West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-06-01

FROM UNION DISTRICT.
UNION DISTRICT, May 81.

Several weeks having elapsed
since your correspondent was heard
from through the ARGUS, we trust
that few "way-side" iottings may
not be wholly without interest.
ON THE WING.
Since writing our Last letter to the
ARGUS we have been ION the wing"
but not on "bust" as the veners-
Die Darter family would have you
believe, nor gathering moose" for
Nancy az Hampton" in wild
reak asserts. It's our private opin-
ION that Nancy Darter is able to
manage the moose department
without our help.
OUR BAMBLEs.
In our rambles through the far
famed Valley Of Virginia, the all
describing topic of conversation was
the unpreced ented hard times. Pol
tiles is rarely spoken of, only in con.
nection with the hard times. The
prospect Tor a splendid harvest is
very fine, especially in Jefferson,
Frederick and Hampshire counties.
In portions Of Berkeley county the
wheat is evidently suffering from
rust and fly.
MARTTNsBURG
evidences more thrift and enterprise
than perhaps any other town in the
Valley. The city" boasts a hotel
second to none in the State. The
Grand Central was opened three
months since to the public. 1t is
arge, commodous honse, elegantly
furnished. The fare is unsurpassed
and charges, moderate.
HARPERs FERRY.
This once thriving town is new
the most thoroughly dilapidated
place l ever saw. Countless buz-
yards haunt the dizzy heights and
look down upon a silent town as
they make their lofty and oft re-
peated circuit from Maryland, Lou
doun and Bolivar heights. An eff
fort is being made to induce English
capitalists to erect large print works
on the armory ruins. which will, if
successful, iniuse new life in the
place.
JEFFERsoN's ROCK
Having little leisure time, we
climbed Bolivar heights to see the
celebrated Jefferson Rock, upon
which the historian says, Thomas
Jefferson sat when he composed his
notes on Maryland and Virginia.
From this rock you have magnif
cent view of the Shenandoah and
Potomac rivers for several miles
The rock is from ten to twenty feet.
the roof RESTING on four pillars
Thousands Of names are cut and
carved in the rock by persons striv
ing for notorietv and greatness, not
by emulating the example and no.
BILE deeds of the illustrious founder
Of the Democracy, but by carving
their name where great man once
sat as he gazed at the foaming wa
tsrs beating against the rocks be-
meath him, ever laundering and
dsshing onward toward the ocean
Whilst looking at that rock, we
could not but think of the mighty
change, political and otnei wise
which has come over the American
nation since Jefferson sat and view
ed the grand and majestic scenery
at Harper's Ferry. Had we to-day
Thomas Jefferson at the nations
helm, astill 'mightier' change would
come over the face oil the American
people. Thieves and plunderers
would be hurled from high places.
The Government administered Tor
the whole people. Honesty and
economy in every department.
Fraud and corruption rebuked. -
Prosperity would egain bless tn
nation, and the oeaseless cry Of hard
times would no longer echo on our
mountains nor in our valleys. All,
all would be peace and plenty.
CHARLEsTowN
is place of perhaps eighteen hun
bred inhabitants. 1t wears the APP
pearance Of old town. 1t has ac-
CURED no little notoriety On &C
count OF the hanging Of John Brown
and bis CO. conspirators in 1859. The
spot was pointed out to US where
the gallows was erected. We con
versed with the sable gentleman
now well advanced in years, who
carted Brown coffin from the un-
dertsker q shop to the scaff id. We
asked him IT he witnessed the execu.
ton. His reply was, mo sab, I'd
seen Pusson hung afore, and I'm
never gwine to see another.
NEwTewN
IS pleasant place. located mid way
between Winchester and Strasbure
in Fl ederick county. We had
delightful sojourn Of twenty four
hours at this place where we met
| old frlenla and fnrnn cd -. $1,000.