Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-12-03

LETTER FROM NEW YORK.

Correspondence of the Yorkvillc Enquirer
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
New YORK, November 2S.-Being de-
tanned by business longer than expected
in this great city, and knowing that moth
ing could be accomplished during the hOli-
day, we determined to take our first trip
to West Point, and while away the night
and day in seeing this historic place. On
Wednesday afternoon we went up to the
Grand Central Depot, and were amused for
half an hour in the waiting room, with the
gay crowd Of pleasure seekers around us
all bent on catching some particular train
and anxious to be of-the boy and girl,
going from the boarding school in the city,
to their homes in the country. Fathers and
mothers with their little children, hurrying
to grandmas to enjoy Thanksgiving din
ners. At length our train was called and
rushing with the crowd were soon seated in
the car and ready to begin observations on
this new journey. The entire ride Of sixty
miles was all new and of great interest. The
tunnel under the great city, was the first OBJ
ject of wonder, and then the '"Hiigh Bridge"
over the Harlem River, which is an admi-
rabe work of art in it's great height, and
many stone arches, through which the diff
ferent trains find their way, out ofthe great
city. For the first time we realized New
York to be an island city, when we saw
the Harlem Join the Hudson river.
The Palisades were at first somewhat dis
appointing, but we soon found ourselves
wondering how came they there, and in such
position, and what kind of rock composed
them, and then this remarkable upheaval
in nature furnished food for thought, both
in regard to science and antiquity. We
dashed through Yonkers, Tarrytown, Peeks-
kill, and Sing Sing, The grey, grim prison of
the last named place with its stern iron bars
lowered above the stone wall that lined the
railroad track, and we wondered if there
was one heart among the hundreds there,
that felt likegiving thanks.
Very soon the train stopped at Garrison's
where the little ferry boat, Highlands, wait
ed to convey US over to West Point. n
crowd of young ladies with their doWager
chaperones, filled the boat, as we'll as the
omnibus and carriages at the other side.
Here we found the snow three inches deep
and the wind bowling amid the rocky
hills. We were driven to the West Point
Hotel to find it also crowded. The parlors
were filled with beauX and bellies, and see
ing the dazzling uniforms of the cadets, we
cast about for some one we knew. n cata-
logue being handed us by the clerk, and
looking at the names from South Carolina,
we found among them John Murray Jen-
kins, the son of our old friend and teacher,
Gen. Micah Jenkins. Our card was sent,
hand of the image and reproduction Of his
loved and honOred sire. The very smile
and shake of his hand, carried us back to the
old garrison days" when to meet his father
on the green, and get smile was an in
spiration for the day!
Young Jenkins invited us to the ''ger-
man." which was to be in the Mess Hall
that night, promising to secure chairs for
us. He was engaged for the evening to a
young lassie from our own South Carolina
the only representative of the State. We
went at s o'clock in the omnibus to the
Mess Hall, which was brilliant in gas and
enough to "trip the light, fantastic toe,"
and even if they had been it would be in
admissible here, for no civilian showed
himself in this gay throng of brass buttons
and gold tape!
We had chair and plenty of good sup
per, and were not expected to participate
further in this festive occasion. But our
ears were delighted with the music dis
pensed by the West Point Band, arranged
on platform at the end of the room, and
our eyes feasted on love and beauty. The
dresses of the young ladies were varied and
beautiful, and many of them quite "sum-
merry" We, who were playing "wall flow
err" had opportunity to take in both the
costumes and style of dressing. Comments
were made several times during the even
ing upon the light, graceful dancing of the
young lass in the german with MIR. Jen,
kins; and upon asking her name we found
it was Miss Sallie Belle Witherspoon, of
Yorkville, S. G. The dress was of blue satin
and velvet with terra Gotta gloves to the
elbow, and trimming of dutchess lace.
Her corsage boquet was of pink pond lilies,
and she bore away twelve favors from the
dances.
But we groaned in spirit and felt old,
when we thought that neither of these
young people were among the living in the
''old garrison days" We had our good
times, and now they must have theirs, even
though the "hey-day of life is over" for us.
At 1890 one tap on the old drum changed
the scene, and in few moments the beauX
were marched to the barracks, and the
bellies were carried by the doWagerS back
to the hotel.
The next morning the snow was falling in
large flakes, and many were leaving for
their homes in the city; but we fingered
till noon, visiting the library, chapel, bar
racks, gymnasium and other points of in
terest We met most of the South Carolina
boys, among them Lucas and Butler, who
walked with US over the ground and by the
officers quarters, which are ideals of domes-
IT,: comfort, as far as the appearance goes,
and we trust inside is full of peace and hap
piness.
We returned to New York charmed with
our visit to West Point, but saddened by
the old memories that came uncalled of our
own cadet life, and we felt like yielding to
the impulse Of giving the old ENQUIRER
the benefit of both the grave and the gay
awakened in us, trusting that dear old
York may ever have as noble and trust
worthy pupil at West Point as the one
who now represents her. AMICUs.
Correspondence of the YOrkvillc Enquirer
LETTER FROM CHESTER.
CHESTER, November 30.-Mr. John Es-
tes, one of our farmers, while riding on
mule on last Tuesday, met three men in