Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1881-09-17
The Graadcu. Of lfountain Scenery
CFor the FREE PRrss.l

ure that does rot weary or pau. Ilslhs ~
aid of steam from the Sultry city and heated
( lowlands. We are gratifed 20 arrive in sight
of the grand chain OF the glorious Blue
Ridge. aud entering within the Rocky Gates
al harpers Ferry-grandcr than the Iron
/ Gates of the Danube, and next in Sublimity
+ 10 the Gate of the Rocky Mouniains-wc
ascend the gentle slope of the first plateau.
and breathe again the health and spirit-gir-
/ ing air fresh from the pine-clad hills
I Mounting to the peak made historical by the
philosopher President We arc N view OF
( that magnificent panorama oimounta vale
! and rivera scene, as President JeiieiSon
well expressed, fully repaid by voyage n
cross the Atlantic, for there are no, many
such 10 be found, where the varied beauties
of nature are combined to make one grand
and unique t0m ensemble cfde.ightiui Buena
/ Xis;asg Looking up the valley OF the She
nandoah theeye is charmed with scene
I inviting the hebolder to come WITHIN i1S
/ beautiful borders and there make home
Dedicated to peace and the enjOymentoi ra-
ral Rhcity, surrounded by scenery encian,-
ling to the eve and land hOuntcoasly flow
( ing with milk and honey and providing ih-
/ erally for all that man really needs, ana
such rs described in the poem of giitcd Ia
dy which think SO applicable 10 The region
that | venture 70 quote few lines
" over the fields the daisies lie
/ With the buttcrcvps under the azure sky,
/ Shadow and sunshine side 10y side
! Are chasing each other DER meadows wide
/ While thc varr, sweet breath cf The summer
/, mir
Isfl'ed With ihc perfume e blossoms fair.
| Ferns and grasses and Wild vines grow
( Close where the waters ripple and how.
! And the merry zcphyrs the live long DAY
\ With the nOdding leaves are cycga. play,
And birds are winging their happy tight
/ 'Mongst all things beautiful. free and bright.
/ IL lies on our hearts and fills our eyes
/ With the sunlight born of the tender skies.
4 looking away up the broad and magniii
/ cent valley OF the Potomac, and down To The
! bright waters flowing past the quiet village
at the Ferry, hurrying onward t9 join wilh
| those of the s.tler river, Shenandoah, and
( then blended into one grand stream eyer
| lowing onward to the great ocean, a worldly
and utilitarian thought possesses ~, desiring
/ that the Government would, by dispOsingol
F It's interest in this valuable water-pOWer M
yite some company 10 take possession that
/ would once more bring the hum OF busy M
dustry back 10 the town and thereby invite
happy and thriving population that would
/ be n real benefit 10 the surrounding country
and awaken new life by that industry
which duickens into action the best desires
/ of mans mind for ir50rcre est crGrc.' Aud
/ then would follow other improvements b!
! the great corporation, the B. q o. K. H., by
/ building good hotel on the Maryland or
/ LoudOun Heights oyerhanging this valley,
/ inviting thousands of tourists and travellers
/ to come here and enjoy one OF the most de
/ lightfu summer resorts on the continent.
/ Passing up the Valley of the Shenandoah
/ for some miles we leave the train at Il sta
I ton near 10 Gap made historical during
7 the late uiIirappy strife, and accompanied by
friends who have the pleasure OF making
/ their home in this delightful vile, We were
| by them provided with a sure footed noun
/ tain pony aud proceed e. ascend The Blue
! Ridge. Less than an hours climbing brO't
Us 70 the Summit md We were thousand
/ times repaid tor the labor of the ascent. How
/ futile il i to ondcayor 70 describe such
/ yicw-h0w poor are words IN which 10. inn
age that great Nature which the Almighty
/ has craven TO the shapco lovely mountains
| What painter can portray II! Throw IN
/ color here. little shade therc-touch II up
with SKY and cloud, cast about IL that per
/ ftimc OF blossom or breczc-and what does
/ il show after all the labor Can the eye
wander away until il is lost in blue, as a
/ lark is lost in the blue heavens? But the
! sight still drinks in the beauty Of the land
,cape lhorgh the source OF the beauty is un-
seen rs the source Of the music which f'lH
from the azure depths Of the8hy. That riv
or coming out bright and glttering irOia the
dark mountains and vanishing ia the dim
distance -billowy seas OF peaks and mounf
tains beyond number away 10 the east ano
west. one huge half dome that Lifts itself n
boye all others, sharp and clear-cut against
the older dome Of heaven. From the low
terrace along the shore of the river they rise
I in steep endless masses tie brown ridges
clothed in forests OF spruce. pOplarand ches
nut. their SUBMITS cut into \ thousand va
ricd peaks, vast and motlonless-w wonderful
things to look az, perched so high above the
world. They belong TO us, yet they are not
Of us. Tho eagle links them % the earth
the clouds carry TO them the messages rom
the sky: the ocean send them lciempc-t;
the air rolls It's thund cr- bcn ath thor bg0w'
and launche, thelghtuinl- from their sides;
the sun sends them his br-t greeting. and
leaves them his latest kiss Yet mOtionless
they keep their crowns of woods and forests,
needless Of time " tempest, as much ansNe
the Door power of wood 10 describe ai nc
who built this mighty Nature i+ higher stu
than I'll. We cannot put into words what
sublime scenes we Witnessed from The love
~ mountain tops.
Returning 20 the valley SIC were The rcci,
picnts Of q hearty invitation 10 pariake oi
true Virginia hospitality at the residence OF
Capt. Jno G., CoclTll, where gay party
was invited T. an eycnmg croquct, given ~
his most agreeable daughter, bliss Sallie 20
her guest5-thc Misses Lynch, Of Wa.ring-
ton. The lawn was tastciully adorned with
Chinese Lanterns sugpcnded from the trees
and shrubs. and tee Young ladies IL their
pretty white toil.ttcs fitting among the
trees after their balls made a charming ap-
pearance. Then the Captain and bis esti-
mablc wife appeared on the sccnc and inYi-
ted 1s 10 partakc of refreshments, to which
we did ample justice with an appetite shar-
pened by healthy exercise and the evening
breeze The entertainment concluded "ith
singing, music aud dancing, and all went
merry as a marriage bell. Miss raibe
Showed herself ~ ! BlOst charming hos.ess,
: and thecountry residence Of Capt COckriii
viii ever be remembered where'cr we roam
or what other lands VIC sec.
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