Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1876-04-08
A Flying Visit.

boarded the early train at Piedmont for
Frostburg. Placing umbrella and valise
silently and majestically in the rack We
sank upon the luxurious cushions that add
so much to the comfort of travellers upon
the Cumberland and Pennsylvania Rail
road, and were soon asleep. But, no sooner
asleep than again awake, we "saw another
sight" A tall, handsome gentleman stood
over us With little effort he said:
Ticket, sab"
We handed him our
white slip strip for few miles fare,
And he punched in the presence of the pas
senjare"
Erelong the brakeman cried "Lonacon.
ing" We inquired of a jolly fellow-travel-
er who seemed to know everything in these
parts
"Why does tie train stop here?"
co." he said, "the Express messenger has
a package of the Georges Creek Press from
Chicago, and they put it off here for distri-
button" Continuing, he said: II am my
self subscriber for the Press, but I have
my copy mailed direct from Chicago, which
gives me three-quarters of the edition
week in advance of all the other subscribers.
The remaining blank quarter use for cal
culatlons so, you see, it is good for
something"
Relieved of this burden the train soon
arrived at Frostburg We stepped upon
the platform of the Grand Combination
Passenger and Freight Depot and ran
against a circlet of gilt letters which crown
ed the alabaster brow of some fathers pride,
and we wondered-is everything about this
town "grand ?" But the competing cries
of "Frostburg Hotel" "McCulloh House
passenger and baggage delivered free of
charge" fell upon our ears from all Sides
and as we intended sojourning only
until next train we permitted the closely
curtained barouches to go up without US.
Handing our valise to the accommodating
agent, we passed on, umbrella in hand, up
the gentle decllvity to see the town. At
the corner of the Frostburg Hotel we stopp-
ed and dared to look down and then to pre-
vent Understanding we tried to look over
the Odd Fellows Temple. But it was "no
co. We wondered why the authorities
don't erect derrick or an elevator for the
accommodation of both passengers and
freight that ought to be landed in town in
stead of the Grand Combination. And
then we conjectured. like travellers viewing
the Pyramids-how massive edlfices like
Centennial Hall are erected ON such high
greund-how the materials are first brought
up and then elevated to those higher levels.
This is an interesting outlook more
can be seen from this corner in five min
utes after train time than during two
years tour thro ugh Europe, Asia, Africa
and the Holy Land We looked up and
down; many objects filled our vision the
town must have been "transmogrifed"
since last we were here. The houses really
touched each other, and, above all, stood
Centennial Hall. Why our head hasn't
reached its natural level yet from trying to
look oyer the under curtains of the upper
windows to catch glimpse of the goats,
hobgoflins, skeletons, and Kuklux, gala
hooning promiscuously through that mys-
ferrous chamber. 1t reminded us forcibly
of Tam O'Shantcr and old Kirkalloway-
but you mustn't think We had on any of
what Tam had, or the Maryland Legislat-
ure at its adjournment.
Since the first Inauguration of President
Grant we have never observed so many
women standing in so many doors and
hanging out of so many windows-all look
ing at the 'passenjares." The children on
the streets and pavcments were So numer-
Gus that Il man remarked it was useless to
attempt to count them unless we had
patent extension enumeration table. We
inquired-how their mothers knew them.
He replied, smilingly-"by their voices"
The next excitement that arrested our
attention was the inevitable dog-tight In
this regard Blacklane. N. Y, is nowhere,
compared with the future capital of Mineral
county. A strange dog yelped and in less
time than you can get your two eye-lids
together that dog was ready for the sausage
stutIer. And then we heard an "undevout
astronomer across the way swear that "the
Dog Star had fallen p We know the dog
had.
Walking up street we found boy stand
ing on an iron stairway outside of an I'M
posing brick building. He said
"1ist up them steps is the printing Off ce
and they've got new press"
We took out our memorandum book to
take notes and-"Faith, we'll prent EN-"
Right here we heard man reading an ac-
count of your municipal election from the
fresh and reliable" Ne,os) paper
''Six republicans for Councilmen and a
citizen for Mayor"
bystander said the new board would
"cinder the streets" o, how my heart
went out with these people as they looked
forward to the glorious prospect of a re-
sumption of the iron business for there's
not been cinders enough yet burned to fill
that mudhole! The fact is, if iron manu-
facture is resumed it is not for the iron
cincler is what these people want.
Nearly every other man we met, except
n l.