Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1859-09-01
jtlisteIlantQus.
From the Home journal.
TriD on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad.
n. 7. WILLIS.
Hle,sHd, July 26, 1859.

MlesRd, July 26, 1859.
| DEAR MoRIJs:-
| Is this, as in my two preceding letters,
YOU will remember that am on route
which has been recently well described by
Others | shall therefore be desultory-dwcl-
ling only upon such points, here and there
as those pre- pencillers by the way have left
III outline.
Suppose describe TO you, this being
the season when such spots are most epquir-
ed for-the two watering places on tho
Baltimore and Ohio route ? | really do not
know how more Of instruction, health and in
tercst could he combined il a summer jour
nry than to visit them both, just now, see
ing, at the same time, all the wonders of this
magnificent railway over the Alleghanies.
| First, the eagle-eyre, in aristocratic old
| Virginia, where the Fairfa&eS and GEORGE
| WAsnINGToN used to "go to the Springs
In afternoon that was like delicious June
| uep weather mixture of invigoration sweet
RuN-a village which has thus far escaped
having its name changed, by Act of Lcgis-
laturo, to Smithville," though it does com
memorate the undcmocratic existence Of an
English Baronct " ho once resided here. And
for the two miles and half up the 'Run,"
the mountairI-strcam where Sir John caught
| -, | ia ln l,1 fpI tf tha Al
fashioned stagc-coach which, rs usage,
forms kind of conservative vestibulc to the
''oltl-family', fnstness of BEnKELY SPRINGs.
Advised Of our coming, by the electricity
we sent before us, thc ghost of Sir John will
please not be astonshcd with what is a mere
Telegraph fact the Run stage with its four
horses stood waiting at the Station. We has
tened to hcrring-pack our party, as tho "nine
inside" used to do in old times but, as the
team first tightcned up the traces and struG
g!ed along over the stony road, it seemed, |
must confess, a little slow. The ten thous-
and-dollar locomotives, at thirty smooth
miles an hour, was ashamed to find, had
corrupted my taste Good heavens that
should ever feel there could be anything bet
ter than ''stagc," particularly as IA convey
ancc with which to cross mountains!
In returning. however, the next morning,
tlet me dgrcSs for moment to say,) ! recuv-
cred my four-horsc fascination, by riding
with the driver lie was capital whip and
to see him shy mul-holes and run hollows,
dodge the rocks and straddlc the ruts, touch
up the s!owun and so it down hill with ole
fashioned faith in Providence and the pole
talking charmngly all the while, of his lead
ers and wheclers, and interspersing the know
ing sentences with the team talk of chirrups
and rcproaches which their prickcd up cars
evidently undcrstood-thc past was pres
ent with inc again As Hood came very
near saying:-
1T was childish ignorance,
But now no little joy
To have stage go just as slow
As when | was boy
1t was just twilight. as We overcame the
summit OF long hill, and descended by
minute or two of sharp driving. into little
we'll wooded valley-a place that seemed like
banging-nest with messy sides and its dep
tbs sparkling with diamonds, for the lights
of the far down cottages, were just beginning
to geam up through the leaf-encircled dark
ness. A busy-looking ''store" with its loun-
gers, a turn or two at a smashing pace through
a crooked street, a sudden curve around the
trunk Of glorious large tree, and we pulled
up a: long portco, exactly like that of Sar-
atogas old Congress hall. Ladies and gen.
temen were promenading up and down, and
the courteous landlord stood upon the steps.
Through the windows CLEANED the lights and
snowy cloth upon long table. Negro wait
ers peeped out from the doors at the new
comers. a wilderness of columns and green
blinds. All looked open, summery, roomy,
and hospitable.
As we were to return to the Railroad at an
early hour the next morning, accepted the
landlords kind offer latter supper of little
sightseeing by candle-ligbt. The famous
mineral spring which forms the attraction Of
the place, is, of course, within the enclosure
and, crossing the well laidout grounds, we
came to pretty niche where the abundant
fountain poured its limpid wealth into stone
basin. The water was warm-seventy-
degrees Fahrenheit. Close by, stood large
pavilion called the "Gentlemen's Poor'-an
immense drawing.room, for the male guests
to promenade with their heads only out of