Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-07-15

"LOl in the parting thunders
Hear the echo of the age
Lot in the globes broad breast, behold
The poets noblest page
For in the brace Of iron bars,
That weld two worlds in one,
The coupet Of nobler lay
Than bards have ever begun y
Again we are aboard the train" the
whistle, ring and jar, shat grand trio OF
the Age the chime Of a mighty chronome-
ter which vibrates across the continent is
heard and felt, and the engine, that painting,
shreking thing Of iron, breathing out its
spirit in a cloud, rushes on with its freight
Of humanity through woods, along the mar
gin of the streams, across the rustling fields
over which the melody Of the harvest song
was lingering, bearing us away from home
and its memories. 1ruthfully and beauti-
fully has n gifted author said, "Sublunary
creation goes drifting by at thirty miles an
hour, and they are crowding away the past
with its memories and its hallowed spots,
its homes, It's affairs and its graves to make
room for the future that comes laundering
by on steam 1t gives the river a holiday
it plunges like strand Of thunder through
the mountain gorge, il pants around the
wide world, its shafts glitter in the mines,
It's voice is heard in the shops, It's banner is
everywhere"
Leaving MartinsbuTg for eight or ten
miles, you pass through highly produc-
tive country Of limestone formation, the
limestone is Of such pure quality that
large quantities are transported in every d.
rectior to the cities for manufacturing and
agricultural purposes Crossing the North
Mountain in which You encounter heavy
excavations and entertainments you soon
reach the banks of the Potomac and follow
the Virginia shore Of the river upon bottom
lands interrupted by occasional views Of
striking beauty unit you reach Hancock
which II on the opposite side Of the river
an old Maryland town, and though not Of
much size and still less in importance
yet when viewed from the station across
the river has something Of the appearance
OF life and business,
A little distance above Sir Johns Run
about ten miles beyond Hancock, we came
in view Of one Of those magical painting
Of nature which Is perfectly intoxicating %
the senses and nvigoratiDg 10 the mind aDt
heart--a
scene where nature in her prid
..I Ia. a.. ia In ar
wide
Where men were taught the desert path u
trace
And the rude pleasures Of the mountain chase
Where nerves Of iron grew, and souls Of ton
To soft refnements tranquil scenes un
known
10 the north opens long and beautiful yista
extending along the river and terminal
/ ing in the chain OF mountains which II
sleeping in the blue distance, whilst on TN
east and west the land rises abruptly int
mountains, and seem 10 sit enthroned In tn
mid-heayens like some mighty giantess, he
head tnrbaned with wreath Of white mis-
and looking down with seeming fondnes
upon the bright daughter, that re1ectin
back her own rude Image, lies quietly re
posing IN her lap, receiving the rich suppl
Of hundreds Of pearly rlIs that come gush
ing TO her opening lips AZ we looked on
upon this secluded scene, 80 full Of beauty
80 foil Of quiet and repose, 50 far remove
from the "maddening crowd, /" we could bu
think what spot for those who are worn b
the toll Of life--are Responding, and we
l nigh discoumged-who have become iain
and sick in their pilgrimage breakin
up and yearning for the grave, where the
can drink into their very souls the beaut
and harmony Of Gods works--catch III
serenity Of the stars, the eloqucnce Of III
eternal silence Of the hills, and the chiefei
Of all, His mercy and His love.
With some two or three exceptions III
route from Hancock 10 Cumberland lii