The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-10-23

"A NOVEL, hetEchts-SO IL seems 10 us, anu
so it will appear to every one, at first, but
upon reflection it does not seem SO strange
after all. Some evenings since, two young
disciples of Crispin, "weary not got
life," but of their bench and a,cl, left the
hallowed precincts of their kingdom, and
evidently forgot, for n time, the lasting
impressions sought to be made by their
Saint, in their desire for recreation.''-
Having perambulated the streets until they
became tired, and breathed freely of the
cool and invigorating atmosphere, they then
cast about them for something new and
more exciting. His Satanic Majesty $50
some would say was not long in making a
suggestion, and it was no sooner made than
acted upon. 4 play with the 'four kings
was the profitable amusement suggested,
and Immediately they found their steps
bending toward the "novel retreat" the
gas house, "down by the sounding -
marsh in which to while the hours away,
with their exciting pas-time. Arrived there
everything was barred and bolted Their
ingenuity was then put to work, and soon
an entrance was effected. The games COM
menccd, and continued until the irresisti-
BILE powers of Morpheus overcame the par
ties, when they decamped, leaving ''belind
them footprints on the p" bricks.
At first We thought the place improper,
but we see, on second thought, it was just
tie place. In the absence of whiskey, they
could inhale the gas, which would make
them as sick instead of cigars, they had
the smoke from the pit and instead of the
haunts where such proceedings are carried
on, they had the blazing, fiery furnace-all
fit associations.
On being found out, the young men were
threatened with summary vengeance, if
they ever again entered the gas works for
such purpose, and in such manner.
We unintentionally omitted to include
the sac and plane, and we hereby crave his
pardon.
The Pictured R0cks.-Our drive of some
six miles to the brow of the hill that over
looked the Susquehannl at Bald Friar
and down the steep declivity through the
stunted pines, to the rivers edge, was one
of beauty and wildness We had heard of
Bald Friar, and had pictured in our mind
neat little village, with an inviting hotel !;
but all these visions were quickly dissipated
when the forlorn and dilapidated reality
met our gaze. A once large but now bro
ken down hotel is the only structure lex
cept stable in the town. But the river
and the pictured rocks compensated for all
other disappointments. Notwithstanding
the uninviting appearance of the surround
ings, we met very accommodating and
intelligent host, i'll the person of Jesse T.
French formerly of Washington Borough,
Lancaster county, who purchased the prop
cry last spring., who at once consented to
row our party out into the river to the rocks.
Crossing over the channel of the old Mary
land Canal, we stepped into a boat at the
rivers edge, and soon shot out upon the
stream. About halfway across, some dozen
Or more large rocks hold their heads up out
of the water, and for these we strike. Pull
ing up beside one of the largest, an inspec-
ton of its sides reveals numerous figures
carved thereon, rudely out with some dull
instrument, and showing evidence of hay
ing been done many years ago. They are
deeply cnt, and some of the figures repre-
sent Indian heads of life-size, crowned with
feathers birds, targets, concentric circles,
&c. They have very primitive character,
and are undoubtedly the hieroglyplics of
the aborigines of the country. Several
other rocks are thus marked, evidencing
that this was choice spot of the Indian,
and that their artists exhausted their skill
to have a record of their race upon the
everlasting rocks. They have passed away,
and their haunts now resound to the tread
of the superior race, but none have yet been
able to unravel the legend of the Pictured
Rocks. The valley of the Susquehanna, its
flashing waters and wood crowned hills was
no doubt very Eden TO the red man, and
afforded him vision of the happy hunting
grounds of the Great Spirit. Shall the
Pictured Rocks always remain a mystery?
Oxford Press.