Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-08-13
OUR PARTY.
FRosTBURd, August s, 1881

To the MINING JOURNAL:
1t numbered twenty, and ranged in
age from the small boy under big
soml zero to the whitened head and
grey beard. Of course in so miscel-
laneous company young men and
maidens figured, Juveniles end adol-
escent youth, mothers with their off
spring and mothers who had left their
infants at home. All were guests at
Mrs. Beall's cottage, and had received
an invitation to visit the New Hope
mine. A mining town was a novelty
to them they saw the miners going
about the streets with lamps in their
caps and canteens strapped on their
backs; already the initiative boys had
donned the lamp and nightly paraded
the grounds. But curiosity was not
vet eratifed-the adults were inquls-
tive as to how it looked under the
ground, what the chimneys were for,
how the miners used their picks and
how far the cars ran in. The spirit
of Mother Eve was in them, and it
would no more retire than Banquos
ghost; at no bidding would it down,
therefore it must be gratlfed.
Three vehicles conveyed the party
on qui uive for frolic to the mine,
where two cars awaited them, the
patient horse only needing the word
of command. While the engineer
prepares the lamps for illuminating
the darkness into which they are
about to be uskered, we will review
he explorers: They look very pic
turesque in their mining otumes,
their countenances are lighted with
expectation, nor would it be too much
to say that broad grin expands come
of the more ylyacious. Blue eyes,
black eyes, grey eyes dance with ex-
uberant fun. Portly Davis is captain
and his wife moderator. Artist
Schenck derlores the want of. port
folio and crayon that he mie,ht trans,
fer 10 canvas a picture which could
not again be reproduced; his amiable
better half hovers like hen oyer her
chickens, calling them each by name
Charlie, Eddie, Mamie. Our pet
Amman, when We had feared net
equal to the occasion, has caught the
inspiration of laughter, but is never
deserted by his po!iteness. His SIS
ter Lucy, brimming over with ninth,
dlscourses as usual in. a high treble
with the vivacity and genufexiors of
French woman, lille Howard keeps
Hltchias up to Fanny and she in: turn
meditates revenge when in the mine
by black balling his face. Elegant
Riley, SO far from being true TO her
name is in no way R.Ied but smiles
blandly and awaits coming events !;
and pretty little Goodrich wraps her
shawl about her with the reconciling
thought that it is as good protection
as rich waterproof The ten chill
dren--two mythical-gathered like
sheep in pen, uphold severally the
same number of hats of such exagger-
ated dim tensions that it is a question
whether there is a load of peripatetic
hats, or whether animated forms. are
beneath them. Had they been voice.
less they might have passed for the
former, hut Bosh would pinch Mamie,
and Syester persisted in plotting
mischief, Rob leased Ellen, Charlie
contended with Eddie for a place
next the driver, hence general out
cry and a solution of the problem hats
animate or inaninate.
With a regret that the Matthias did
not join our party, and for the want
of our Be(a)U, another signal was
given, and the two cars with their
living freight entered the yawning
cavern. For an instant a shudder
passed over all, subduing the excited
rislbles, and suddenly cry of stop,
driver, let me out l am going to
faint" issued from the King of the
party. TIE probability of such wo'
manly weakness was contradicted by
the stalwart frame, but the possibility
was too manifest in the blanched
countenance. The summons vas
obeyed, and our party moved on be-
reft of royalty and $50 avoirdupois.
Traversing The bituminous corridor
they glanced ever and anon at the solid
mass overhead, the opening chaml ers
at the sides which only needed the
miners at work to comp etc the inter-
est. The wonderful formation in the
bowels of the earth OF great veins of
coal for the use of man, and his inge-
nuity in penetrating and extracting
the same for commerce were thoughts
soon dispelled, as mirth reigned SUI
preme and mccked at contemplation.
10 put bituminous coating one on