiie was made short by the soci.
atty olan There was the usual call for tickets,
and in hardly no time, ne found 0uEself land at
Moundsyille, noted for Its andquated name. q
found tho town to be larger then We had antiei7
pated, and ct our hotel fell In with a Southern
gentleman, whose easy society made us f9st
quite at home. He gaveitIs some sketches of
life in Mississippi, and we left him with regret,
wishing we might always find as clever acom-
panion The Mound, when first seen from the
cars, looks LOFTY. tits some FIVE hundred feet
in diameter ct the base, one hundred high, term
minating atthe top In level circular space of
about fifty, and Eur1nOunted by round building
three stories In height each one growing small
er as it rises. 1T is this building that gives the
Mound such a lofty look in the distance. We
assembled it, and even climbed to the upper story,
although with some difficulty. But once up,
scenes aud scenery burst upon us, such Us isnot
often ours to gaze upon. Ear below us lay the
village, withits curling smoke, miniture figures
threading the Streets the hum of the distant
business sounds borne to US by passing breezcs,
while over all hung thin curtain Of smoke, and
in the distanoe rose hills on hills clothed by for
ests. The history of this relic of people long
since passed awy, lies in obscurity. Trees Of a
centuTy's growth are standing upon it, and not
far away is q hollow hason, supposed to have
been the place from which the dirt was taken
that forms it. It was opened some years since
with brick arch, which penetrates 10 the ccD-
tire, when was found circular Sepulcher con-
tanning three bodies, one Of which was seven
feet in heightb. With them were found relics
~ T1SIi1
We vcnturcd in, although it is becoming some
what dangerous from falling earth above. Very
little is now to be seen the sand from above hav-
ing covered up most Of the relics Several acres
around arc enclose by board fencc f5ra fair
ground. There is just such mound as this in
our native State OIL the Gencscc river, fiftyni
from Rochester South. Will some one tell us
who and what were the nation that reared these?
Were they the same that built the cities which
are now found in the forests of Central Alneri-
ca? Across the river from Monndsvilleis fort,
of the same date and with the same dark histo-
ry.
Having seen every thing not even forgetting
to give the matrons an official chi, we dew away
on the cars not, however, until VIC had waited
sometime into the evening for their coming
iTc!egraphS were sent both ways to find out the
cause, but as the trouble was somewhere be-
tween the offices We were obliged TO wait in suS-
pense till eight, when their slowncss soon di-
yined the cause. The track was so icy that the
wheels could turn around and the cars couldn't
| go. But we were finally seated, and with the
aid of Harper managed to bcguile the hours I'M
| til near midnight, when we found ourself landed
at Fairmont The landlord was clever and the
boarlers sociahlc, and we were very comfortably
waited upon by the negro servants, who wore
obliging. This town sits on rolling bluff which
ascends gradually from the river, and many Of
the dwellings arc necessarily an inconvenientdis-
lance up the hill. The Court House is some
where near the centre, and in which sMppers
were given by the ladies of the village, for the
benefit of the band, two evenings, and two by
the Episcopal denomination for themselves We
went one evening, and were very agrceably en-
tertaincd with music from the band, who were
in attendance, and the ladies, who wore their
brightest smiles.
At the back end was full length portrait Of
Washington, and over it, "God preserve the
hcated around him and on either side was a
beautiful tree, which gave the tables in front a
fresh look. Up stairs is cake, and below meats
are served, and in another room arc various
things for sale.
We left Fairmont very much improved imam
ners, and we design soon to cross the mountains
although perhaps not till anothcrscssion of Com
gross, rs we wish to be there at that time. We
have spent some time amongst the farmers of
| Western Virginia. One thing that strikes the
traveller is the difference in common words
which are not very easily undcrstood-such as
"ncight," II allow" and 'Datter" "Tlis here, y
81 reckon, - an have it, but We never more
enjoyed travel than among the runs, as they arc
called, where all are rich and hospitable, or clcv
or, if not rich At one place were three chill
dren, blind, two of them grown to man and NO
manhood, but they work at different things and
manage to get deal of work done. The daugh
ter VIC saw at work about the house, and We did
not know, until told, that she was blind. She
seemed more cheerful than many who have
their eyes. ~
"A. C. G.