Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1869-05-29
COMMUNICATED.
To Charleston, Kanawha, and back.

friend Gsllsher, yet, as helped while
there. TO decide heavy land case lr favor
of the prior title. snail balance matters
now, by deciding in favor of my junior
promise 10 you. do this the more
readily since learn lha. in the PerlIous
times through which We have recently
passed, you were the companion and
friend OF some OF The agreeable fellows,
whose acquaintance ! had the pleasure
OF making " bile away, and whose kind
ness 10 me shall never forget. Oi the
richness and beauty OF the South Western
part Of the State, Of the hospitality Of
the people, and of the Iovellness of ils
women, had heard and read. But these
notes will bu, poorly describe 10 you my
recent experiences, if you do not learn
from them, that now know these things
as facts. shall give you no days or
dates, or figures. | commenced taking
notes, but my absolute delight while
away, was due almost entirely 10 sen.
sstions and emotions, that | ceased en-
ouiring about the annual product OF salt
mines-,he nsvigabiliy of rivers, or the
probabilities OF railroad communication.
For these matters refer 10 the proper
and sufficiently accessible quarters. Be-
sides, am not writing book, but let
ter, and propose TO fill it. not so much
with exact information, as with the cream
Of great many pleasant memories.
During the April term OF our Circuit
Court, | was summoned as jurymsn 10
suend the District Court OF the United
States, in Charleston, Kanawha County.
on the l9h. Immediately. with the kind
sanction Of our excellent Judge, contlnu-
ing my business 10 future term OF the
Court, | took sea, in Mr.. Adams hack
carriage snd started to meet the Martins
burg train a, kearneysville. Here have
to note the first pleasant item OF my IrIP'
a shadow OF coming events, except only
that The shadow was sunbeam. MY
travelling companion was young lady
who looked so pretty and wsS so well &C.
quainled with everything that was inter
esting and elegant, and talked SO well.
that was beginning TO wish-nsiead oil
going to ksnawhs, 10 fight matters out on
that particular line, though it should take
the whole summer. should add, that
my companion had recently become &C
qusinred with my particular friend "!em-
my McGee," and liked HIM, SO that really
there was nothing waning, during It's
brief continuance, 10 make her converse
ZION delightful.
My destination was Parkersburg, but
| was obliged 10 wait al MarIlnsburg Tor
Mr.. b., and be in turn had to wait 10 take
degree in some Order or another. Al
ter Witnessing the closing ceremony OF
this operation, which consisted of good
Oy s,er supper, we went down to the De-
po. and met the train at haIl-past two O.
clock, a. NJ.
Have you ever slept into train. we'll
filled, in the middle of the night! If so
what sight, and what sensations must
have reen yours There you see wea-
ry, used up crowd, lying in every Possl'
ble and almost impossible position, across
the ends OF the scale, doubled up, twisted
up, forming the figure of eight, across the
ends OF the scale, and against each other.
And then the suTocaling atmosphere,
sufficiently thick TO din the almost ind is.
tngushable lights. | am positive they
had no railroads in early times, for if they
had, Dante would have used scenes from
them TO illustrate the agonIes OF the
wretched, in the lower world. Need |
say. that "seeing wha, saw" Imme-
dialely followed The example Of my con-
psnon, and took up my quarters in
sleeping car. There, in ten minutes, IN
a comfortable bed, | was fast asleep, and
unconsclously floating through the dark
ness. In the morning, after pleasant
nights rest, we arose, Just in time to see
Frank Thomas comfortable residence on
the Maryland side Of the river. Dlvl-
ding my lime during the day, between
sdmiriDg the strange, wild, alpine scenery
through which we were passing, and rea-
ding Bickers,e,h's new Poem, after
long but but unpleasant journey. we ar.
rived in Parkersburg a, 5 o'clock in the
evening.
Parkersburg, situated on The banks Of
the Ohio, opposite Bellepere, and CON-
msnding fine view Of the river and sur.
rounding country, is fine old town, hav-
ing wide streets, good public buildings,
and many very elegant private residences.
Petroleum is the staple Of the place. This
is evident from the moment you arrive.
The air is filled with il. Indeed il seem.
ed to me TO be dangerous 10 ligh.a cigar
lest the atmosphere might ignite and ex-
pIOde. With The exception Of rum shops
with which the town ia crammed, pe;rc-
leum rules the roast. There are Peiro-
leum disiileries, petroleum rectifying es-
isbIishments, petroleum lots, petroleum
hats. Petroleum advertisements FL. the
columns of every newspaper and cover
every dead wall.
\ correct diagnosis of the state Of the
disease, for disease i, is, would very like
ly say, that some patients had 60, cured,
and are healthy; some still suffer and will
probably die; some have come ou, oi it
with just life left, and some are jus, enier-
ing on the early stages Of the malady. In
the town, we found in the Swan House
frs, class hotel, arranged and conducted
on city hotel princip Piles, with good rooms,
good beds. good table, good attendance
and fair charges. But in the town, our
party which had been increased along the