The Democratic advocate., 1881-07-23

Some five or six hundred persons joined
the |. 0. Il. excursion to Mont Alto Park,
Pa. on Saturday last. There were nine cars,
in two sections, going, but all consolidated
into one train on the return. The day was
fair and pleasant, and everyone seemed to
enjoy the trip. The only incident OF note
which occurred on the road was the breaking
down of the engine Of the first section OF the
excursion. This happened, very fortunately,
about two miles after the train had passed
Union Bridge, and 1t did not take long to run
back TO that place, procure another engine
and resume our journey. We lett the west
ern Maryland Railroad little beyond Pen
Mar, at Edgemont Station, and then pro
ceeded along the Cumberland Valley un-
til we came to the Mont Alto road, when we
turned toward our destination. We saw the
Valley to a disadvantage on that occasion.
A waterspout had bursted over that region on
the Wednesday previous, and literally cover
ed the whole face of the county with mud
and water, damaging the corr and washing
the surface of the land into wide gulches.
But seen in its best estate 1t will not compare
with Carroll county for neat tillage and thrift
and rural beauty Portions of the Valley,
more remote from the mountains, we were
told, present a more highly improved and at
tractiye appearance. We passed through sew
eral villages, Waynesboro', Greencastle,
Funkstown and Mont Alto. The latter is in
habited almost exclusively by employees of
the Mont Alto Iron Company, and was built
by it. Several OF the excursionists called
upon Col. George b. Wrestling, the President
and manager Of the Company, and found
him to be a very genial and courteous gen.
tleman. He exhibited to US iue stereOp-
ticon. containing handsome views of all the
priucipal points of interest in the Park, which
is very extensive, and several lovely views Of
the Mountain Laurel in full bloom. In the
latter part of May, when the Laurel Is in full
bloom, the Park must present lovely ap-
pearapee indeed. 1t conld not be otherwise,
with all these uuriyalled floral attractions ad-
ded to the natural beauty of the scene. But
before we say ANYTHING of the Park itself, We
must saw word of Mont Alto Iron Works.
The present capacity Of these works, which
are soon to be enlarged, i sixteen tons OF Pig
iron per dav. The ore Is taken ont OF the
earth. smelted and formed into pig-Iron and
also into blooms, and shipped to Philadelphia
and other places. The payroll OF the Com
pany must be pretty extensive, Tor there arc
a large number OF employees, miners, wood
choppers, golfers, teamsters, furnace men,
&c. The tract Of land embraces 1900
acres. chiefly timber, including seven farms,
all in tillage, the superintendence aud dlrec'
ton Of which requires no mean order OF eN-
ecutive ability, besides patience vigilance,
and unhagging devotion 10 duty.
The residence of Col Wrestling IS situated
uDon an emineuce gradually sioplng down
towards the furnaces, emhowered IN large,
spreading trees, almost shutting i oai from
view. We we're told that the present man
sion has been built since the war, the former
buildinE was destroyed by IRE when the Con
federaies invaded that part Of Pennsylvania.
The Park is very extensive and detes de-
scriptien. Il must be seen 70 be appreciated.
Il has all been laid out aud arranged by Col.
Wiestling, who has expended over seveH
thousand dollars in heanuiyng . and hitting
il up Tor visitors. Near the entrance - a
large PAVILION. for dancing and for shelter 10
case Of uafavorahie weather. 4 bcauhiu.
fountain throws up 20 Il considerable hcigh;
i,s lets OF spray. which, uinganz together IN
the sunbeams, form beautiful rainbow whose
arch spans the touatain, and elicits the ad-
miration of an beholdcrs Near to the foHn.
,ain Is The kitchen, with four cookiag ranges,
where exCursiorisss can bake, broii, o. make
A cup Of tea or coffee. No; Tar from the
kitchen Is a nes bowiing alisy in process Of
erection. eighty or hundred feet IN length.
Also a place for target practice, fer football,
for qaoiis and other gymnasiic exercises and
amusemeuls, and swings ioF one or more per
sous in various parts oi the groundc. Every
where there are shady nsoks aud cosy re
treats, where tables and rustic seats have
been provided for dining parties, where fam
iies aud friends can take their meals wIthou,
intcrrapiiau from iniruders- In = word,
there are shady walks, where there Is tui-
light a, MONDAY, bsbbiiaE springs, whose
cool. sparkliaE fountains and hupld waters
slaka che thirst Of ihR passing traveller, bah
bling brooks, fairy gieus, cosy hooks en-
chanting dells, eo1l retreats, msvruurtng r'!is
ripping over pebbly bottoms, foamiDg cas-.
cadcs, moss Erosu roekE- taBgicd brakes OF
laurel and fern, With rustic isie ictes, pa
yii0ns and pagodas, q iairy lake siih 'ts j shi
sondolas: and. above ali, grand old trees,
that hiEh "a heaven mingie ihesr messy bouEhsr
through which the upoaaAy sunlight can
scarcely Simmer. As we rArnbled, IN com
pauy wigh 3 f5eEd, aioaE The smooth, ser
peutire avenues. completely cmbowcred be-
meath the shade o. thssc grand cid i1rcst
trees, Bryaus's bcAgiiigl hy@a 70 the iorcs,
came involgalasily 90 osg memory.
T --or,s vrss Gods ara teraples Erc nian learn q
To hss ihs sAan. and Jay shr asceiErayc.
And sFFasA ne rgaf anovs ll.eEa --gso be irzSacd
Tlg t6flv vault - galirg and u14 back
fts s,ss.i 81 aaihSsas. Ia 10 darkISag wool
Aui..ist Ihr sooi and sllence b. sFsls daWH.
y III
An snraiiraton Pr hts staple hlaH
Nleht a1l rtzssi the sacrci lraacnCNs
Whirh fFesn the ss.lly tsi3ixhi ~ tar piare.
AuI fraun the gray nli trunks tazt htz1 iu hr1rca
Ni1sissi shelr lnossy tonEas anl from iac soaad
ofthe insisials breath taAs ssr4yed y g q1eg
~ spirit Ira she th8sEhi y s1uHslisss power
AHd iusa1oasstle majesty Al Why
should sc. in ;as warl3s r.f-er yesrs. nesicg;
tsssigt asscieTrf ssaesuariss and at1rc
only araaaz the croad and paieE sooss
That cor trail bands hays tsiscs lei me 81 least,
He7e ga ;he shadow q tlls eEeI uetsi
uatr oae hyuan. .--itIriae hspPy II ii aud
AeecpsAnce tn Eis car
flalh sesrea these ycacfaalp e''!amns. iisoa
n.slsi scave iuts ysnershir roaf Thou didsi i2as
,pon si,s aaks,i sas.h, zli fsssh~ssh ,yss
All thesa uAig FAnks o. treus. fhtg IN Thy siin
Rgii.rI aad shook lhsir sFeea leaves Ia thy bsccs
Aud shos loHAEiis heargn Ihe eeulafy liytns cf9H
Whose birth vas IN their iu5s, Erge ED siid dic1
Ar.eng thesr branches. till a. last they stood.
A. a0u shey sand IpAssy and tail and dars.
~ s.s.af - ,si "a. Nst-. T1sss an vaalt.
Those Wlnaing aislss of hufa an potlP az prihe
lcpors not. 40 fantastic carr inss show
The bnAsl Df oar vain r&rc - change mo iofta
81 tby fair wofks Bus thou arr heFe thou nll-s
The sg3tnde Thou Afg ia The son winds
Thsf nun sfeug the summit of these trees
Ia music thea arg Ia The Co,iirs bFeaih
mai fr1aa ire iumost darkness % the placc
comes seascslg islE he harky IEauks lie grogud-
The frsh Jagist gruand afC All iasilief ill lhee
Herr ) continual worship nature, hcfp-
M DE tranquility that thou ios1 love,
Euioys thy p1reEtge- Npisa'sraaiy aFetiAA
Fr,sffi perch ta perch. the solitary hsfd
Passss and you clear spring that midk+ q her p,
Wells sofllr f1rth and wandering sseeFs Iae roots
ofhalf the mighty forest teilsu tale
or an the Eoo.i 4f does Ih1l hast n1t len
Tbfsaif Without witness IN ihese shades
uf las pagisefions Grandeur stggRslh aud sr4ec
Arc hero g. sFeak Of thee. This ulsghiy OAK
~ whose iInulvahle stea stand and scelg
Almost anulhilaiod-not prtuce.
lu an that proud old world heYund iIe derp.
F'sr wora hls crown a. l0flily a. he
Wears the green cor1Ral Of leaves with which
Thy hand has grgcrd him Nestled az IA root
Is beauty such ~ blooms uug IN the Elarc
Og the broad sun That delicate forest aower
with scented breath, and look 80 like smile,
seems a. q ISSUES from the shafeiess mould
An emauAtiou Of the indwelling Lie.
visible token 0f the upholting Love
That are tine soul Of this wide universe.
10 place we have ever visited possesses SC
many attractions for the lover OF Nature II
her inmost solitudes, in her quiet and mos
secluded aspects. 0ne may ramble for milei
beneath these sylvan shades, unconscious o.
( the world without, directed at every step o
bis journey amid the may labyrinths that
( cross and interseci each other, by finger
boards, or printed cards affixed to the tree
I for the guidance of visitors by the intelligent
and thcnghtful proprietor. Away in the is
( tance, 9n the summit OF the mountain, IS !
! lock- out, which affords, like that at Higt
/ Rock, magnificent view Of the Valley; bat
{ on account Of the distance and the heat, VI
had 10 forego a visit to that interesting poiu
of the PARK. aud also to the "Narrows, o
I gorge, between two perpendicular rocks
which will scarcely permit a large sized mat
to thread the narrow defle between them.
I But we must bring our description Of ihi;
most interesting summer resort to a close