The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-05-01
First Impressions OF Wheeling

We find the following Wheeling cor.
respondeuce" in the Northern Chrisiian
AirOeots published at Syracuse, n. Y
The writer will be recognized as the re.
Gently appointed pastor Of the Fourth
Street NJ. E. Church in this city. The
"impression5' Of DR.. George in regard to
men and things will! be OF interest to
many OF our readers
My DEAR Bro. WARREN After the
snow.covercd hills Of 0nondaga faded
from my vision, saw not the earth again
till | gNzed on the dry and snowless fields
Of Northern Ohio. was awSke, how.
ever, when we reached Ashtabula, and
inquired Of tho porter the name OF the
place. The question had to be repeated
before an answer was received, and then
it came sepulchraIly, "Ashtabula."
suppose the bridge ia tue safest on the
Lake Shore road, but shuddered as We
passed slowly over the fearful gulf, and
had a icelins Of relief when l knew we
were on the other side. We went south
east irom Cleveland, through rich and
diyersitied farming country, with grow
lug signs OF coming Spring. When We
entered the valley OF the Ohio, the farm.
ers were plowing in the fields, the sheep
and cattlewere grazing In the valleys and
on Tie hills, and some children came into
the car with their hands filled with wild
flowers.
Wheeling Is = dismal looking place as
you approach it IRON tho Ohio side Of
the river. 1t appears treeless and CON.
FORTRESS, 4 heavy cloud OF smoke hangs
over it, and your only impression il that
Of dirty manufacturing town. SOME
one remarked that it must be very
large city, for it had a river front OF from
six to eight miles, and extended back as
lar as one could see. This ID literally
true, for the hills come close 70 the river
and rise very high, The city therefore is
narrow, having its length up and down
the river. "The Island" aa everybody
here calls it, which occupies large
space between the old town and the Ohio
bank, ia now the Seventh ward OF the
city, and has many special attractions
for residence.
However, when one is coming 10 a
strange place TO make u home, the people
constitute the chief element Of interest.
This going amongst entire strangers is
apt to excite chilly feeling, and to pro-
duoe at least temporary inconsistencies.
We had just passed Alliance, in Ohio,
when l said to Mrs. George, II do moi
recall tho time when / have been in a
railway car and discovered no person
that lhad any knowledge OF whatever;
but l believe that here we are entire
strangers" had barely uttered the
words when | was greeted by DR.. William
Hunter, Of the Eastern Ohio Conference.
1t was delightful visit that we enjoyed
for the next few hours. DR.. Hunter was
Tor come time member OF the West
Virginia Conference, and was able to give
me valuable information. The Doctor
was editor Of the Pittsburgh Christian
Adrooate sixteen years altogether, though
not in consecutive terms. BE was for a
dozen years or more Professor OF Hebrew
and Biblical Literature in Allegheny
College, lie has been occupied, I
know not, how many years, in pas.
toral labor, and yet he looks as il
the ripcncss OF manhood was only
beginning to be realized. What keeps
him SO fresh is, perhaps, his kind heart
and poetic soul. "Joyfully, jOyfully,r
az home over there" and n number Of
other popular hymns from his pen. His
temperance songs arc thrilling the hearts
ot.men all over the land, and especially
in this great valley OF the Ohio. What a
bencfaCtor Of men is the originator Of q
good religious song! And now in the way
Of personal mention, let me speak word
Of Rev. Franklin Ball, who has been
transferred from this Conference to the
Central New York Conference. Brother
Balls acquaintance has been to me o
source Of great satisfaction. He is u
genuine man, an earnest Christian and 9
successful minister. He has been long
and tayorably known in this city. No
man could stand higher for integrity and
purity than Bro. Ball stands in this com.
munity and Conference. He will do good
work on any charge to which he may be
sent. Mrs. Ball Is also an earnest work.
ing Christian and lady Of fine presence
and powers ! bespeaE for them both a
warm welcome from the ministers and
churches Of the Central New York Con.
ference.
l was received by the good people Of
the Fourth Street Church in Wheeling
with quiet, thoughtful, unpreteudinC
kindness which greatly charmed me.
They met us at the depot with carriages
and took us directly to the parsonage,
which we found newly painted and pa.
pered and put every way in frst-class
order, and where 4 company Of perhaps
u dozen brothers and sisters gave us \
warm greeting, joined in our repast,
which was already prepared, and then
with kind wishes left us to rest in our
new home. The more l learn Of the
Church the better / am pleased. The
congregation is large and the members
arc mainly intelligent and cultured, rs