Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-09
TRAVELLER

seme other points
Yours, &c, TRAVELLER.
Future of Barnesville-A Dream.
Mr.. EDITOR: 1t has been with an inter.
est approximating toward enthus iasm, that
we have read the articles in your paper oi
late, purporting 10 have been written by q
correspondent of yours residing in our town
in the which he treats extensively of the
marvellous growth, the extending commerce
and the rapid advancement toward ultimate
greatness and renown OF the village ol
GAINESVILLE.
After -eading the lat wonderful accoun t
with which you have favored US, our mind
was thrown into a state of profound cogita-
ton. and we began with deep philosophical
reflection; (Which you know is our won't
to consider the various causes that have
combined to produce such grand results, as
are now rapidly taking place around us, land
also to contemplate, as best we might. the
stupendous magnifcence to which we may
yet obtain, if these causes should continue
to exert their controlling influence over our
future destiny, While pursuing this train
of thought it appeared SO, as though we had
fallen into kind Of trance, sort of rapt
inspired or spiritual state, in which we
seemed to be endowed with the ability to
take a comparatively intended look behind
the dark curtain of futurity. We thought
We had been for a quarter of a century, an
exile from the place OF our birth. and far
from the happy scenes of our childhoed's
home had been wanderer IN foreign lands,
till becoming tired OF our rowing habits, and
wishing again to enjoy the peace and quiet
ude of our long deserted home and taste
anew the sweets of calm retirement from
the bustling scenes of the giddy world, we
had at length turned our weary footsteps TO-
ward the place where first we had breathed
heavens pure invigorating air, and WIS now
on the, last day o the week,approaching the
confines of the spot, where the quiet little
village once nestled amid the surrounding
hills But how great the change! The road
upor which we were travelling, though, BY
certa in marks and outlines still retained in
our memory, we could discern as occupying
the position that was occupied by the enc
by which we had long before left the place
yet, how diffefent was its present character
from what it then possessed! Instead OF
being covered with dust, or paved with the
soft and plastic clay, produced by the tread
of much cattle, and the plenteous showers
of Spring, it was now paved in beautiful
and compact manner, with boulder and ca
Bile stones, and intersected ever and anon,
by turnpikes and plank-roads; while from
tie four cardinal points of the compass -four
great lines ofrailway could BE- seen center.
ing toward common focus. But if the
roads were surprsing,.he immense caravans
OF travellers commingling with all kinds oil
vehicles, were infinitely more so. Pedes-
trians, however. buggies, carriages, baggage
wagons. omnibuses, with the whole cat
alegue of miner vehicles, in all manner of
gait, from ths slow motion cart horse walk.
to the swift-fooled courser, were passing and
repassing, jamming and being jammed in
almost endless confusion, while far above
the din and noise of travel, could be heard
the clam of nnmberless voices. all eagerly
conversing and shouting, and halIooing
about something they had seen, or expected
to see in the great city.
What! thought we surely our little vii
lage has not obtained the dignifed title of
City! With palpitating anxiety we quick.
ened our steps 10 gain the top of an emi-
nence that once we knew overlooked the
town. This gained, wonder of wonders,
what sight is this that salutes our eyes!
what tongue or pen can describe The extern
ded scene that then and there ouispread in
gigantic proportions before US! Far as the
eye could reach, long lines of five and eight
storied palaces, stretched away into the dim
distance on either side Of the numberless
streets of capacious width that crossed each
other at right angles.
On every hand steeples and towers, whose
gilded tops seemed to kiss the sky, shcne
resplendent in the evening sun. While in
the center of the City, large collection of
trees and shrubs of all kinds and descrip-
tions, betokened the existence of splendid
park and pleasure grounds, from the center
OF which arose majestic columns of water,
which in brilliancy of display,and grandeur
of effect, rivaled the world-renowned splen-
dors of Versailles or La Granja. Dumb
with amPzement we entered upCr the busy
throughfare again, and pursued our obstruct-
ed way to3ard the center of tie City. II
we were confused and lost in astonishment
without, how much more were we when
within! Passing along the crowded path
way with slow and cautious step we exam
ined narrowly al We saw ,endeuvorng totrace
the lipeaments OF some familiar face, or
trace the locality of some shop or store
house where we were acquainted in days
gone by. But in vain. All we're changed
The little one horse groeers and merchants
that used to hurry with bresk-neck speed in
search Of some article of traffic on which
they hoped to turn penny had given place
to those of Aldermanic dimensions, who
rolled themselves along the streets in gilded
carriages with their 'crack spsn,' driven BY
servants in livery, or moved with easy
stages along the sidewalk, supporting them.
selves upon their gold-headed ,as they
passed too and from their counting house,