Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-07-19
The Washington Excursion.


was very pleasant one. and though not
more than twenty five persons started from
Stau nton, among whom were Misses Fan
ME Smith, Emma Sweet and Mamie Jack
son, Messrs Frank Stribling, en- route to
Europe, and Messrs. II. M. McIlhany, j.
d. Hounihan and A. r. Alderman, the
party was swelled by accessions at every
station between this place and Harper's
Ferry until there were over two hundred
aboard the train. just enough to be pleas
ant and not too many to make it disagree
ably crowded. The brass band from Har-
risonburg got On at that place and treated
the company to some fine music On the
route and ut their quarters in Washington.
But for the contemplated excursion to the
Sunday School Convention in Staunton
next day, there would have been very
large number of Washington excursionists.
Supervisor J. II. Averill was in charge of
the excursion and with his usual good
management landed the party in Washing
ton before one O'Clock in excellent time
and spirits. During their stay in Wash
ington, the party, Notwithstanding the
heat, enjoyed themselves greatly, visiting
the capitol, the Potter committee room
them included Mt. Vernon in their pro
gramme, a most delightful trip to those
who had never visited the home and tomb
of the immortal e. W. Among the latter
were two enterprising Staunton youths,
who spent most of their time searching the
elegant old fashioned garden and extensive
grounds for the historical cherry tree that
the youthful e. W. hacked with his hatch
ct, and in cutting cane trophies which the
Mt. " attendants would not permit them
to bring away.
The party returned home on Friday and
Saturday, some of them making a very
pleasant stop at the Jordan White Sulphur
Springs, near Winchester. A ride of a
mile and half from Stevenson s, in one of
MIR. Jordan's comfortable omn1buses on an
excellent road brings the visitor to one of
the most pleasant and quiet summer re-
treats in the mountains, long famous for
the efficacy of it's waters, the excellence OF
it's bill of fare and the courtesy of it's pro-
pretor.
There is an ''annex" to this establish
ment, of which no other watering place in
the State can boast.-This is the Bee Cot
tage Apiary, of which the springs pro
prietor, Mr.. e. c. Jordan, is the presiding
genius. He seems to be as much at home
among his hundred bee hives and his mil
lion bees, as his cook is in his kitchen. The
yield of honey is several thousand pounds
year, and after supplying the hotel table
with an abundance of the amber sweet a
large quantity finds d ready market in the
neighboring cities. Taking the honey is
an interesting process. and is xecuted In
Judicious manner by the bee robbers who,
protected by wire hats and long cloth
capes, pass among the hives, rapidly lift
ing the box covers of the smaller glass
cases, several being under one cover. when
from the weight and appearance the full
cases are readily selected and set aside,
and the remaining ones left to the further
attention of the little manufacturers"
In Il short time several hundred pounds Of
the sweetest, richest, and whitest honey
was transferred from the hive to the adj
jacent store room. The outraged bees.
meanwhile, making frantic but harmless
attacks upon their mailed despoilers. or
crawling despondingly over the wreck OF
their wealth. were driven off by smoke in
jected from hand bellows and, as if in
remembrance of the ''spilt milk proverb,
returned to their labors. GLOW doth the
little busy bee?"