Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-05-17
THE MUSICAL PILGRIMS.
The Beginning Of the Exodus TO
the May Festival.

The ST. Lawrence eot away IN good
style Ct ave o'clock on Saturday, frelght-
ed with about 200 people. most OF whom
were pilgrims TO the Paris OF America,
intent on being present at the great
Nav musical festival 10 be held this
week. There were, however, quite
number OF persons who lamented the
ability 10 make the entire trip, and &C.
companied their more fortunate friends
part of the way, to make the separation
less abrupt and painful. Among tn's
number Was the writer.
The weather was delightful. The sky
WAS OF the brightest blue, the earth oil
the most vivid green and the sun shone
with Characteristic May ieryor, Its heat
tempered hy the cooling winds prevail
emf during the past week. Ii was truly
delightful. The excursionists, who
braysly bore the expected separation,
were dressed in keeping with the event
and weather, and natures smile was
mirrored in every face. The hurricane
deck was crowded with pilgrims who de-
sired TO cast one long, lingering look at
the land they loved SO we'll before
the brave vessel carried them
off to other lands and strange faces. Ana
the wharf was lined with spectators who
gazed upon their friends about to endure
the perils of a long voyage-upon the
faces of those they ne'er might see
again. copyright according to iaw.l
Finally the boat moved OIL. There
had been the last scramble, the usual
caresses, the customary return Tor the
unpunctual, but finally, the boat moved
off rounded out, and with banners NY
ing, waving handkerchieis and pealing
music. the voyage began. There
was quite discussion in our
Marty AS to how far We
should 20. We couldn't make up our
minds-some Of us had very large minds,
and IT took about week TO make them
M. But II was1inally settled, and with
souls AT rest We mingled with the throng
and looked and tried to feel we, too,
were going to Cincinnati to have good
time and study new scenes, manners
and faces.
After while the last friend had waved
adieu. the familiar outlines OF Wheel.
inv's vine clad and paw-paw covered
mills, had disappeared and with flowing
sheet" as some OF our travelled
-
companions expressed 1t, the
81. Lawrence was getting down
10 business. The pilgrims had disposed
themselves about the decks, Irritation
PARTIES had been organized and every
one WAS happy, or pretended to be. But
here came cloud. One OF our party
had been told that the Antiques had en-
gagged the cabin and Kramer exclusively,
for that evening. We were barred out
and We were recklessly unhappy. We
could dance and were moderately fond
of il, but this cruel cdict blighted our
hopes and We were sorry We hadn't
STAYED at home. We consulted and Il
uaily a deputation waited on Charlie
List. The story was told and to our JOY
il Was contradicted. The cabin was to
be general property aud We might
waltz, galop and quadrllleto our hearts
extent. OECe more joy Was the scep-
tired monarch OF the hour, aud We went
to supper with hearts at peace with
mankind.
In the evening We were singing in the
pilot house. Some pilots might object
Ia Wholesale invasion OF their quar-
ters in this reckless style; might object
To twenty people in their domain,
crowding them out on the roof, but
these did not They even seem
cd to like it, at least, dur
ing the music they were seen
tn laugh, and il could not have been at
the music. Impossible. But We did
not mind little thing like that. Was
not the night clear and the moon bright,
and We yuungp Were We not going to
Cincinnati on a pleasure tripP 80 We
sang; and the wind sank low and the
river frog hushed its wOoing to listen.
occasionally the whistle would uncere-
muniously come in with its tenor and
sing solo, but such powerful voice
was "a be respected.
Ii MAS pleasant to sit ahait the smoke
stacks and talk about the weather. So
pleasant was il that those who got there
first remained there all evening Their
talk reached, sometimes, TO the pilot
house, but they didn't know that, be-
cause they kept it up, which they would
not have done.
We did not dance much. The cabin
was cleared and at a late hour kramer's
monopoly set in, and the floor was
quickly filled with dancers. But by
this time We were away down the riyer
where, we did not know, having lost
our bearings the announcement
was made that the Mallie Ragon was in
sight This was to he our means OF
return and that waltz had to be- fore
gone. Away out in the darkness We
saw great eye, which rapidly bore
down upon us. A signal shrek from
the whistles aud tho speed checked;
another moment and the boats had
touched and the transfer was made,
We had lett the pilgrims and were
homewari bound. They watched us
until the darkness swallowed us up, and
then, perhaps, they went to bed.