The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-22

Lewiss place; some in the family mansion, some
in two-story cottage OF fourteen rooms, veran
das above and below the branches az three
magnificent oaks 80 spreading about as that WI
almost seem to be living Ia the tree-tops Our
table Is excellent Never we're hotter, whittier,
lighter rolls put before hungry mortals; never
larger, fresher mountain berries Only 10 Scot
land Is there to be had such mutton. and only in
Virginia such ham, corn pone and fried chick
ems. The vegetables are straight from the gar.
den. The walters are models of politeness aud
quickness, especially King, little meek, yellow
man, whose full name Is King the
Jews Dooley Colonel and Mrs. Lewis
fore the war they owned about hundred
slaves. The Lewis family is an old one Ii
held grants from the crown; entertained Gen.
Washington in this very house at Lynnside. and
have ancient graves in the cemetery. We find
one tombstone Of the date 1904 The little
cemetery, high on the hill back of the house,
needs some Old Mortality to brush away tbs
moss and to set up the fallen stones.
Our excursions have been singuarly pleasant
Yesterday jolly wagon-load drove over the
mountains sixteen miles to White Sulphur
Springs; dined at that famous resort where
there are now 500 guests, and returned ia
pouring rain, equally enthusiastic over the din
uer and the drive. Wednesday we all went In
hacks, wagons, buckboards and wha6ever other
rig could be pressed into the service, two and a
half miles ever winding road, through Sweet
Springs valley to Beaver Dam Falls. The
mountains on either hand, with varied, grace
ful. flowing lines are charming in color:
| newly.mown bayfield,, with its hay.
cocks scattered about; again it il
| the golden hue Of an oats6eld, with the warn
summer green's Of the forest beyond, changing
and softening in the distance to that misty blus
which seems q part of the sky.
The swift little stream that passes through
our grounds at Lynnside, rippes and rushet
| along the valley, now dancing through meadows,
now pouring over rocks at the Red Chalybeste.
and on down to the final plunge of seventy-twC
| feet where the daisy pasture" suddenly breakf
up into great cavernous cliffs.
The excursion that caused the greatest excite
ment was to Hanging Rock at the distance
variously stated of ten. twelve or twenty miles.
| The young and feeble were ruled out, and only
stout Alpine climbers started off with the mounts
| ain call at the gray dawn. Late in the after
| noon they came back, having suffered many
perils and thoroughly drenched with rain, but
satisfied and happy, as they had seen s'cleaS
! over into North Carolina
| Several of us are now sketchng picturesque
negro cabin about four miles from here. On
| our way over we passed the owner, old Aunt
| Mary. with her two little grandchildren, carry
| ing buckets of berries. The little girl was Han
nah Clara inthy Mary Ann, and the boy, when
| asked his age, piped out SIS mos as big as Han
ner" When Aunt Mary reached her cabin she
found 1t surrounded by easels, and amiably ac
| cepted the situation. giving US the freedom OF
her one room, and treating us to delicious milk,
| cream and all.
| For subjects we have invaded every part Of
the old mansion, from the low, quaint attic ia
that delicious bit of color, the basement Kitchen
with its time-stained walls and cupbcards
Grandma Lewis, herself, appears ia charming
sketch of her room by Miss Helen Brown,
member of the Bohemian Club. OF Chicago. The
| tall old clock. which ran successful race with
Time more than one hundred years, but whish
now stands silent monument of auld lang syne
| furnished one Of the most interesting motives
| to the class.
| The Saturday night exhibits of each weekt
work have been an Indictment and encourages,
ment to both pupils and teachers. Our Sunday1
| have not been our least enjoyable days. This
morning we went to the Catholic Church. meas
| by, and heard Bishop Cane preach sermon
| hfty-seven minutes long The churches in the
| neighborhood are far apart and the services held
air world however, one need never be at losa
for fitting place of worship. One Sunday, a
sweet, COOL calm, bright day, we gathered under
the majestic oaks In front of the house. the silent
mountains forming the walls, and the blue sky
the roof of our chapel Rev. Henry Ketchan
read paper on 'Longfeow," which he had pre-.
pared for his congregation in Menomonee, Wis;
Miss Carrie Goodwin, of New Castle, recited
| "The Psalm of Life; Miss Corwiu oil
| Greencastle. "The Builders" and Miss Brown,
of St 10, Mich. read designation
If His beloved who sleep have dreams Long
fellows dreams that day were sweet, the purity
of his life, the noble and elevatng character Of
his poetry were discussed.
We have been tempted to bring our happy
summer to close by an excursion to the sea-
side, Mr.. j. Fl. Martin, of the Chesapeake &
Ohio railroad, having offered US extremely cheap
rates, but at the last moment we have deter.
mined to wind up with the Natural Bridge