Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-22
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS.
Harper's Ferry and Its surroundings
CharlcsiOwn and "Reminiscences Of
the War.
i Correspondence Of THE EvENINe star.

Special Correspondence Of THE EVENING STAR.
HARPER's FERRY, July 49, 1882.
An interesting place is old Harper's Ferry: as
wild in scenery as it is rich in history and so
grand IN both: one OF those dreary lonesome
magnificent haunts which Fatality dedicatcs to
Romance. and Romance hands down to History
immortaiized 1t is about sixty miles from
Washington. and the route tfither is perfectly
grand leading among the blue Catoctin noun
tains where the scenes Of many OF the pleasant
fre-side stories Of Virginia and Maryland are
laid
Just at the meeting Of the waters'-the Po-
tOmac ard the ShegaHd0ail-Eith that long pile
of Gifts. Maryland heights. overhanGing the first
and tIe second following down i.oudoun heirii:s
and increasing in volume as the heights grow
gTauder. is Harper's Ferry. dead and in ruins
but sill the same we have heard and talked and
read aCOut so often. 1t has been an Inflated
town, and bad luck has lea Is dilap,dated. What
was not used up by the WI was made sad havoc
OF by the food of 20, 50 that she is going to
wreck row rapidly of her CHn accord
just back OF the town. and enclosing within
triangle OF mountains the valley in which il is
situated. rise Bolivar Hei chis a name associated
with iidrpers Ferry in the annals of the war
This is the mountain on which Nature GrOpped
her gigantic boulder that we call Jeferson's
Rock. Sac had nowhere else to put it, and
made 81 it an observatory from which her own
eXagserat:ons could be so finely contemplated
from tins rock" say all true Virsinians 1t is a
weary climb up the long. twisting mountain
road, but your curiosity and patriotism will
nerve you to IL. On it Jefferson wrote his Notes
OF Virginia; and what hosts of men, noted men
OF every country, acting upon his assertion. 1t
Is worth a pilgrimage from anywhere" have
climbed upon it and viewed the rich prospects
below theTl-the opening gorge and the Pogo-
mac sweeping through if into Maryland Many
years ago some crank, unfrendy to jefferson
pDtalT;srPI DESTROY this / am al Inv
blasting it with powder and precipitating its
fragments in the Shenandoah below 1t was q
wild scheme. ID seems to me- and will not be
responsible for the authenticity of the story 1t
may be- that the little Virginian, my guide. was
running me; but he gave me his ''unGn NV
word, and assisted he in crawling down to see
the great iron pillars placed there by the gov
eminent to support it after the attempt was
made and the rock fairly shaken from its place.
Here rs at all other special places. the tour
LIST and the advertising fiead has left each his
mark. The surface of this huge rock at every
accessible spot. is hacked with initials and
names and dates. Nearly in the center is still to
be seen in dim letters. cut in the rock the name
Louis Philippe OF France" 1t is believed to
have been done by himself when he stopped a
few days. incOg., at the Ferry after his fight
from France. And over all these names the old
bulletin eXpOunds in great letters the virtues of
patent medical nOstrumsi
You viii not leave Harper's Ferry without
seeing that strange freak OF nature-the pOr-
trait oi Washington, as it is called-on Maryland
Heights 1t takes creduous eye and vivid
Imagination to discern profile of the first Pres
1dent on small rock away up the height but
there are persons who recognize the likeness
or think they do. and so the ambitious tourist
Will never give up his quest until he has formed
somehow out of the shapeless mass of rock
above him portrait, and called it Washington.
On small. smooth red rock at a distance of
about 80 feet, should say. above the water
Is TINS celebrated curiosity Once find it and 1t
stands out cOnspicuOusly, perfect face of man
al least, II not of Washington particularly look
ing up the Potomac. Ii is said that Washing
ton himself recognized the portrait, and would
stand for hours gazing at it in gloomy medita-
ton. 1t Is in fit place to have foretold him of
his greatness.
Harper's Ferry and Charlestown are one and
fnseparable in the history Of Virginia Charles
town is beautiful little place situated on
high plateau eight miles south of the Ferry.
1t Is the county seat of old Jefferson county
and quite a resort for Washington refugees in
the heated months. 1t was founded by Charles
Washington, a brother to Gen. George and his
grave IS there without n EeadstOne. Apropos
OF the Wa>hin@tOns, the charming Misses Brown
and Mitchell, great grand daughters of Charles
washington anu the nearest living descendants
OF eeld Washington family of Georges time
reside IN tharleStOwn, and in courtesy and dig
nifty. the leading characteristics Ofthe Washing
ton family. are true to the line"
In the EpiscOpalian church yard at Charles
town is the grave of John Yates BealI a cousin
and bosom friend of John Wilkes Booth. the
actor. and to avenge whose death. it is said the
deed OF assassination was done. Beal was a
brave young officer in the Second Virginia regi-
ment, c. : A., and was executed as a SOY on
Governor Island, New York. in 1868 Time
and again had Lincoln promised Booth the story
runs. that the life of the young soldier his
friend. should be spared. The cOunsels of others.
however, prevented the President from fulfilling
his promise and Beall was hanged. The story.
though not generally believed, is true. Bcalrs
last words We're: Let not my body be taken
back to the valley of Virginia until my mother
can write upon my headstOIe, He died i'm the
service and defence of his country" Those
words are upon his grayest0ne at Charlestown.
JIRSING