Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-10-21
NOTES OF A SINNER TRIP.

of even our most partial friends are often
doomed 10 meet with disappointment We
are rot always equal TO the task Of making
original observations, or even the effort TO be
entertaining whilst recording what we see
on a summer trip. Nevertheless, in Accord
snce with my promise TO give you a written
account Of my recent fying tour 20 the ALE
ghaDy mountains and the Blue Grass re-
gion of Kentucky, / send you this my first
contribution.
Leaving Washington on the evening Of
June oath for Deer Park, on the summit of
the Alleghanies, reached there the next
morning in time for breakfast. This was
the first step I'm my contemplated journey TO
Kentucky, FASTENED somewhat, il is true
fICm the fact that was for the first time i'm
my life an invalid seeking relief from the de
bili;sting heats of the city.
Deer Park is an admirable summer resort
situated on the summit of the Allegheny
mountains, in Maryland, at an elevation Of
2,SO0 feet above tide. 1t was established,
and is at present owned by the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad company. The boteI-a
frame building of four stories and pleasing
architectural design-is fitted up with all the
modern improvements, and has a capacity
for the accommodation of something over
three hundred guests. The house is now
under the management of a polite agent
Mr.. John Daily. Mr.. ID. is a popular aud sx-
perienced caterer, and was for many years
The proprietor OF the well-known Glade
House al Oakland, point six miles further
west, on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
His own house was destroyed by fire last
winter. IN addition to the hotel proper, there
are number OF cottages on the grou ad,
which are occupied by families. Our fellow
toTnsman, X. 4. Merrick, esq, with his fam
lily, is Quartered in one OF the largest. The
railroad company Is about To build a large
hotel at Oakland, which IS TO be of briek
trimmed with Cheat river stone, and is To
have all the modern cOnvenences and will
afford accommodations for six hundred
guests. There can be but Hole doubt that il
Will be well filled from the month of June 70
the close Of the month of September.
MOUNTAIN sANIrARIUMS FOR THE POOR.
My sympathies have been so frequently
aroused in behalf of persons in i'll health.
and especially the really suffering aud
weakly infants and children of our large
cities during the hot season, am inclined
to make the following suggestion in their
interest: That afflicted children as well as
aoultS would be greatly benefited by re-
moval from the city during the hot IN onJhs
is row an admitted fact. Ia view of this
would be greatly pleased TO see cheap cot
taeeS erected somewhere on the Alleghany
mountains in order that the cost of such a
removal may be within the reach of the
great body of the people with small means
who could retire thltheT with their ch lldren
during the hot season. Hotels must of ne
while their associations, too, enforce extray-
sgant tastes and expensive habits which are
neither favorable 10 the physical or moral
good 10 the class to be benefited by mountain
resorts. Although foreign 10 the subject of
this letter may be pardoned for calling at
tention TO the matter. l believe that wis
dom and philanthropy ought TO throw their
whole influence in favor OF cheap frame
dwellings in the mountains or elevated
places by the poor for summer occupancy.
These cottages should not cash more than
- al he
families OF very mCderate income, who
could adopt mainly their own style or liv-
Ing; have plain and cheap furniture, or the
occupants of these cottages might bring
their own furniture with them from their
city homes. The fact ought to be generally
recognized that the impaired health and
prCstration OF people residing in the cities
during the summer is mainly due To the ex-
cessive heat. A complete immunity from
this cause may be obtained in a six-hours'
ride from the Atlantic coast TO the SUBMITS
of the Alleghanies. Should such cheap
dwellings ever be built and offered for rent
no family need suffer or sacrifice the lives
of the children for want OF a cool summer
home.
THE BENEFIT OF MOUNTAIN AIR.
There were about forty guests az the Deer
Park hotel when / arrived, but each train
from the east and west brought accessions to
the number, so that very shortly the house
was well filled. 1t is difficult for persons
residing in the cities along the Atlantic coast
or in the valley of the Mississippi TO realize
how cool IL is at this elevation The sun
may shine ever SO warmly and brightly up
here on the mountains, but there Is always q
cool breeze, which makes exercise in the
open air agreeable and inviting. The warm
est part OF the day Is usually between the
hours of q. m and II m, when the breeze is
lighter than al any other time. But even at
these hours the thermometer rarely ever
the atmosphere here, however, will not seem
SO strange when it is remembered that for
every go feet of perpendicular ascent the
thermometer is found generally TO indicate
temperature one degree lower PHYSICIANS.
as well as the public, are fast coming to the
conclusion that for the health Of infants ana
the mountains are by far preferable to the
sea shore or any summer resort of but slight
elevation above the sea.
Quite number of the guests at Deer Park
nave their horses and carriages. Among
tIose whose turnOuts we noticed was that OF
MI. Gather, OF Cincinnati; Mr.. Merrick, OF
Washington. and several Baltimore families.
Inc mountain roads are comparatively
smooth, shady and safe, and on account OF
these advantages and the bracing air there is
much horseback riding by the young ladies
and gentlemen. There is livery stable
connected with the hotel, where very gOoi
saddle horses and carriages are furnished
upon short notice.
In the woods west OF Oakland there was
great variety of wild flowers in full bloom.
The musk scented bush hOneysuckie was
very plentiful and attractive, and the rhodo-
dendrOn or laurel, OF different varieties fes-
TONED the edges Of all the streams. IL may
not be generally known that the very re-
markable and abundant growth of this beau
tiful Towering shrub Qaurel) gave name TO
one OF the principal ranges OF the a palachian
chain OF mountains.
MOUNTAIN SCENERY.
The scenery OF this region is particularly
grand and impressive, and more especially
over the mountain division Of the b. 4 o. r
R, where the panorama seen from the win
dow Of the car is Overlapping md pic.u-
rescue In the extreme. and the climax OF the
beautiful and impressive is reached on the
western slope and along the Cheat river,
which is crossed by substantial iron bridge.
The Cheat river rises on the western side
OF the Allegheny mountains, and drains a
large section OF country lying between the
Allegheny, the Savage and Laurel noun
tains, cutting through them deeply, and
flowing of 70 the northwest, where IL Joins
the MOnOngahela river shortly after IL cross
es the southern border Of Pennsylvania.
While travelling through this section I
learned with surprise that coal In being
shipped In gleat quantities by the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad from ~ Far as Grafton,
and perhaps nom points still further west
The double track OF steel rails IL now nearly
completed throughout the whole extent OF
the mountain division OF the road The vi.
dening of the road bed through the deem cuts
81