The Wilmingtonian. (Wilmington, Del.) 1882-188?, 1884-07-26
sATURDAYJULY 30, 1854.
a RAlIBLE BY RAIL.


For THE WILMINGroNrAN.
In journey by rail the scenes shift so
swiftly that it is a difficult matter, even for
an experienced word painter, to take in
many details along the route. A sort Of men,
tai coup d'gil an instantaneous photograph
is all that can be obtained. AS seen from
car running at the rate of 80 miles an hour,
the aspect of the landscape is as evaneScent
and as changcable rs tho expression of
regret to the writer that he is compelled,
from this cause to present a series of fugi-
tive sketches, rather than a carefully detailed
picture of the nouthern route to Reading.
a philosopher has sagely observed that
there is only just time in this world TO take
IA cursory peep at everything. The pano-
rama rolls by. we stoop to count the
petals of flower, whole mountains and val
leys have gone out of sight forever. Artists
who carefully work out their fairgrounds
almost invariably lose sight of the solemn
gloom of the middle distance; their attention
is so concentrated on the flowers beneath
their feet that the tender grace Of the
extreme distance becomes for them mere
Indefinite mistiness. This is just the pred
icamcnt of the word-paintcr ON the rail. lie
must sacrifice one thing or the other
breadth or detail. And he has to make his
selection on the instant; there is no time for
correction, and after-thoughts, like regrets
for ms-spout life, bear but bitter fruit On
cultivation.
The seventy-two miles of country which
separate Wilmington from Reading are
dotted all the way with way-sidc stations,
perhaps twenty in number, and the mail
train which leaves Wilmington at seven a.
IN. stops at every one Of them. The journey
is thus extended to three hours and hall, but
the beauty of the scenery is all the better
appreciated for the slowness of the travel.
Indeed a "trip by an express train would be
value!ess for the purpose of an essay like the
present.
AS soon as the cars clear the city limits
near the West Yard, the spires and factories
Of Wilmington are lost to view, and at Silver
brook the surroundings arc quite rural.
Next comes Greenville, and then DUPONT S,
where the general line of the Brandywine
Creek is taken up and thence followed
through all its windings, even up to its
source thirty miles away to the northwest
For the next five OF six miles the track rises
sharply, in one instance between Centre
Station and Granogue, by horseshoe curve,
Of about mile and half in length and two
hundred and fifty yards in width Beyond
Granogue the Brandywine comes well into
view, with the Summit Camp Meeting
grounds high up on the right. At Brooklyn
the line ruus along side of the creek, the
banks of which are dotted with the forms Of
fishermen who are tempting the willy bass al
the early hour in the morning when theil
appetites may be supposed to be the sharpest
and their caution banshed by night!
respite from persecution.
At Chadd's Ford there is long pause, /,
connect with the cars of the Baltimore Cen
trail line, which crosses the Wilmington ant
Northern track at this point. There is tim,
then, to jot down few notes OF historical
interest. The meadow on which the depo
stands was the scene Of the fight between
Generals Knyphausen and Wayne in tn
evcr-mcmorable Battle of the BrandywinC