Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-12-18
AFTER MANY YEARS.

Eighteen years ago, during the tur-
moil and excitement of the early days of
the civil war, when troops were rushing
to the front, when parties were being
disintegrated and reconstructed, we
made our last visit to st. Clairsville
Although but nineteen miles away, with
a broad turn pike leading down to the
county town, and, later, a railroad con-
Meeting it with the outer world, we had
never sued or been sued, had little court
ing to do, and not until a summons
came, in the name of the State of Ohio
could we be tempted from our retire.
ment and induced to visit this Mecca of
the politicians and Office holder. So our
visit to the County Seat last week was
an important personal event. 1t was
the same to us as to Rip Van Wrinkle,
after his twenty years nap, with the i'm
portant exception that the village of st.
Clairsville, unlike Falling Water, had
made but few changes in its outward
appearance.
The first noticeable change about st.
Clairsville is the way of getting there.
We go on the Baltimore and Ohio to
Quincy, and there take the Narrow
Guage. The train consists of only one
car, one end for baggage, and the other,
with seats along the side, for passengers.
1t resembles one of the large street cars
of the cities. 1t serves the purpose of
transportation, but cuts off all chances
of viewing the scenery, which is said to
be attractive. * On leaving
the car, there stood the town before US
city set upon the hill which cannot be
hid; the old Court House resting upon
the highest hill in the centre, and an i'm
mense school building rising beside it
and dwarfing the less pretentious build
ings. We went to the National Hotel,
across the way, presided over by Mr..
Clark, the most attentive and careful
landlord we have seen for many a day
a model man in his business, whose
methods should be studied by many pro-
prietOrs of country hotels. He is always
on deck, and nobody ever has to ask
where's the landlord ?" The National
is one of the institutions of st. Clairs-
vile, and does its full share-a very i'm
portant share it is-towards making a
visit pleasant.
Looking along Main Street, we come
to the conclusion that this is a much
abused village. There are several fine
stores, especially dry goods and drugs,
as well filled and as nicely arranged as
in any town in the county. Nearly ev-
cry branch of retail trade is well repre-
Sented, and as much activity prevails as
in any towns of similar size. st. Clairs-
vile is the centre of rich agricultural
district, and does not depend altogether
upon the Court House for support. |
There are number of elegant residen-
ees, and there is scarcely house in the |
village that does not bear an air of Ie-
inement even under the bleak skies and |
surrounded by the bare trees of Decem-
Der. We can imagine that the place is
Iuite beautiful when the trees are cov-
cred with green and the gardens bloom
ng with roses. From the centre of the
village, we can look out over the sur
hills in nearly every direction
"a lovely landscape in any weather.
The fathers were wise when, "with all
he world before them, where to choose"
hey selected this spot as one of the first
,laces to settle. 1t was named in hon
II of Gen. st. Clair, the first Governor
f the Northwest Territory, and who
vas so disastrOusly defeated by the In
ians in Western Ohio in 1901. Nowhere
ould more healthy or beautiful spot
e found. 1t seems to have been a nu- /
leus for intellectual men. A number S
distinguished journalists was con- q
ected with her press, at their head