The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-09-06

Inc farmers in this vicinity are preparing
Inelr wheat ground. Flowing nearly ali done.
Ihreshlng over. Some are holding their
wheat, hoping for an advance in price. The
indications are that there will be an extensive
crop sown. Fertilizers are sold at about the
same prices as last year. Many farmers are
Inning; at Woodbine may be seen al most any
DAY IN the week whole train of cars on the
siding loaded with lime and phosphates. and
for loading wheat for shipment.
We learn from G. A. 0wines. merchant at
Woodbine, that his store was entered by a
burglar ON Sunday night last. The suppose
ton is that the thief was frightened off, as
nothing was missing except about rs cents in
nickels left in the drawer, which was broken
open. The desk was ransacked and books
and papers turned topsy-turvy. There were
several trade dollars in box in the desk
which were overlooked. Mr.. Owings is sell
ing off his stock, and will be succeeded in
business there by Samuel Waters about the
first of next month.
Geo. X. Leach is erecting a new dwelling
in this place. The Presbyterian Church here
is being renovated, and will be repainted with
out and within.
There will be private school for young
ladies and misses opened in the near future
in the old Stone Church here. Miss Dawley,
teacher of the primary school, began on
Monday last with over 20 pupils.
Chas. c. Owings, known throughout this
and adjoining counties as a stonemason and
plasterer, is very ill., and in all probability
ere this..is in type he will have passed thro'
''the valley and shadow" Reuben Warfeld,
an octogenarian of this town, is also confined
to his bed. He has q host of friends and
acquaintance throughout the state. For 80
years he was magistrate here, and is we'll
known as a surveyor. He was once mem
Der of the Legislature, and has always been n
writer Of rhymes.
There was an 'all-day meeting at the NJ.
P. Church at Poplar Springs on Sunday.
Rev. Mr.. Lassell, pastor, and Rev. Mr.. Trout,
former pastor, oiiiciated.
We did not report the soiree at Poplar
Springs, because, like the Frenchman's flea,
we were not there.
Visitors and boarders who have been rusti-
eating in the country are turning their eyes
and their thoughts cityward.
The annual picnic of the Lisbon Sunday
School was held on Tuesday of last week in
a grove near town, and was largely attended.
The Lisbon Brass Band rendered several airs
On Thursday of last week we boarded the
train at Woodbine to join a party of friends
on an excursion to Luray Cavern. After n
ride of two hours we reached Harper's Ferry,
where we found old John Browns fort in the
first stages of ruin, placarded with circus bills,
&c, while dilapidated mules and cows, with
a far-away, yearning look, were striving to
obtain bite of the scant herbage-as his
tsoul goes marching on" We arrived at the
Shenandoah Valley Railroad Junction at
1915. Here we find single track road, with
a ride of &C miles before us. When fairly
under way we pass Charlestown, when a
beautiful panorama is spread out to our view.
Already the advance guard of early autumn
lends delightful tints to the flowers, and i'll
the woods and hedges scarlet and golden
leaves of the maple and gum and haw, together
with the red sumac, are blended with the liv
ing green of the oak in one harmonious whole,
on which the eye may feast.
AS we whirl along we pass miles of lime
stone fence, here and there an old neglected
graveyard, o'ergrown with nettes, where the
Shiny snake glides above the cold and pulse
less breasts of the dead. Jefferson and Clarke
are wheat growing counties, wherein we saw
large stack yards of unthreshed grain. South
of Berrysville we saw many new cottages,
weatherboarded vertically, painted slate color,
with yellow-sometimes white-strpping,
porticoes trimmed with white and vermilion,
forming a pleasing contrast. In the southern
part of Clarke county we reached belt OF
pine land wherein the corn was small. At
Riverton we have a delightful view of the
Massanutton. Here we crossed the Shenan-
doah river and the Manassas Gap Railroad,
90 miles from Luray.
Arrived at Luray at 50; found it to be a
town ofconsiderable Importance and progress.
The hotel is situated on a knoll surrounded
by large, we'll kept lawn, interspersed with
beds of geraniums, coleus or trl-colia, scarlet
sage, &c. Local option prevails there. One
mile from the station we reach the cavern,
whose exterior is little round hill where
sumacs and shrub oaks are growing and cattle
browse. OF the interior we might write page
upon page and still fail to give comprehen-
sive idea of its wonders and beauties to one
who has never entered it. To summarize
briefly, we were impressed by Pluto's Chasm,
Oberon's Hall, Brands Cascade, Titania's
Vale, wherein we behold the Druid's Monu-
ment, &c. Hard by the Frozen Fountain is
Diana's Bath Room, little grotto in which is
pool of clear water, said to be feet deep at
one end, &C. Truly this is one of the Won
ders as well as one of the beauties of Nature
and of Natures God, and to the student of
Nature will well repay visit.
Sykesville was well represented on the ex-
curgjOu.