The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-07-19

the summit of the Maryland Allie
ghenies, and built on seven hills
this happy discovery was made by a
friend of mine as we lounged one day
on the broad veranda of THE Oaks"
Lying in the hammock this morn
ing, gently rocked by the purest and
softest of murmuring breezes, an Ital-
ian sky peering in here and there
through the dense shade of majestic
oaks, the birds carolling in the
branches, the far away sound of
voices, the scent and sight of clover,
eye and ear and heart gladdened by
the peace and quiet beauty, fell to
wondering why this mountain region
should not I've more popular than it is.
came here in the early spring,
partly to recruit from the long illness
to which | fell victim last fall. From
a cOnvalescent | have regained all
my former strength. Thanks to this
dry, exhiIarating atmosphere. l have
become vigorous enough to enjoy
trampS for sketching.
had anticipated stupid time, as
far as society is concerned, but nap.
PLY fell in with two pleasant com
panions at The Oaks. One a lady
(wh0, by the way, was once resident
of your city,, MAS here like myself
for health, and the other was a young
fellow about my own age, enjoying
elegant leisure" but not yet spoiled
Ivy his millions. Miss X. proved to
be a musician, and our evenings were
accordingly spent at the piano. Jack
r., as much of an enthusiast as my
self where music is concerned. afford
ed us a pleasing variety by setting TO
music Cheney's poem, which appear
ed in the April Century, and so the
little trio Of congenial souls, as we
proved to be, whiled away many
delightful evening with music and
books and bits Of travel thrown in
here and there by our lady friend
from her own experience.
Jack and myself started one glori-
Gus spring morning for Eagle Rock.
We left 1.-THE Oaks" at 6 A. NJ. The
little town was hardly stirring, so we
had chance to see it for once in per.
feet repOse, if in respOse it can ever
he said to be, for ii is all awry, every
thing in angular perspective +; utterly
disregarding the fact that a straight
line is the shortest distance between
two points, it obliges its residents to
walk all about an acute angle to reach
that other point, though it seems al.
most at hand.
From THE Oaks" to the heart of
the town there is a gradual descent
of sixty-five feet. but for the other
hills there are no gentle gradatiOns,
but one, two, three, and sometimes
four tiers Otsteps, with inclined planes
thrown between. The court house
and beautiful little Episcopal chapel
half buried in mass of foliage, look
down from the highest hill, which
Jack and haye named "CapitOline,"
from the similarity of one side of the
court house to the back of the old
Capitol at Rome.
AS for the hill back of "The Oaks"
Miss K. one day called my attention
to its natural amphitheater, remark
ing that it reminded her very much
of the old ruin at Milan.
These and other Oakland notes we
had time to make, for Jet, our horse,
proved to be in contemplative mood
otherwise "nO go" in her-unfor-
tunately for us, for Eagle Rock is
nine miles from Oakland. Jack help
ed Inc for time to forget the quad.
rupedal Obstinacy, RECALLING me with
It'd bits of village gossip. but after we
hal turned into the glade and were
fairly en-route, we tried every pos.
sible resource to make that animal
go. After exhausting the whip, coax
ing, and even moral suasion, without
producing any marked effect, finally,
in despair. l suggested that we should
try to charm the beast with Cheney's
Love Song. Jack volunteered to serve
as a solo, and his rich tenor added
additional grace to the words,
Love, you are in the hills"
Jet trotted away as if she, too, en-
joyed it, but as Jack reached the
lines,
"But ah I know my loved one thrills
With touch oflove and me-"
Jet relapsed into walk and Jack in
to indignant silence; the "tonch of
love" having failed to fulfil its mis-
sion, Jack resorted to numerous
touches of the whip, and so, after
much labor, we turned into Thorn
Drive; from Thorn Drive we came
upon Hazel Glade Center then burst
upon our vision such II pastoral scene
as l wish THAT your readers could
| haya anioHaH Nrith ,,s