Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-12-04
MISCELLANEOUS.
A Visitors Letter.


Mrs. Henrietta NJ. Bowland, ma
tive of Charlestown, and for some
dayspast a visitor at the Carter House
in this place, contributes the follow
ing interesting letter to her home
paper, the Mansfield (Ohio) Shield &c
Banner:
CHARLEsTowS, w. VA,
Carter House.
Editors Shield & Banner:
AS am jaunting round amid the
ruins of the past-driftwood, rs it
were-I drop you few lines from
this old historical place-becn made
so by the raid of John Brown in the
year of 1859 and the home of my
beloved grandparents, Mr.. Samuel
Young, and my saintcd mother, Mrs.
j. Y. Glcsner.
After tile Brown raid, the war of
the Union, some of the BIuebIoods
that are left to tell of the ravagcs of
the war, insist upon calling it the
Yankee ardr, which CRATES upon the
ear Of true patriotism. Where De-
mocracy wiclds the sword for the
right, we all know the full meaning of
the old hacking expression, "Umited
we stand, divided we fdU."
Among other changes there is a
lack of hospitality, cordiality and
generosity, which the very soil was
imbued with ''when was q child" ="
Seems like a hundred years ago when
I think of the true nobility of intel
lect, combined with other qualities
which make up the substance of a
broad and cultured community, which
have very much dcgenerated. Twas
told by one Of them they had, by their
intercourse with Yankees, they sup
posed, lost the most of their hospital
ity, which was n subject too large to
discuss with my feeble brain. They
call ali people here north of Mason
and DiXon's line, Yankees. How sad
but the only way that I can account
for it, is, that the grand old mother
State, the pride of Presidents, has
been divided, and this is Vest FIR
gimia. But if they would only get
out among the Yankees, and see for
themselves, they would feel proud of
the contamination, and think they
were living in Western Virginia in the
dark Gges.
Charlestown is n Village, rs It may
strike the visitor or reader of its fame,
made so by our late unpleasantness.
The march of time since the war, has
given Charlestown 2,2OO inhabitants.
With what ambition has been left with
their chiIdren's children, the town
has very mucn improved in the way
of good, substantial business houses,
and handsome dwellings with modern
improvements, pretty yards, &C.,
have all been erected since the war.
Elegant old homes were burned here,
mostly by their own kinblood, that
swore allegicnce to the Stars and
Stripes, has engendered bitterness that
ranllle in the blood of not only this
generation, but nursed as a. smouI-
dering flame upon the hearths and
hearts of the buddingyout Precious
blood has bedewed the soil of both
North and South. The valor of Union
and principal of Democracy, has stood
face to face with undaunted spirit
The crimson drapery has hung over
all hearts and homes, as a once divi-
ded country. Why not sheath the
sword and let it 7'tst in its scabbard.
The valor of fame of proud old Vir-
gin:a as she stood once upon the bat
Elements of the Union. redeem her
self for the old time chivalrv, which
we hope will rise up like the Ghost Of
Hamlet. If only to recall the time OF
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. a 'girl"-
we then had a perfect admiration for
the old school gentleman and the per,
feet lady.
CharIcstown has been written up by
so many of the tourists, and the
friends of the quill, to the intelligent
reader it is a history not to be forgot.
ten. The John Brown raid the wal
of the Union; the suffcringa of its
people; its grand scenery-with its
mountain chain, the river, rocks and
ebbing streams; Shannondale, which
now lays in ruins, was the resort OF
the once wealthy and powerful. With
all the decades of time, no hand o.
vandalism can mar the grandeur-thc
crystal waters flow as free, the noun.
tain in its majesty crests the horizon
and the glorious sunset gild its towers
All Shannondale needs, is for some
enterprising Yankee, as they call US
Northerners. would be to take hold o1
it and rebuild. It could be made the
Saratoga of old Virginia never tire
be the means of resurrecting some o:
the faded glories of the past, anc
give an impetusto CharIestown, (Which
has had Rip Hdn JYinkle sleep, ant
only six miles from the famous
springs, and once was the resort O.
Mrs. Southworth. If my memory
serves me rightly, wrote a move
entitled Shannondale. There are twC
county newspapers-one the Spirit o
jefferson, that stands firmly upon tn,
4. r