Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-05-25
Old Places.

a clearing of the forest. It is of ston
brought in Conestoga wagons, is built il
the most substantial manner, says
correspondent and it seems to stand a
firm as ever, though the moss lies thicl
upon its roof and the ivy and the arbu
tus cling to its time stained walls. The
broad portico and its huge stone pillars
are crumbling here and there, but even
they are resisting decay slowly. The
rooms inside, with their antique por-
traits, furniture, chimney places and
polised brass andirons carry you
back to the days of Knickerbockers anG
Periwigs, and the family take great
pride ID showing a room which Lafay.
cite once occupied when guest of the
family. The house is situated just of
the old Washington turnpike, and dur
ing the Revolution it was a convenient
and favorite place of rest for many OF
the most celebrated American officers,
including General Washington himself,
when passing between Washington city
and Baltimore. Its site is one charming
in picturesque beauty, surrounded by
high lockwood hedges, and in the back
ground flows the blue Patuxent. The
big stable and several old coaches are
still there, but the stalls are nearly all
empty and the grass is creeping up
among the gravel of the serpentine
drive. The negro quarters, too, are
deserted and the smoke curls over only
a very few cabins. An infrm negro,
bowed with age, hmped by me. and
with the politeness of the old days re-
moved his hat to me and disappeared
around the dairy. No other living
thing was visible. The old place SEEM
ed a symbol of departed glory.
Another interesting spot near by the
Jenkins mansion is the ruins of one of
the first iron furnaces in the country.
Iron ore is very prolific about this sec
ton and the Muirkirk" Furnace is not
far away where operations are stlll 60
ing on. There was shown piece of
pig iron with the perfectly defined i'm
preston of a human toe in the metal.
Charles E. Coffin, president of the
Muirkirk Iron Company, is authority
for the story of negro salamander who
worked there up to few years ago.
This man was in the habit of removing
his shoes, and with feet perfectly bare
treading about upon the red-hot pigs of
iron. He became famous for this
astonishing performance, and the
negroes one aud all believed him to be
in league with Beelzebub and avoided
him like a pest. 1t is said that he could
depopuIate a saloon in an instant by
entering where crowd of superstitlous
darkeys were assembled. The local
minister of the Methodist church once
told the story OF the negro's astonishing
feats before the conference in Washing
ton and was severely handled by his
brethren for giving utterance to what
seemed to be such palpable impossi-
bility. His veracity was questioned and
his position before the conference be-
came q serious one, At last the matte +
assumed such Importance that they
adjourned and visited "White Oak Bot
TOM in a body. They saw to their
surprise what seemed like a miracle per-
formed before their eyes aud they re-
moved their censure from the story
teller. The impression saw in the pig
of iron was said to be from the Toe of
the man, who is now W 5rklng in How
ard county at less hazardous employ
ment.
The neighborhood is full of historic
interest, as it was closely identified with
many importaRt events in the War Of
the Revolution. It was at Bladensburg,
buta few miles southeast, where Cock
hurn and Ross fought their celebrated
battle in 18I4I Just previous to the
capture or Washington. Many of the
old mansions are now occupied by
prominent men. Elk. Governor Oden
Bowie has his home and his stables of
fine racing horses there. Admiral
Ammen, Chief of the Bureau of
Construction, United States Navy, his
brother, General Ammen, and State
Senator Albertson each occupy old
family homes there. The visitor will be
surprised to find section of country so
close to two large cities so little affected
by the march of progress. Particularly
il this true III relation to the colored
race. The old special holiday occasions
peculiar to the anti. slavery days are
still religiously observed. At these
times they assemble at an appointed
place in large numbers and perform
their games with all the old-time vim
and enthusiasm. These are not
unlike the children's ring plays, except
that they are accompanied by wild
refrains and chorusos characteristic of
the race. AS I boarded the train for
Washington day or two ago was
,nviuced that this primitive little
section of Prince
dreaming serenely in the memory of
the past.
Energy will do everything that can
ha doua in the world and no talents no