Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1882-02-16

Washington and was now on her way
home. BY this means we were hap
PLY rescued from the fate which we
had anticipated and had right nice
time Soon after leaving the city,
our .attention was attracted to dense
WIN line of smoke on the Virginia
shore, and we soon discovered that it
issued fronf the locomotive of train
bound for Alexandra. The willy mon
ster was slowly pushing his way down
the river shore, keeping just opposite
our boat, an if to lure her into a trial
Of speed, oniN lD SUBJECT ner 70 d.
astr ls defa But our sober old
Graf Was Coo lF thus fa - i eivsd
hd continued unheedingly on her
say, while the track of the iron mon
ter led him from the shore, and he
vas lost behind the adjacent hills,
md the cloud Of smoke which he
;mitted from his iron throat hoated
way and disappeared on the distant
horizon.
After passing Alexandria, we took
seat at a window and cast our eyes
in the direction of Washington, now
81 WHY fading from sight in the dis
ance behind us. The tall white dome
II the Capitol was still discernable.
Silent and thoul htful we sat and
sazed at the receding city fading.
slowly fading away-becoming small
Ter and fainter in the dim distance
till, at length, our straining eyes could
only discern faint white speck wrap
ped in a cloud or hazy mist. Still
we watched, until bend in the river
completely hid the fading speck-then,
and not till then, we bade adieu to
the magic scene, and regretfully turned
away our wistful gaze from the beau
tiful city of Magnificent Distances. .
1t was not long before we were down
to Mount Vernon where lie the re-
mains of Washington. On passing
this place, we noticed a departure
from the usual custom Of tolling the
fog bell of the boat in honor of the IL
lustrious dead that reposes here.
There was about dozen passengers
aboard, half Of whom were ladies.
They spent the time chiefly in read
ing, but even this was rendered diff
cult by the tossing of the boat. Of
ten at the landings, some would ven
ture to 90 out on the open deck to
take look at the proceedings below,
but they would be met at the door by
a gust Of icy wind that would invari-
ably cause them to turn back with a
shiver. Thus the day wore on, with
out any unusual incident until late
in the afternoon, when we were sum
moned to the stairs leading to the sa-
loon to listen to Gen. Bailey, of Leon
ardtown, who regaled US with cou-
pie of speeches, the first an grafton on
lovely "Woman," and the other po-
litical stump speech. At the close OF
his speeches the General was Justify
applauded. We must not forget to
mention that the General was partic-
ularly attentive to the ladies through
out the day. He knew and could
point out every notable locality on the
shore.
The wind blew a gale all day, but
we made good progress down the riv-
er, arriving at Colton's Just before
night. While lying at this wharf, we
witnessed the last sunset of 1881.
The sky was Immediately cloudless,
and in the crimson and glowing West
the ruddy face of the sinking sun
could be seen in all his golden splen-
dor. He threw upon the dying year
his brightest smiles. His rays fell in
golden hues upon the waves, paint
ing them with gorgeous rainbow colors,
while across the ripping waters they
were reflected in long, bright spark
ling line, seeming a golden pathway
to lieaven. Slowly this faded away,
and the last sun Of 1881 sank below
the horizon to rise upon a new year.
Soon the moon came out with her at
tendaRt train to kiss the waters with
her silver light. We will not dwell
longer on this theme, for We are draw
ing out this article to a weary length.
After going over to Curioman and
stopping at Abells wharf, which oc-
cupied considerable time, we arriv-
ed at Leonardtown about 8 clock. at
least three hours ahead fthe appoint
ed time. About an hours S ride brought
us home and our trip was ended, with
nothing to remind US Of the pleasures
We had seen save a heavy cold con-
tracted from exposures while seeking
them. Thus it is all through life
each joy has its correlative sorrow.
A summary OF our visit is, that it was
highly enjoyed. 1t filled our mind
with happy memories which We do
not wish soon to forget.