Middletown transcript., 1873-02-15
FIR tie Md.iictomn 7r,nser. .pf.
GgonGxrowS, Fob. 4th 1878.

GEORGETOWN. Feb 4,h 1873.
Friend Transcript IL promised to
write you again before leaving Augusta
County. Va, and intended 10 do so bat
waited day after day hoping to have q
description Of trip to Wcir's Cave for
you, but was compelled TO leave with
out accomplishing IL are you very mvch
astonished! Doesn't it seem incredible,
that any one could 60 within ten miles Of
so great n curiosity and net visit il?
Well. in explaining how il happened. !
will give you a fair idea Of tho comforts
Of Virginia travelling in winter. so listen.
In the FIRST place, there is no level ground
in the valley | don't believe you could
60 a quarter Of mile in any direction
without finding very considerable slope;
imagine bright. cold day, fine for trip
TO the caves; yes. but il is so slippery
in some places the road winds round
mountain We snould call it-and
stands downward from il to a prccipicc.
the slightest mis-step would send you
over Wait day or two, next day is
bright also; by ten clock the sun is hot;
now We can go; yes, but you can. get
home tonight now, AMI by tomorrow tho
Irds win b. too deep 10 cross; wait
day or two till they fall then the ronds
are too heavy with mud to r,ndcr riding
at all agreeable; wait ill they dry, aud be-
fore they dry ihr snow IN asaia ani
20 It was, could Mt rn pn yiu wnu-
der how they do nuy hauling ~ al They
have heavy strong wagon. with breaks.
and teams Of four Or six powerful horses.
which creep along even over their splen-
ill pike at ,nail's pace, ,ha, would
lrye some of our stirring farmers crnzy;
~: il is the best they can do. aud how
they do that on the side roads Is mn nm
solved mystery to ne still For ordinary
riding. sa'.!lt-hnrsrs are universal; male
aul female. young and old, use them;
We would not be surprised 10 see bloom
ing girls cantcring nr 10 church door.
but ladies' Of 90 make a practice nf il. and
lillc girls ride to school daily for miles.
sometimes two on a horse; OF Jnufsc there
are carriages in the country. but il.., sro
not relied on, they must be very strong
to bear racking over the rocky ruals Oh
saturday, small party og Us started a.
bout ton y VI. iJr fIc; there were
light in the wagon four Of whom wcr,.
children; at mos, Of the ascen,s We wero
compelled to aiglt, and at one descent,
DOWN i nothing could haze induced nc
u ride in any vehicle with which am
acquainted; very steep. quarter Of n mile
long narrow with en-, Il low feet between
il aud rrccipice. and ford At the end
can ypu contrivc a bu,i5r scene for nm ac-
cidtmts We rode about twelve miles.
stopping half m hour on the way. AMI
reached hotne =, hulf-rast four; six hours
at last in travelling that distance
rnjefei tke scenery however, very much.
there were most tern;ifl views of the
monHia'tis. far away. OF nearer aud SONS
little bits Of low lauls nesting among
them around the noisy mountain streams;
these low lands Jared i'll two years since,
when the sudden th8w aud heavy rains
turned the ..rsam into vast floods many
u dwelling was swept away. and many
great mill was destroyed or lady wreck
cd In one tha. was spared saw mark
half way the second story showing the
hcigh, TO which the water rose. We took
some long walks through the snoy 10 the
tops Of some high hills and had macnii-
cent views up and down the valley !, is
a lively country 10 look ut. but for iriny
purposes, | rather prefer ST. Georges
hundred
spent day in Siannton. and paid q
shor, visit to the lmnaiic Asylum there
II is n grand old building Of red brick,
very massive, and capable oi holding
large number Of patients contains now,
! ,hiuk, about five hundred Il is beauti-
fully situated high up ON hill back Of
the town; the grounds afonud are laid
out with gren, taste. and tho whole e.
tablishment eiyes evidence Of being eon.
Quoted with tho utmost ability. Tho
town oil Staun,on is thriving place il
the oen,re, judge. Of large trade. and
many of lis stores would not discrcdit .
much larger place
We were in the valley three weeks, and
though disappointed in some Of our
plans by the weather. enjoyed oar yisis
very much We started early on Mon
day, Feb. Sd. for Georgetown. OF our
visi. here and to Annspolis. I willswriec
you on our return home. Yours truly.