Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-06-06
EXCURSION OF SHEPHERD COL
LEGE

LEG Il.
The fairest of May days seemed to
have moved from its orthodox place in
the calendar, to come upon the Friday
set for the excursion of the students and
teachers of Shepherd College to Mary
land Nights. The day which supersti-
ton still holds as unlucky, proved to be
the most auspicious that could have
been chosen during all the spring.
At the dewy dawn the town was
alive with young folks futtering about
as if on wings and with pic nic baskets,
on wheels hurrying riverward. AT the
appointed hour the picnickers were all
assembled on the College green, and
precisely at six the bell struck and the
procession formed and marched to the
river, crossed the bridge, and embarked
on the good and substantial canal boat,
w. II. Billmyer, kindly rendered by Its
owner for the occasion. An outsider
would at once conclude that prom! tness
was one of the virtues taught in this
College, for in the whole course OF the
day there was not a single delay beyond
the appointed time.
The fast folks of this age make 1t an
especial point 20 sneer at canal boat
riding for pleasure. Bnt surely an easy
going ride, at only four miles an hour
on the Potomac flom Antietam to Har-
per's Ferry is less monotonous and
worrying than being whirled through
the blank western prairies at a mile a
minute. The route affords panorama
of beauty, and the slow ride gives full
time for its enjoyment. At this time
the foliage was the grsenest and fullest
of spring for the Summer sun had not
yet crisped or darkened it. The boat
was cheered along its way by the chill
dren Of the homes it was passing by,
who looked eagerly and sadly at this
floating hive of glee and joy, sad that
they were not among the happy crowd,
Before 10 o'clock the boat landed the
party at the lock some distance above
the Ferry, whence they should turn
landward and climb the mountain. a
pleasant though steep walk to the
mountain from the house Of Collins
Unseld, who welcomed the party with
an old Virginia hospitality, and more
over guided them mp to the first fort.
But mountain climbing soon thinned
the ranks,--a great part indeed had al
ready determined to remain at the
beautiful spring ncar Mr.. Unseld's house
Others grew faint by the wayslde and
deserted the storming column, while
only fourth part reached the summit
of the hill.
A general impression prevails that
none Of these hills are over 2OOO feet
high. But we were informed by Mr..
Unseld that the heighth to the first fort
was measured by a Federal engineer
and found to be 1900 teet-the upper
fort or the crest is as much higher or
about 5000 feet-and this is only about
two-thirds the height of the tallestpoint
on the Blue Ridge, or Black Rock.
The scene or scenes from the crest
fort are famous and need no description.
Toward the East the view overreached
Pleasant Valley, Middletown Valley
far down the Potomac you can imagine
the Atlantic in the blue indistinct dis
lance. Westward the Shenandoah Val
lev to the North Mountain range-a
view, much alike, yet notso magnificent
or startling as that from Black Rock.
In grandeur and sweep Of country the
famous scenes along the Hudson, from
Fort Putnam, for instance, cannot com
pare with these.
The mountains even to the crest were
sprinkled with flowers, wood violets
and fragrant shrubs. Angels footsteps
they well might be called here, most
too high for any but angel footstep.
But the party having scaled the
mountain, some OF them in fee simple
and others by proxy, all gathered at the
river without being bared thither by
the song of that name, for the PIC mic
dinner This was spread on the bank
between the canal and Potomac, and
there, upon the grassy mound, the pies,
cake and chickens, met in an indiscrim-
mate massacre. Mountain climbing
incites voracity. After dinner Rev.
Mr.. Hawkins led off minority to gaze
upon the departed giories Of Harpers
Ferry, others started among the noun
tains or by the riverside, and some went
to the famous land Of Nod. at 3 O.
clock the boat gathered in its freight
and started homewald. Dusk overlook
us, but the grim old pilot still steered
on by the evening star, which stood
full at the head Of our course. Home
at early candlelight, and the dews Of
night were falling fast but none of the
party shouted the war cry of Excelsior
as they climbed the river hill, too weary
for that.
The thanks of the party and their
friends are due to the Professors and
Teachers of the College for their excel.
lent management and praiseworthy
promptness, and to Mr. Billmyer whose
kindness transported" all concerned.
ToURNAMENT-The Tournament at
Lemen's Grove, near Scrabble, on last
So,urJo,- ,,-oc vary ,,inaeaut affair