Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-08-07
Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial.
~. - LExTNcToN XIV Ji1lv IL q

4 AANlnB r6Co4Neu pOllie lnNltatlOn
to accompany q party of ladies anC
gentlemen on an excursion to Shaker
town, we gladly excepted it, and, pro
curinga basket of lemons and several
pounds OF sugar, retired early to bed
leaving express orders to be called al
4 o'clock and early breakfast provided
for three persons. -
1t is astonishing how early 4 O'Clock
comes in the summer time; positively
we had slept but few minutes apPa-
rently, when Tom, pounding on ouI
door, declared "on de honor of dis
chile" itWa 4 o'clock. Throwing our
self inside OF q boiled shirt we hurried
down, and found we were half an hour
behind time and the breakfast waiting,
and getting cold. Now, breakfast at
the Southern Hotel at 4 o'clock in the
morning, does not mean sleepy mig
ger and cup of dish-water, but broiI-
ed chicken, hot cakes, veal outlets, and
every thing to make you feel as though
you were up and had saten.
Hardly were We seated before the
smoking viands when the merry laugh
of the girls announced the party out
side and waiting for the laggards.-
What is like the laugh Of young
girl? 1t is sweeteF than music, more
refreshing than water, and as the heart
music Of its sounds ripples over the
round red lips of youth, it makes the
old grow young, the solemn gay, the
wicked good, and reconciles the world
to man.
A great omnibus, capable of contain
ing &C least twenty persons, drawn by
four stout cob horses, was to convey US
to the land of Shakerism. Our party
was composed of q couple of young
lovers, some who would ike to be loT-
ers, q couple of young army officers,
and one or two old bachelors. A more
agreeable set of ladies and gentlemen
it has not often been our lot to meet
and as the coach rolled along the broad
macadamized road, the bracing morn
ing air raised the spirits of the party,
and jokes and songs went round until
even the old bachelors seemed perfect
ly happy. We saw the sun rise, sight
not often witnessed in America. except
by "the poorer classes" and surely one
worth seeing. How glorious, how
beautiful, and We advise every one to
see the sun rise az least once year.
The scenery from Lexington to the
Keatuky River is unsurpassed by any
in the country. How beautiful the
woodland pastures, filed with their
fine horses and cattle, looked in the
new risen sun. The Wide-roling coun-
try stretching away as far as the eye
could reach, clothed in its robe of green
and dotted with fine eresidences, school
houses and churches, gave evidence of
the greatest wealth and abundance.
As We neared the river we passed
through deep cuts oYerhung by jutting
rocks, and wound around great bluffs,
with huge mountain on one side and
q precipice on the other, over which
the girls threw great stones, listening
to the dull sound as they struck the
bottom, making one almost shudder as
they thought how far it was down.
An old-fashioned Aatboat conveyed
US across the deep, narrow stream, and
an hour sfterwsrd we drove into Sha-
kerstoWn.
The place Is q stragglirg sort of viii |
lsge, with houses on both sides of the
pike, and orchards, spiaries, vineyards
and fruit;gardens around them.
Driving up to the post-ofhce one Of |
our party went in TO ask permission to |
stop and look at the sights. but soon |
came out with doleful looking coun-
tenance and announced that the Sha-
kers would have nothing to do with us.
Having lofty opinion of our powers
Of persuasion we returned with the
young man and found q stalwart indi-
Fidaal, over ak feet tall, seated in the
post-cffce, the brim of whose hat was
wonderful to behold. We
.sked the ample Shaker if he was one
If the chief men, and he politely in.
ormed US he twas a man."
We stated our object, in coming to
he place, was to see It, and we edesired
permission to atop and rest. The Sha-
Zer replied that they had nothing to
how, and did not keep entertainment
or strangers. He had, he said, appli-
;ations of the kind every day, and
lniformly refused them. That very
he hadTaceiYed letter from
gentleman in Cincinnati asking If he
anne, With a little party, if he would
'e received and. entertained; he had /,
ust answered the letter and informed
INN he would not it was harvest and
hey were all very busy gathering the h
ruit and the crops and they were very /
Iuiet and plain people, who attended /.
o their own business and wished to be
sft alone. Seeing We could do moth /
az with the old fellow, we asked for i
be head of the institution, Elder Bry-
nt, and left the crusty postmaster to I
njey his solitude and broad brimmed 6
at. Is
Fortunately one of the young ladies J
new the Elder, he having frequently Is
cen q guest at her fathers house t
Ye found Ar. Bryant living in g state /
| brick mansion, surrounded by hand q
,me grounds. He is a tall, noble f
'oking man. with a pleasant, kindly v
ce, and is about sixty years of age v
e heard our case with that quiet dig q
Ity peculiar to Shakers, and seemed
uch inclined to get rid of US, when Ii
le young lady limited plainly, such G
'nduct would not be fair return for r
e hospitality of her father, and the il
der feeling the Justice of her re- G.
arks invited us in. Il