The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-09-26
For he Democratic Adcooate, =
To wiIIiamspOrt and Back.

To Williamsp0rt and Back.
About six O'Clock on Saturday morning,
10Th instant became part Of restless, anx
iouE, impatient crowd, al the depot in this
city, who we're waiting for the train that was
10 bear them on the long promised excursion
over the mountains to Williamsport. Old
men and ladies, young men and madens, boys
and girls had turned out in sufficient numbers
TO make lively and agreeable company
without the examining and confusion incident
TO large crowd. Among US was party Of
young men and boys from the College, who,
released from the "abhorred thralldom OF
book, birch and pedagogue,n had determined
to have good time. The morning was cloudy,
foggy, and hence apparently unfavorable, but
Notwithstanding this, hearts were buoyant,
faces were cheerful and all were expectant.
Surmises concerning the weather were freely
exchanged, the fog was heartily condemned,
the last political news was discussed, and
thus the time passed, as the crowd gradually
thickened by constant arrivals, until tho train
came slowly down the track Now the stern
order TO embark was given and obeyed,
premonitory shrek from the engine was heard,
the brakes creaked and we were of. | can
not hope to give even faint idea ofthe beau.
ty Of all we saw. There WINS pleasing va.
riety in the landscape. The soft green mead
ows, the sloping plains, the mellow, golden
beauty Of the broad cornfeds as their tufted
tops rustled in the gentle breeze, the deep,
dark woods, the high hills with little white
villages nestled among them, the occasional
farm houses with great red barns attached, as
they passed in review before US, and the ma.
jestic mountains, as "far, vague and dim,h
they first burst upon our vision, awakened the
liveliest sensations ofpleasure. So much were
We occupied indeed, that we scarcely had
time 10 notice theyery ungentlemanly, not to
say barbarous, uproar kept up by two or three
boobies at one end Of the car, which under
other circumstances would have been very
annoying For a moment we wished that
some generous individual would provide few
free excursions for the benefit of such people.
We thought that if they were taken from home
few times they might possibly learn to be-
have. But we were ascending the mountains.
Our progress was slow and steady. The labor
seemed difficult, yet our beast Of burden never
faltered. Up the long hill he labored; round
the deep curve he went; high as we could
look there seemed still submits to be attained.
Still, on dashed the resistless, treless steed,
until, with a scream of delight, he rushed
over the summit and sped down into the val
ley before him. Many were disappointed be-
cause Of the obscurity which shrouded every.
thing. The fog had grown denser and denser,
and much Of the beauty, We doubt not, wns
hidden from our view. Yet such sights a. we
were able to obtain of Nature, yelled as she
was, were impressive and overwhelming
The mountains are beyond description wild
and rugged. There is something in those
mighty masses Of shaggy rock, as they tower
up, up, far above us, some of them almost
perpendicular, that is, to me at least, awful
and sublime, and the very gloom which hung
over them lent additional majesty to their
presence. pity the man who can look upon
them unmoved by a sense Of noarness to God,
and without being overwhelmed with the vast
ness Of his Creator, and the insignihcance OF
himself How trivial, how limited that mind
of his when compared with the intellect which
conceived il and these wonders, and the
power which spake them into being And
| yet, when God reared these mountains, mas.
siye and mighty though they are, he gave man
dominion over them, and that mind that can
| weigh them in scales" that can govern even
their ruggedest aspects SO as to traverse them
by rail and by tunnel, that can command them
to yield up their treasures of minerals and
scenery for its benefit until they obey, is not
contemplate. No like Byron,
II love not man the less, but Nature more,
| From these our interviews in which steal
| From all / may be or have been before,
To mingle with the Universe and feel
What can meier express, yet cannot all
conceal
But your pardon readeri my depression is
lengthy. As have said, many were disap.
pointed because of the thick mist covering
everything. Thus it was while ascending
but just as we reached the summit, the sun
sheared through the sea of vapors that had
ciouded out vision, and in moment, the
whole mountain and the valley below, for
miles on miles, far up into the interior of
Pennsylvania, was bathed in flood of light
and glory. Over the shaggy sides the rugged
rocks, over the beautiful landscape. the white
villages with their slender spires, the distant
hills and the golden corn6elds, there played a
rich blush OF purple and vermilion, OF green
and gold upon which angels might have looked
with delight. How we wished that with one
stroke Of our puny hands we could sweep
away the trees and banks which prevented US
from having more than occasional gimpses
Of this paradise. Even the mist which many
had been quick to condemn, some even TO
curse, rendered the scene still more charm
ing, and when touched by the pencil of Apollo,
became magnificent representation OF that
silver lining which we know the clouds pos
sess. As it hoated away in patches scintil-
! liant with beauty, methought how like Heaven
1t would seem to lounge upon its crystal boz
som and gaze on Natures rarest handiwork
around and beneath us. These fanciful re.
Elections we're cut short by the rapidity with
which the scenes were shifted. The rate at
which we were flying soon hurried US to
the foot Of the mountain aud on 10 the end of
ourjourney. Williamsportis an ancient town,
apparently finished in the 18th Century SO
destitute was it, to our view, of any signs of
progress. We soon saw all its sights and
wendell our way TO the river. The scenery is
very pretty along the banks of the Potomac,
and the Canal is quite interesting. A bridge
spanned the Potomac at this point once, but
i was burned by Stonewall jackson during
the war. AT half past twelve we started on our
return to Hagerstown. This is pleasant little
cityand contains many fine churches, dwell.
ings and stores. The new court house also
attracted the attention aud elected the praises
Of all. 1t is a very fine building. The scene
from the top Of 1t is one of great beauty. At
half past four we were "homeward bound
again and had pleasant ride. The sun was
shining brightly, and the air was clear, but
there was wanting that happy combination Of
circumstances which had rendered the noun
tain scenery so sublime in the morning. II
is, however, at all times grand and impressive
and two young men who have Travelled great
deal told me that it was the finest scenery
they have ever seen on any railroad. Home
ward, homeward, we hurried, and reach home
about half past seven o'clock, truly delighted
with our trip, more deeply in love with our
own dear Maryland and more thoroughly pa.
triotic, If that was possible, than ever before.
WESTMINSTER, Sept. 2lst, 1874. J. II. d.