Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-05-07
5qrrit Of getferson,
TUESDAY MORNING, MAY Z, 1875.
LETTER FROM REDGEsVILLE.
HEDdEsvIIIE. Berkeley county, !
- April 9th. 1873. {

Mr.. HdReS You are pleased TO follow
me with the Spirit in my change of residence,
for which Distinguished consideration mako
my bow. Naturally, after residing in a town
or community ten consecutive years, one on
removing therefrom, would desire to know
what is going on in the li.tle world he has
left behind. And as the Spirit is so good
medium between the two worlds, this and
that, / shall welcome its weekly visits and
hold pleasant sednce with it.
think it was old Sam Johnson who visited
his friend Garrack the great English actor,
at his country seat near London. The great
actor took his philosopher friend around his
premises and showed him all the beauties
and charms of the place, the choice sta.unry
and paintings within, the beautiful flowers
and shrubery without-a very paradise to the
eye. After viewing all, the Old Sage ar
rested the actors attention and said, s.Ah,
Garrack these are the very things that make
it hard for man to die" don't think this
reminder need be given to Methodist Itin>
Grant, or one who has occupied the modern
tenement houses-rsther such will long for
"the house not made with hands,"
Hedgesville, of which most of your readers
wot not, lies in the county of Berkeley,
miles due west from Martinsburg, mile
from the B. & O. railroad, from which it is
distinctly seen, aud about 20 miles in an air
line from Charlestown. 1t is neat, cleanly
town of about 400 population, prettily To-
Gated in decided indentation of the North
mountain, which is plainly seen from the
elevated points of Charlestown in its blue
line against the North. It is really built on
the mountain, and yet the approaches to it
are very short and moderate in ascent, the
high spurs Of the mountain coming to q
gradual terminus just above the town, and
wasting away in moderate hills to the Poto-
mac, miles off. From tho summit of tho
spur, with a good glass, to tho east can be
seen Hagerstown, Charlestown and Martins
burg. | do not know of a moro extended
and charming panoramic view, than opens to
the eye from the village and the immediate
heights; in its sweep reaching 80 or 40
miles, combining the works of nature and
| those of man-your own Blue Ridge stretch
ing away into Pennsylvania ; the beautiful
|, Potomac winding its course oceanward the
grand trunk railway, the b. Il o., bearing its
| immense passenger and freight traffic in long
trains almost hourly to and from the far West
whilst fertile and productive country
moderately undulating; just now donning
the rich verdure of spring, making land,
scapo unsurpassed, "a thing of beauty, JOY
| l..
| Its denizens breath the pure mountain air,
! drink the pure mountain water-the prepou-
derating element being soft, with slight ad-
mixture of limestone-whilst the natural
drainage is superb, the gentle declivity on
! either side afFording complete sewerage
I do not know place-where tho streets pre-
sent so clean a sight. The town is incorpo-
rated, and right well do the authorities wear
their laures. No compromise with flesh and
! blood is their motto. a statute once enacted
| is executed without abatement, and porker
dare not grunt outside of his pen, summer or
,cinter. On last Saturday tho citizens held
| their yearly election for corporate officers
| Two tickets were in the field, anti liquor and
! lqnor, or whether license to sell in tho corpo~
| rate limits should be granted. The no-license
party triumphed, and so it continues for
another year as it has been for years past, a
temperance to,cn. Tho temptation is thus
put away from the young, and drunken man
on the street rara aViS. Two good things
accomplished, 1 think.
The religious and educational facilities of
Il Q town are ample. Three good substantial
churches afford abundant sittirgs for the
whites, and the colored people have > COM
| Portable house of worship of their own
Rev. Mr.. LeavOl serves the Episcopal con-
| gregation. a private female boarding school,
with three public ones, also oolored one,
meet the wants of tho rising generation
| Seven months is the limit of tenure of the
public schools here.
In business way the place is dull. Its
close proximity to Martinsburg, the county
seat, takes away much of its trade, and yet
1 think little outlay of capital and enters
prise would break the spell. Why the two
tanneries of the place with their advantages
of cheap bark and labor should be idle,
whilst the business pays elsewhere, even
with the disadvantage of getting their bark
from this section one of the merchants hero
having a contract to supply 500 cords Of
bark for Frederick city, Md. So it might
be here as elsewhere, push and enterprise
would be great help, aud ye. this story iu
business is but the cry everywhere in city,
town and village. Yours, &C.,
TIMOTHY.