The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-08-30

mounted by large figure Of Confederate
soldier, in butternut coat and broad d-brimmed
hat. Many of the states have erected
beautiful monuments in memory of their
sons who here rest. The one which most
attracted the visitors was that erected by
their own state, This is a handsome
square marble monument, about 20 feet
high, with a life size figure of Confed-
crate soldier, standing at rest, with reversed
musket. The four sides of the monument
are inscribed as follows:
TO THE MEMORY OF
HER Sons
Who Fell on Virginia Soil,
MARYLAND,
Manassas,
1861.
Appomatox,
1865.
Alike in blood,
Alike in faith,
They sleep alike
The last sleep of the brave.
Unheralded,
Unorganized,
Unarmed,
They came for conscience sake
And died for right,
Returning to the hotel, they were met
by Mr.. Barton, with whom they visited the
city spring. This is large rock basin,
about 12x15 feet and 4 feet deep. The
water gushes up from large black hole in
the centre, which it is said has been sounded
to a depth of 500 feet without reaching
the bottom. From the basin the water
flows through the city by two mains, one
Is inches and the other ten inches in diam
eter, while the waste water rushes out in
a stream Is inches thick--enough to sup
ply another city as large as Winchester.
1t is said that this spring has never failed
After supper our tourists, at 6.49 o'clock,
again made the mount, and accompanied
by Mr.. Barton, proceeded on their journey.
At Kernstown they met young lady on
horseback, attended by bicycler on his
wheel. The numerous pretty girls and the
preparation for festival which they saw
here, made them think of Longfellow' S
Excelsior boy and the Warden's call, but
remembering his example, they resisted
the temptation and pressed onward to
Stephens city, or Newtown. Here Mr..
Barton left them, and they rode on through
the gathering darkness toward Middle
town, which place they reuched safely at
8.32, having made the run of II miles
from Winchester in l hour and 38 minutes,
nearly half of the distance in the dark and
over strange road. Riding up to Larrick
Hotel, blast from all the whistles failed
to bring response, but rap or two with
the old-fashioned knocker on the door
speedily brought an answer. The Ram
blers soon learned that they were the only
guests, and that their coming had created
great excitement in the little community.
A walk down the street soon proved that
they were in local option town, but, ''if
you uns want some whiskey, Use de boy
dat gifts him fo' you, sah." As they did
not want any whiskey, this information did
them no good except to show them that
local option laws are evaded way down in
sold Virginny' as well as in our state cap
ital After writing the usual notes to
wives and sisters, they retired with many
misgivings, for the night was cloudy and
dark. Rising on the morning of the 31st
at o'clock, the heavens were still be.
clouded, and soon the rain began to fall and
continued until 7.30, when the sun ap-
peared, welcome sight. At 7.54 the
mount was made on a road made soft by
the rain. notwithstanding the rain and
the badly washed roadbed, the ride to
Strasburg, miles distant, was very en-
joyable one. Cedar Greek, running just to
the left of the road, with high mountains
four miles beyond, made the scenery very
beautiful. Entering Strasburg, the bicyclists
were very much astonished to see one of
the Poyneer wagons, and the gentleman with
whom the captain and secretary ran race
on the Washington road few months ago.
Without stopping in this little town, famous
simply because during the war one of West
minister's well-known citizens occupied it
for "a hours as provost marshal; after a
halt of few minutes on the rock bridge
at the foot of the mountain beyond Stras-
burg, our adventures proceeded to attack
Fishers Hill And what a hill No
wonder Early and his army escaped if
Sheridan and his forces had to climb such
hill. They call mountains hills in that
country: A mile and half long, rough
and stony, surrounded by land more barren
than the most unproductiye of the "Bar-
rens. y A rest of twenty minutes on the
summit prepared them for another mount,
but after ride of two miles the first hand
some farm house they had seen for a long
time tempted them to another halt. Here,
while resting fifteen minutes, our tourists
partook of lunch of bread, butter anG
milk. A further ride of eigh. miles,
through Toms Brook and Maurertown,
over rough road, up steep hills, against
strong head wind, brought them to Wood
stock, the county seat Of Shenandoah coun-
ty, at Il o'clock a. M One of the most
notable circumstances Of the trip up to this
point is the fact that nearly all the horses
met in the road, and quite all the drivers,
were frightened by the strange looking an
imal ridden by our wheelmen. Nohorses,
however, were badly frightened, and nearly
all could have been passed safely without a
dismount, as is generally the case, if it had
not been for the timidity of their drivers.
Up to this point the tourists encountered
many small streams crossing the road, with
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