The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-07-31
Correspondence Ba!faors County CHioH.
A TRIP TO THE BLUE RIDGE.
Mr.. WASHINGTON, BALTIMORE corsrY,


July 2Oih, 1850.
Msssrs. Editors: Yestcrday a party Of about
twenty 1--WE persons, myself among the mum Der,
leit this quiet and beautiful village to spend few
cTn Maryland Railroad. Leaving here at s n ,n
We got oil the train at Union Depot, Baltimore,
and after waiting there n few minutes our W. ".
excursion train steamed up. II consisted Of eleven
coaches, drawn by two massive aud beautiful en-.
glnes' We were soon ON board and the train
started on with all In high spirits. After passing
throul b the tunnel VIC len the Monumental CITY
behind, threw up the ear windows and settled
back for grand days pleasure. We entered n
fertile and wcll.cuiiivated county through which
the train rushed with continually increasing rapid
tty, while We were busily engaged in survey ing
the beautiful scenery through which We passed
The views along the line Of this railway are not
surpassed by any that have seen.
Above Pikesvilie station short distance our
train was divided into two sections, one engine
taking six coaches and the other Eve. Our party
was In the former. As we Few along, passing
farms and farm houses, tho inhabitants pourrl
forth to salute US by the waving Of handkerchief
&c. This railroad docs not lie in "A hollow with
high hills on either side that you can see moth.
ing but woods aud rocks aud rocks and woods, but
through an open country where the eve can dis
tnguish objects miles and miles away Villages
could be seen In the distance, many miles from
where ne were. and churches with their lofty spires
dotted the country here and there. We passed
through thriving towns and villages. while large
hclds Of fine growing corn, now in full tasscl
formed n beautiful scene
The country between Baltimore and the Hue
Ridge mountains cannot be surpassed Rr bcauti.
full scenery. As We LEFT Union bridge the noun
tains doomed up before Us In the distance appcar-
ing as blue cloud. As We came nearer they
gradually lost their bucish cast and stood out be-
fore US in all their grandeur II being partly
cloudy the sun shonc on them in places only and
the other parts were dark. which rendered their
appearance to us still more grand. Soon We be.
gan to ascend them aud for n long distance Il ap-
pcaTed TO " n though we were running into the
jaws OF death. for We passed over wide aud deep
ratines On mere tTcstlc. work. and then We would
plunge into deep cut with rocks towering high
over our heads. One remarkable feature Of the
Rad u the famous "liorsc shoc Bend, which. by
the most skiiliul engineering, Is So constructed
that when one train IL ascending the mountain the
passengers may lock from IL into the valley and
see train moving in an opposite direction, form
ing an unusual spectacle.
We soon arrived Mt Pen Mar. n little over sew
cniy Zone miles FROM baltimore. After pnrtaking
Of dinner and Refreshments in Pen Mar Park We
entered hacks and were driven two miles further
ur the mountain To High Rock. on which there Is
built large and lofty observatory. We mounted
it, summit, being then 1000 feet above the level
Of the sea, and took n look. and what dill We sec!
Can tongue express IL, No. Can even the pen
of ready writer give n full description Of its
give even the faintcsi idea "f the scene upon which
our eyes fell There lay before u = vast cxpansc
Of country, tnrmin; of 1890 square inilcs.
combined under what are termed the Shcna nioah
aud Cumberland Valleys. the Shenandoah. ever
famous as being so thoroughly devastated In the
late National strife by Sheridan that il has been
said II crow wished 10 ly over il he would have
10 carry his grub with him. Far {" the west lay
stretched the INA sniiiccnt Aicghanian chain which
could scarcely be distinguished from dark cloud
obseurins the western skies. The Valley pre-.
scented the appearance of an immense garden with
green fields seeming to be but bed. ui vegetable
| The view extended rs far Is the eve could reach
either north or south. Large villages and towns
seemed 10 consist Of but few houses and they but
as large NJ dog kennels 20 the nnkcl eve. 4 team
going toward the west appeared o. u dark spot on
the ground and could only hr distinguished by IL
moving. The e. Y. Il. Il. could he traced for
miles. but unfortunately no train was in view
HascTstown could be seen. while scores of villages
dotted the Valley. Farms. well laid oil. with their
Tine dwelling houses and whiicwashcl outbuillings
and fences. showed signs 81 industry anl thrift
hut cannot begin 10 give the fantest idea IT it,
beauty. When person goes and sees for himself
he II lost w wonder anil Is forced 10 eXclaim with
the Queen Of Sheba. "Thc half was ne, told mc -
surely the wonderful works Of God are here man
| ifestcd.
After staying ON the observatory for about an
hour We Descended and rode down to the Park,
where VIC enjoyed ourselves for few hours. 4
large dancing pavilion has been erected aud those
who enjoy that amusement engaged heartily in il.
fine band discourscd elegant music. Swings
were to be had, while the man with his revolving
horses was also on hand. Croquct sets were free
TO all who wished to participate in a game. The
time to go 10 the station now arrived and We were
soon on our way back 20 the city. After a de-
lightiul ride Of three hours. our train rushing
down the mountains like n race horse, We were
hauled up at lIiilen Station AMI home once more
cal u Al gtf a.. gt.a 4.
blue Ridge. FREp. II.
The author OF the above /. "unly boy" a. he
expresses it, and ,hi, is hi. first a,,cmp, u, writing
Tor newspaper. There are few boys who could
do better and We hope our little friend will no,
weary in "cil-loing. remembering. how ever. that
"brcvity !. the soul Of wit."-Ensl