Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1879-01-11

we piled slol'y number Of Us, whilst ma
ey others clamberei upon the locomotive-the
Pullem car-and still others comfortably occa-
pied impr3y.ssl seats Of cross-ties upoa fat
car--anl were quickly s.eaning along at the
rate OF more tbla tweaty miles Al hour overa
road passing through as lovely a country as
the sun ever shoae up1n. Along to our right
stretched ,ls b,ll.iilI Blue Rdge-" our IA
tive bills "-clelr'y defined against the deep
azure Of the uuclouI-d heayeus-smil.eg val
leys, anl thick woods despoiled, Indeed, of
their summer robe Of green bu, beautiful in
the grace Of messy trunk sad waving branch,
aatastically outlined in the pure clear atmos-
phers. Every half mile or less a comfortable
looking farm house. surrounded by is little
hamlet Of barn aud dairy aud courthouse aud,
perhaps, a dozen or 50 outhouses leut an air
IF busy cheerilless to the landscape. and
scarcely had we taken in an its varied lowell
ness ere our train stopped at Shepheristowa.
As tweaty-uiue minutes after leaving Charles
town we entered that famous old burg-grand-
mother 90 many a city counting its hundreds
Of thousands Of inhabitants aud its scores Of
railroad iaes-saihusnsti ladies' waysl their
bAaiSerchie,s the bands played, the bells
rung. aud hundreds of the citizens assembled
20 receive aud welcome Us to their hspitali-
ties Immediately a procession was formed
uoder the mlrshalship Of Col W. \. Morgan,
assisted 5y Messrs Hrrison, Rsnich and
others, aud preceded BY Criswen's Coruet
Band Of Shepbetdstown and the Mechanics
Silver Baad of Caarlestown, marched 70 Sbep-
beri College Building
Upon the assembling Of the throng, iuclu-
iing many ladies, Benz F. Harrison, Esq,
called the meeting to order and per prc-a;-
ranged programme, requested Jno H. little,
Esq. TO preside Nj 2. ascerded Tie plat
iorm and 10 a brief bu, pertinent and happy
manner assumed the duties Of The Chair lie
announced Hon. Geo. NJ. Beltzhooyer rs the
gentleman chosen to deliver the " Address Of
Welcome aud admirably did he perform the
pleasing service lie preiacod bis remarks by
words somewhat in nature Of an apology for
the exuberarce Of feeling manifested ly the
citizens-,ha, the people before him, who had
an their lives long known the blessings aud
advantages Of railroads and telegrapbs, could
hardly be expected to euter into the feelings
Of those who had been without them Shep-
herdstowu vas one hundred and foriy-nne
years old-wls tLe scene Of the first success
ful experiment 10 steamboating- the latter q
theme upon which be would not eater to the
presence of Hon. A. r. Boteler, the able al
yocate Of Justice 90 James Rumsey-l founded
Ia 1890. uow Tor the FIRST time with a railroad 2
This day had been long and anxious'y looked
for, aal tho people were excusabls for their
en,husiasm-=as much so as boy with his first
pair Of b OTIS. Ike referred gracefully 70 Shep-
herlstown-,o the beauty aud fertility Of It's
surroundings to It's historic memories and It's
proverbial hospitality and De nigh, have sail
much Of i,s reputation for beautiful AMI nc
complsaed women Tie spoke hopefully Of
the future of Sherherlstowu, and concluded
by extending Che hospialitios OF the town TO
Che invited guests before him, and would have
them remember that iu the future, rs now. the
latch strings Of the homes Of Shepherlstown
would always be out, aud hearty welcome
within COL Z. l.. B9yce, Vice President Of
the S. V.R. t., in the absence of President
Mines respo nded oo The part Of the Company
o. the address of welcome. tie began by say
ing that be felt Ikea fish utof water, but his
audience was not slow in Observing that be
was TO Dis e'ement-lLe fact is he wasn't
troubled about being one Of water" He
managed 90 get ou swimmius'y aud % the de-
light OF everybody. His speech was a charac-
ter.stc 0le-very witty, b-ist';ng with good
points Any attempt at a synopsis would be
a failure. lie regretted the absence Of Pres-
dent Wu M.lnes-paid a very handsome
tribute Oh bis wor,h-rcforrai 70 him as a
Christian man, Phihuthropist and energetic
working man, the latcaet Of whose shoes be
was unworthy 20 loose lie then alluded %
some o. tle obstacles that hal been put 10 the
way IF Che construction Of the road. but con- |
s.ledng ,he trib1'tious 90 which be bad been 1
subjected along with his co-aborers 10 the en-
terprize be spoke bumorously aud effectively /
and eucouasias'y. lie sail 40 corporate body /
had ever been Sd bese, by plrlsi,es-,hey were
as numerous as baruacles upon an OLD ua-
seawort.y bulk.
lie complained Of NJ one Individual. but
threw The mantle Of charity over those who
impelel che progress Of The enterprise-thev
knew a't VIA, they dil, they were not wise
ia thv science Of building railroads. He took
especis! pleasure. aai we honor him for it, 10
tesdyins b the flelity Of Hoo Alexander r.
Blte'er 90 the interests Of the road and espe-
ca..y O. tde Interests Of Shopherlstowu; 10 his
uaa.urus faith IN the achievement Of the
srea, work. ana be- as wei As others. looked
lp'a tas ce.ab--1aof IA accomplished fact
as p-1ii hy Or. an pa,l,nr'y -ratcfsl to
.ae aear, % ci.Bls.er. Cll Bryce elve
'a- ea-.srlsas 4,em.us concerning the