The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1877-07-14
LETTER FROM WHITE SULPHUR
SPRINGS.
Harper's Ferry and its Surroundings
The White Sulphur Springs, &c.
HARPER's FERRY, WEST VIRGINIA,


July 10th, 1877.
Dear Union ON the morning of July 4th your
correspondent found himself seated in one of the
passenger coaches of the B. & 0. r. R., vending
his way to this charming and delightful summer
resort. We left Baltimore at precisely a. m. and
arrived at Harpers Ferry, West Va, at IL M, dis
tant about So miles from the metropolis. Nothing
occurring worthy of note until we arrived at the
Ferry, which certainly requires more than pass
ing notice.
The scenery around the Ferry has long been eel
ebrated for its granduer, and Jefferson has immor-
talized it in fine description said to have been
written on a remarkable rock that commands
magnificent view Of the Shenandoah and Potomac
rivers. The rock itself is wonderful freak of ma
ture and it is regarded by the inhabitants with
pride for its being great natural curiosity, and
with generation account of the tradition among
them, that seated on it, Jefferson wrote his notes
Virginia. 1t is therefore called "JefersOn's
Rock" little further on and we view the Mary
land Heights, now so famous in history, and on
the other side the Loudon Heights frown majes-
tcally, and Imagination might easily picture them
as guardian giants defending that portion of the
noble Valley of Virginia The Maryland Heights
rise in successive plateaus to altitude of thir-
teen hundred feet. The Loudon Heights not
so lofty, but the ascent to them is difficult, and
consequently the foot of man seldom treads them.
They present more primeval appearance of rug
gedness than the Maryland mountain, circum-
stance which compensates to the tourist for their
inferiority in height. Between these two ramparts
in gorge of savage grandeur, the lordly Potomac
takes to his embrace the beautiful Shenandoah
The former river rises in Western Virginia, and
tumbling from the Alleghanies in an impetuous
volume traverses the northern extremity of the
Valley of Virginia, forming the boundary between
it and the State of Maryland. At Harpers Ferry
it encounters the Blue Ridge at right angles, and
receives the tributary Shenandoah This is the
scenery of which Jefferson said that "sight of it
was worth a voyage across the Atlantic;" and no
one with the least poetry in his soul will consider
his assertion extravagant 1t is truly a sublime
spectacle, and Imagination lends its aid to the re-
ally wonderful appearance of the scene. On the
rugged cliffs on the Maryland and Loudon sides
supposed to be seen, sculptured by the hand
of Nature, various shapes and faces. Every ami
NAL of Nature fable is here portrayed to the eye
of Faith. On one rock on the Maryland side is
good face, with an expression of gravity, which
with some other points of resemblance, will remind
you of George Washington, and strangers can fire.
quently be seen intently gazing on the mountain
in search of this likeness. Be this it may it is
a scene of awful sublimity, and it well deserves
the many panegyrcs it has received from the ora
tor and poet.
Harper's Ferry derives its name from Robert
Harper, who a native of Oxford, England
In words language is totally inadequate to describe
the beautiful scenery here presented.
During our brief stay here we were enjoying the
hospitality of the Mountain View Hotel, under the
management of Mr.. G. w. Green, assisted by his
genial and agreeable clerk, Mr.. S. P. Spencer
The table is unsurpassed, and we would willingly
have tarried longer but "being on pleasure bent
of frugal mind, and on the 9Th we find
we are safely landed at Jordan's White Sulphur
Springs under the excellent management of Mr..
E. c. Jordan. These Springs situated about
26 miles from the Ferry, and the ride is magnif-
cent, the scenery all along the Shenandoah Valley
being grand and beyond human comprehension.
We arrived in time to partake of a sumptuOus sup
per, after which strOlled over the beautiful
grounds to view the different objects of interest,"
The guests here are the most agreeable and sOcia
BILE, causing your correspondents brief stay to be
one of pleasure and happiness The table is
filled with all the good things of life that the heart
of man need desire. The water is noted for its
healing properties, and altogether really the best |
watering place for summer tourists in Virginia.
But our time was limited and we were compelled |
to reluctantly take our departure on the train ar
irving in Baltimore at $50 on Tuesday last, feel
ing refreshed from our journey to this delightful
and healthful resort in the "0ld Dominion"
Yours, II.