Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1882-09-23
COMMUNICATED.
HAMPDEN SIDNEY,

will occupy 4 short space in the columns
of your valuable paper by giving you an
account of my trip from Harper's Ferry
to this place. Arriving at the depot at
Harper's Ferry / found that | would
have company to Hampden Sidney in the
person of Mr.. A. G. Link of Duffields,
which was very pleasant surprise to me.
We left Harper's Ferry on train No. 0 at
O'Clock for Washington. After finding a
comfortable seat we passed the time very
pleasantly conversing with one another.
We were very much amused at two young
men from the West, who carried on
conversation between themselves. They
were bound for Philadelphia, and, ac-
cording to their notion, they were well
acquainted with the city Of Washington,
but from what we overheard think they
were mistaken. Here is the subject of
their talk-The White House. One of
them wished to know if the train stopped
at the depot long enough for him to go
see the White House and return. The
other told him not to be worried about
that as the train passed through the White
House, and he could see all that he could
wish. Such are the ideas of some. AS
the train was late starting from the Ferry
it die not take us long to get 10 the end OF
our journey on the b. q o. Arriving at
Washington we were met by two youRS
ladies of DufiicldS, who kindly accom-
panied us to the wharf where we were to
take boat for Norfolk. We did not have
time TO stroll around here on account OF
the boat leaving so soon. At 5.25 p. m.
the whistle was blown as signal for
friends to separate, some 1t may have
been for a short time only, others perhaps
for years; ut $50 the steamer left the
1 1.,ael Ia. ton in
the distance. As this was our first trip by
water we felt very "funny" at tirsrbut
soon became alright. This steamer
George Lcary-is Of very large size and
was Duiltin Booklyn, n. y, in 1864. 1t
contains fifty-eight State-rooms, and two
hundred bcrths: it also carries three hun
dred passengers-two hundred first cabin
and one hundred second cabin, has SIX
life boats, also six metal life boats, and
carries four hundred and sixty litc-prc-
servers. Her tonnage is SO 43-lOO. |
had always been prejudiced against riding
on boats until the present time. Now |
prefer going by water rather than by rail,
only ! would rather take my chances III
an accident on cars than on boats. we
spent Il very pleasant nights ride, having
one or two ladies on board who performed
very nicely on the piano. Our journey
would have been complete bus for one or
two squalling Young Americas, who kept
up continual cry because one little glrl
would look ut them. But we forget that
we were that way when we were OF the
same age. We arrived ut Norfolk III S.3O
4. m, having been on the boat fifteen
hours, and having travelled distance OF
two hundred and twenty miles. Alter
landing at Norfolk We decided to visit the
y" VI {, 4 hut ,a,I tn tlpN a
colored chap to row us across the river to
the yard, after which we had very short
time to wander about rs our time was lin
tied We went through two or three
buildings, after which we were rowed
back to the shore and struck for the \. q
w. X. II. which is close by. After buy
inc our tickets-to Farmvillc, we had our
baggage checked, after which we boarded
the train and were soon being carried
along by the iron horse AT a lively rate.
It is said that the men in the employ OF
the b. Il o. are not very accommodating,
but if persons would come in contact with
the men at Norfolk employed by the
Norfolk q Western, they would change
their minds, as think they are the most
unaccommodating railroad men that |
ever came across. We passed through
town on the road, which, from the looks
of the people, has a very appropriate
name-"Blacks and Whites" We were
met mt nearly every station along the line
by old and young, blacks and whites, who
carried large walters on their headS, when
were full of biscuits and fried chicken. L
always was Of the opinion that the llar-
uer's Ferry pic-boys went ahead of amy
other place in this respect, but l am in
clincd To believe differently now. This
tnr
travel over, for they can get all the chick
en- they car eat. You know it generally
conceded that that class Of men can Stay
more fried chicken than any other. we
arrived ut Farmville about O'Clock. This
town is considered Il great tobacco market,
and contains 4 population of about two
thousand inhabitants. AS our time was
of short duration here we did not see very
much of the place. This being the end OF
our Journey by rail we took stage for
Hampton Sidney, a distance of seven miles
from Farmville. We arrived here ut 10
O'Clock tired and worn out, as we had
travelled Lour hundred and twenty miles
since leaving home. As we arrived here
at night we could not form any opinion
of the place, but next morning we were
a~reeably disappointed both in scenery
and the location of the place. as we bad
been made to believe that it was the most
lonesome place in Virginia. | can say
that it has about as pretty scenery as any
town that | ever came across, except
Harpcr's Ferry, which cannot be sur
passed. The people are very pleasant
and make you feel at home at once. The
college is situated OH Il hill, as the people
here call it. | do not know what they
would call one of those hills III Jefferson
County. mountain | suppose. About
fifty students have matriculatcd and there
are several more to come. The Union
Theological Seminary is just opposite the
college building AID has about tfty-lve
students for the ministry. As | am not
quite over the effects ofmy journey will
close, as | have already occupied too
much space. NC.
L ARNL,SE Ennls in ahlnlnuLn and OF