The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-08-30
TRIP TO HARPER'S FERRY.

ladies and gentlemen, last Friday MORN
ing, we took seats in the cars for trim
to Harper's Ferry. The conductor yelled
out, all aboard!' the whistle sounded,
and the iron steed" moved off like "a
thing Of life" There is something ex-
ceedlngly grand in the idea of moving
along like the wind, with nothing but
two iron bars ahead. And to look way
on beyond the train where those two
iron bars-that noblest couple in the
great epic of the time-are welded low
lngly together, without hammer, or
furnace, or fire, but just beneath the
wonderful, invisible fingers of distance,
till they lay there huge V upon the
bosom of the earth. And how marvel
lously, as the train moves on, those
stubborn bars sway round to parallel,
as lightly and noiselessly as brace of
sunbeams flung from a mirror swung in
the Wanton wind, sweep round in the
blue air? And do you mind"-not a
spike wrenched from its good hold; not
a tie united; not timber splintered?
There must be a charm in those fingers,
indeed! There now, brood of little
hay-coeks, escaped from their native
meadow, have clustered down on the
track, right before the engine. Needless
little things! Butage will bring wisdom,
and one Of these days they'll be discreet
llay-stacks, and not go gossipping
upon railroad tracks. WI be! Why
they are getting to be stacks already.
How they expand and "get up in the
World' rs we near them And they
hear the train for see, they are whirl-
ing in a sort of waltz to the right and
left, over the fence, and back of the
barn, and beyond the orchard; and
there they are, dignifed and impertur-
able as hay-stacks ought to be.
j" Harper's Ferry!" sang out the con-
ductor, and startled us from our reverie.
Not the busy, bustling, lively Harper's
Ferry OF five years agone. Here are
the intlelible footprints of desolating
war, and the place is now but parody
on its former self. True, grim war has
smoothed his wrinkled 'front.'" and
Peace has come ION healing wings,o
but the waste places are acoste still; and
there are hearts made sad by the war
that will sorrow on until they cease to
throb.
The sentinel no longer walks his soli-
tary beat on the Height - the
reveille and the tattoo no more are
heard the soldiers have ssfolled their
tents like the Arabs, and as silently
passed away and Harper's Ferry has
become historic. 1t was famous before
the war. Stonewall Jackson's coup de
main, resulting in Miles surrender, has
given tia prominent place in history.
OF course we went to Jetierson's
Rock" The great statesman from whom
it takes its name, once said il visit here
was worth a tour through Europe. This
was not our first visit, yet nothing of it's
inspiring effect is lost by being seen
again and again. The scenery, its wild
grandeur, and marvellous and varied
beauty, was rapturously enjoyed by the
entire party. We fingered here until
the heightened shadows Of the setting
sun fell aslant the landscape, and gave
it "a beauty, not all its own.
TOURNAMENT AT BOLIVAR.
Our party attended the Tournament
held in an open field on the outskirts of
Bolivar. The riding was excellent, and
the contest animated. t. A. Kirwan,
Knight of Blue Ridge" was success
full, and crowned Miss Lizzie Scott as
Queen of Love and Beauty. p. McGraw,
"Knight Of Shenandoah Valley, 'crown-
ed Miss Beck LIST Maid of Honor. John
w. Eader, " Beautiful STAR" Mis-, J. p.
Smith, I'd Maid Of Ho...or. Walter
King, Knight of Madagascar" Miss
BilseM, 81 Maid of Honor.
Major I. Quinn, was Marshal OF the
occasion. The coronation ceremonies
took place in the enening, at The ball,
given at the Shenandoah Hotel, and
were conducted by s. 4. Cox, ESD, in a