Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-07-08

when we paid our vist--tbe flowers and
strawberries were wet with the morning dew,
the birds were singing sweetly their early
mattns, the weather was beautiful and mild,
all nature seemed happy in itself, everything
fourshed and grew and blossomed in the
spot where 1t was rooted The view down
the river from this point is singularly pic
turesque and presents the pass through the
mountain at the confluence of the rivers in
one of its most remarkable aspects
II was very early in the morning, so early
that the sun had scarcely arisen twice the
| breadth Of his own disc above the eastern
hills when we left Ilarpers Ferry Passing
along the Potomac for mile partly on tres
tie work, and an insulated wall of masonry
piercing projecting rock by tunnel of
eighty feet in length, we swept along ravlne
first morrow and serpentine, which gradually
grows wider and wider until the rolling
table lands which eharacterize the Valley
OF Virginia" i visible In every direction.
Through this section Of country, extending
for some distance beyond Martnsburg, the
soil Is limestone and susceptible of high
state of cultivation. The farms have the
appearance of being well titled and show
care and taste in their general outline. 1t
certainly was most pleasing and exhilarat-
ing picture, little cottages almost hid by
vines and here and there upon some con
spicuous prominence large stone residences
with dark solemn frs dotting the grounds
within their dainty sentencing. Every where
were these little white nests of homes so close
beside, yet each eloquent OF individuality
and redolent of that sweet presence with
out which the most costly and elegant struc-
ture il but four walls and ceiling. After
all II is midst Gods honesttoiling yeomanry
is found that domestic joy which makes life
n pleasant dream. There Is in truth free
masonry between those who wear the in
sigma ofthat higher life Of the SOU, who have
uniettered thought and come TO hold con-
verse with spirits of sublimer truths than
the world in its every day reach can grasp
or iathom, who look upon life from the
standpoint of higher purpose, meaning
nothing more than doing Gods work on
earth with patient, steady outlook of will
and energy. The kind of life which iniuses
serene content, and has in il something of
the spirit of the Great Master, Christianity
is to them divine power lifting itself above
lorms-wholly independent of externals.
The numerous herds of cattle which pass
cd under our observation gave indication
that the farmers of this section of the coun-
try were evidently directing their attention
to grazing
Hating for few moments at Martins
burg one cannot fail TO recognize that it is
one Of the many Of the old Virginia towns
which had previously been in stagnant
state until new life and impetus was given
10 IT by the railroad, which has greatly pro-
NOTED It's prosperity and increased its wealth
The town is neatly laid out considering that
il is built on a succession Of hills. Many
handsome residences adorn its suburbs
among them the residence of the Hon.
Chas. j. Faulkner, who has figured promi-
nent in our national politics for over half n
ttnluIls Ht diN OllO
have erected here large engine houses and
workshops and have made one Of their prin
cipal stations for the shelter and repair
of their machinery From this source alone
a large amount of money Is monthly put
into circulation by the employees, which Of
course makes It's way into the various chan
nels of trade.
Martinsburg, az well MS the beautiful and
fruitful region of country Around, is not
without historic interest As early AZ June,
1861, and whilst Gen Patterson was at Will
Transport Gen. Jackson learning that the
Union army was about 10 move in the di-
rection Of Martinsburg, advanced to that
place, sent II number of locomotives 10 Win
chester, drawn by horses, destroyed forty
engines and burned over three hundred
cars. A few days after Gen. Patterson took
: possession Of the town with thirty-two thou
sand men and at once threw up immense
baricadcs traces Of which are still 70 be
seen Frem that period 10 the close of the
war the country around was the scene Of
almost constant and heavy diminishing, In
1854 when Hunter and Seigel went up the
valley, the United States made the town "a
kind Of headquarters 1t was also the fffsi
place which was captured by the working
men in their great strike a few years since
maddcned iniatuatlon which seized hold
of the laboring classes, and which increased
in strength and violence until millions of
dollars Of prosperity were destroyed and
numbers of human lives were lost. An In
fatuation that had It's origin in imaginary
wrongs, famed into blaze by prejudice and
passion, and but for the strong arm of the
government and the frowning indignation
Of all law-abiding citizens, II might have
found ia parallel in some Of the scenes
which characterized the bloodiest hours Of
the French revolution.
We regret that want Of room compels us
TO halt Mt this point until next week