The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-10-16
THE NATIONAL Road DAYS.
The Stages from wheeling to Cumber
land-Reminiscenees Of Old Times For.
ever Gone.

1
illustrated article on the "Old Nation
al Pike" from which the following
taken:
The national turnpike that led over th
Alleghenies from the East to the West |
glory departed, and the traffic that ono
belonged to 1t now courses through othe
channels; but it Is not simply because it i
past that the few old men living who hay,
"reminiscences OF it glow with excitemen
aud exalt 1t in recalling them. Arouset
out Of the dreamy silence Of their ebbinI
days by suggestion Of It, the octogenari
ans who participated in the traffic will
tell an inquirer that never betor,
were there such landlords, such tav
erns, such dinners, such whisky, suct
hustle or such endless cavalcadel
Of coaches and wagons as could BIZ
seen or had between Wheeling and Fred
erick In the palmy daysof the old national
'pikeI and 1t Is certain that when coach,
Ing days were palmy, no other post-road
In the country did the same business as
this 1ne old highway, which opened the
West and Southeast to the East. The
wagons were so numerous that the leaders
OF one team had their noses in the trough
at the end OF the next wagon ahead; and
the coaches, drawn by four or six horses,
dashed along at speed Of which mod.
ern limited express might not feel asham.
ed Besides the coaches and wagons,
there were gentlemen, travelling singiy ia
the saddle, with all the accoutrenents
OF the journey stuffed into their saddle.
bags; and there were enormous droyes OF
sheep and herds OF cattle, which raised
the dust like 9 cloud along the path. Once
in while Mr.. Clay or General Jackson
made an appearance, and answered With
stately cordiality the familiar greetings of
the other passers.by. Homespun Dayy
Crockett sometimes stood in relief against
the busy scene, and all the statesmen 81 me
West and South-Harrison, Houston, Tay-
lor, Polk, and Allen among others came
along the road to Washington. The com.
pactness Of the traffic secured it from ma.
rauders to some extent but the traveller
by coach had his expedition spiced by the
occasional assaults OF highwaynIen, who
sprang out OF the cloistral pines that in
some places made perpetual night OF the
most bra2en day.. Nearly every mile had
Its tavern, and every tavern its pretty maid
oriovial host. "The eating was the cream
OF the earth, sir" said an old traveller tn
me: VI dined at Delmonico's last week,
and my dinner was nothing 10 the
venison outlets and the ham and
eggs and iohnny.cakes Of the pike"
which the reader may answer by saving
that tastes are variable and unaccounta.
Bile. Nevertheless, the cookery was ex.
cellent; and alter the exhilaration of a
gallop down mountain without brakes
and the tonic air OF the pines, what appe.
tite would not set on edge, what refine
ment OF palate dtspleased BY venison cut
lets, or even ham and eggs2 There were
rival lines OF coaches, and the comneii.
ton led to overdrivipg and. many acci.
dents. The passengers became psstisans
OF the line by which they travelled, and
execrated the opposition and It's patrons.
Sometimes two coaches Of different lines
would travel together, and as~one passed
the other the passengers in the vehicle
lett behind would threaten and deestlculate
against tho victors.
The rival lines brought rival tayerns into
existence, and as the two opposition
coaches drove into town for supper.
they pulled up before separate houses.
But despite the animosities and competi.
tton of the time, the survivors OF the Old
days nre united in giving credit for the
uniform excellence OF all the tayerns,
They were clean, spacious, generously
conducted, and in some Instances s SO dupa.
BY built that they are still in good con.
dition. Shenstone's lines must have
found confrmatory echo in many minds
as the coach whirled up before opa Of
them. The white facade was checkered
by the leaves al sheltering chestnut or
elm, and the fragrance Of the locust
mingled with the air. The glittering and
glIded sign swung out from one
OF the branches, and moss.erown
trough overhowed and trickled
melodiously before the porch, at one end
OF W hiCh an archway led into the stable
yard. The interior was substantially fur.
nished, without tiligree or veneer. The
The Iloors were sanded and the beams OF
the ceiling were uncovered. An hour be.
fore the coach was due the landlord was to
be found in little alcove OF the tap room,
transferring his liquors from demiiohns to
bottles, setting his glasses in single file,
and bidding his servants to make haste
with the supper, OF which there were
already prOmonitory odors OF the most an.
petizlng kind. AS the minutes to snare
were reduced, the servants increased their
activity, and the odors became more dis.
tinct. The villagers appeared at their
doors; for the arrival OF the coach, although
avery familiar event, acquired fresh in.
terest from day to day, and. as they
glanced toward the curve at the foot oi
the hill their anticipations were soon ful.
filled. Here IT came, ahead OF time, sway.
ing aud pitching perilously, the horses at
full gallop, and the driver swinging his
whip with pistol-like snap over their
heads. No sooner did mine host at the
tavern hear It than, with parting admo.
milton to the kitchen, he FASTENED to the
porch, and stood there with asmiling face,
the picture Of welcome, as the coaoh
roundedup under the elms and chestnuts.
and the driver threw his reius to the wait.
ing hostler,.
Most Of tho travellers were the iarmers
stock raisers and "merchandisers," Of NM
West, dressed in homespun, cloth and
buckskin; but a few indicated q familiari.
" with the usages Of polite pociety by
their costumes, and in the cast Of the
statesmen bound to Washington, It was the
custom to blend urbanity Of speech with
loftlness Of manner in such discreetly
measured proportions that the combins
tion preserved the dignity of the repre-
sentative and satisfied the self.esteem d
the constituent with q degree Of success
that might excite the emulation OF poIiti
clans in our own time. The reade,
need not be told how the landlords & smil1
expanded II among the passengers vht
alighted was General Jackson, nor will
what immense homage in bis manner tn,
simple Boniiace exclaimed, "How do yoI
do, General jackson, sIR?' and ben
double in obeisance to his guest nm
general was very popular along The road
and as he stood at the little alcoye bar Il
the taproom, drinking a 'horn" q q
whisky before the supper, be affably chat