Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-07-07
LCorre.pondenee Of DE Beacon. !


Correspondence Of the Beacon.
Messrs. Editors 1T was a bright and
fragrant morning in June, the Sun had
just passed through the purple gates of
the Orient. and from his golden casket
was strcwing radiant hin and boSky
deli with richest pearls and with Divine
Artists hand was painting foam-brll
and blllow with beanteous rainbows.
AT this enhancing hour, we found our
selves on the deck OF the Wenonah,
our hearts waving mayhaps fond fare
well TO The RobIe city OF monuments,
and our fancies projecting ouI anxious
gaze into the futures mystic realms.
Soon, the shrill blast Of whistle and
cIank Of chains, with gentle swaying
OF our gallant steamer betokcned that
we had left our moorngs and were on
the deep. Our trip lay downt The Great
Bay" and up the Patuxent. A vast city,
with her more than three hundred
thousand denizens, just awakening in
busting activity, stretching far behind
us; the majestic Chesapeake, flashing
like a molten sea OF gold, upon our en-
rapturcd visions the beautiful Pdtux-
cnt, ripping like a stream of silver far
below, ionncd by breeze as soft and
balmy as sigh Of yernal bloom, these
were well calculated 10 unseal the ioun-
tains OF emotion and STIR the magma
ton Of The most rock-bound soul and
indurated specimen OF humanity.
There is something solemn, touching,
grand ~ such al occasion. On our trip
we had beatty, music, romance, sacred
historic memories and epicurean edtbles.
We are 50 constituted that the structure
Of our sketch would be incomplete
without this last basal clemen.. We
saw on the one side, the Mason l..
Weems, now IN embryonic, un0cdged
state, destined soon 10 clcave with braZc0
Prov the ioamiug pillows, and outslrip
ousrapid wheel the 6eetest OF her kind.
We were soon down by McHcnry's
dungeon walls" Fort McHeury is a
polished and cultivated mound whose
circling base The blue patapsco ever
laves in her limpid wavelets. The can
non are stern and suggest "grim-vis-
aged war" yet this severity is Modified
by The tasteful architectural adornments
that crown IFS summit, aud the bright
flowers and rich shrubbefy that smile
and bloom upon its verdsnt slopes.
Just here, we seemed touched with an
unwonted thrill Of patriotism. We saw
in imagination to our left, "a British
squadron OF City sail" this was the van
dial Ross, who, shot by 'aeman, died
in the arms Of his aid. We seemed TO
hear the music of hat grand national
anthem, The star-spangled Banner,
rising DER the waters in IFS patriotic
swell. We remembered tbe immortal
Key, man OF rich poetic genius, brave,
noble and true the chiet ot an illus
trious line. These are historic grounds,
sacred to The memories of a Smith, a
Winder and Stricken. This is North
PoInt ii miles below the city. The
Bay was al before US. We turned our
farewell gaze towards the Queen City OF
the East, and there she reposed IN the
azure distance, with more than Roman
majesty and power, upon her tempted
hits and decorated slopes. The lofty
Washing ton Monument lifted its serene
summit 10 the clouds, until it greeted
the Sun in his royal course. The spires
of her sacred temples, twinkllng like
stars in the solar light all pointed with
unwavering finger towards the known
Cod" We saw little OF The Eastern
shore, as we closely Rugged the West
ern, in pursuance of the interests oil
traffic and trade. We soon descry &c
the West venerable dome rising amld
eoronet Of hills. This IS Annapolis,
the capital of the ancient Common
wealth of Maryland. This matronly
old city has been of tardy growth IN
commercial magnitude and importance
She is strIckly conservative and non.
progressive in her municipal policy ano
polIty. Here upon the banks OF the
beautiful Severn she has sat in queenly
serenity Tor two and half centuries
Hitler, year after year, wend their way
as TO some August Athena" The sage
lawglvers of our State, our linen o
might and grand in soul''. They crap
pie with and legisate upon every man
ner of question, from those OF the mos
intricate national import, to the Public
Printing and voracious crow bills. Gu
hearts are stirred with rapturous admir-
alton, when We contemplate their heroic
selt-sacrifce in their country 5 cause
Here Gov. Hamilton uttcrs his dicti
from his gubernatorial halls, and thu
Hon. Geo. Coltonpronounces his oracles
with no less potent voice, from the ssnc