The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-09-24
THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY,
"trip ofa Tourist Through This Delightful
aud Historical Region,

"trip ofa Tourist Through This Delightful
aud Historical Region,
"Have a kerridgo AhpY,s sahl Thank
you sab" was tie poll saluta'ion that
~ ieeted our cara Ha we emerged fIOm
the train on the 6Ordtm of old Virginia.
W. chedHarper'N Ferry via the h, and
y, H. r., nnd there rested, no, 40 much
on account Of iatigu ~ u desire 10 see
no m"mOriai siiG OF John Browns Raid
We fuu IL rpers F5rry TO be u delight
fully Htuaud but sleepy dilapidated
old town Of about one thousand slow
going Inhabitants wuO are dreaming
Ihe hours away IN happy remembran
c0a OF The g0O' Old times that have gone,
Once when thB government supported
an arsenal there aud thus furnished
employment for hundreds OF skilled
mechanics. II was "A thriving town -,hOw
II might be mistaken for the original OF
Washington lrvinR's famous sketch; for
II IN Indeed vertable sleepy hollow.
The ruins Of the once extensive govern
ment buildings reflect sadly on the BIT
tor sectional strife that divided our
country 01ly few years ago, The on.
gine house bears II crude algn upon
which II painted "J0hn Browns Fort"
II VIVA this building that the old gen
ileman occupied during hla llrs,memor.
ial raid into Virginia Here no was
Al.O captured by United States troops
under command of Captain Robert E.
Loe, atterward Tho famous Confederate
Gsoeral, Some OF the Old cltiz,n4 who
we're made prisoners NJ the time OF
Browne raid, take pre'emiuent delight
In sitting upon The porch OF the prlnci.
pal hotel aud rela,ing Their experience
during the inciplent raid and fuslade
Of muskeiry In ana around the fort,
Tho step from the sublime TO tho sor
did IN Indeed short and the memory OF
John Browns Fort may he pprpetuated
by means Of It's own productions. A pa
per company without soul or any rev
prenc0 for historical points OF interest
haa purchased the old araonHl site with
ila magnificent water power (leftin
will so1n erect u pulp mill. Perhaps
after Nli the wide Potomac that rolls no
placidly and no unCOnsclously Of evil
down To the sea, IL responsible for fur.
niehing the Temptation TO the enter
prlsing trespassers. The whole tranaaC.
tlon " In keeping with the spirit OF the
Yankee who calculated" uIon the
waste Ut Niagara Falls.
The heights aroundllarpor'a Ferry are
beautiful steep, rugged and high, The
Wild goats that wander NJ will over the
mountain aidoa and leap about from
point TO point remind one OF the days OF
primitive simplicity and this feeling IL
augmented by tho exceedingly quiet,
peaceful character Of the dwellers In
tho valley. There seems TO be nothing to
disturb the serenity OF the place but |
fear the material world has invaded
these quiet domains aud u few years
hence tho entire complexion will have
been changed. AT present one cannot
realize that once and that time not
long past, Immense cannon fr0wned
over the edge OF the great hills and that
thousands OF bright, brlstling muskots
In tho hands OF tho boys In blue and
gray exchanged their leaden mlssives.
We stayed In uIrper's Ferry over
night and In the morning took our way
down the Shenandoah Valley This
charming country should DO seen In or
dor 10 be properly appreciated 40 no
description, however graphic can give
one an adequate Idea OF ite quiet beauty.
or tho ravages Of the two great armies
made during the late civil war, not q
trace ie Visible, We are told that they
met aud fought, that they destroyed
fences, bridges, houses and stock In
their struggle for life aud property, aud
yet oil these statements must DO taken
upon faith for we look In vain for any
finger mark Of tho war, The people arc
bright, happy and Industrious, their
homes have been restored, prosperity is
every where evident, and what must
have seemed to the inhabitants u great
evil settling down upon them, was In
reality u blessing In disguise and has
resulted In tho best good even In their
own timea La its palny days before tho
war, Tho Valley was never what II In
now. Even Winchester has thrown of
tho blrden Of dlecouragement which
must have fallen upon II during the fa.
mous- battle when tho much needed
Sheridan was miles away"
In the evening at seven o'clock, we