Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-07-31
"FATAL ROCK"
LE8kND or LASCAsrsk CUUSrEs
MOST NOrABBE srHEAM.
snunterings over Fisid and Meadow, Through
woodland aud by water Course The Ira
d,t,ons ot the Picturesque What allen
p,rN-so,ns Native Rural Romance

a palaces or the loss proiontous magniicence
of modern m ,nsions, when the cold formality
and p,oudogayoty OF city life becomes dis
tasteful to rs, We gladly break away to ram
BILE through field and forest aud 10 seek some
rural retreat whore undisturbod aud unre-
strained We commune with tho congenial
spirits OF our original nature Tell me n
draught more invigorating To tho lungs than
breath OF pure mountain air, or where can
You quan beverage half 80 delicious ~ the
pure, sparkling wator bubbling up from n
spring In glon Mans ingenuity and per-
sistonce have, indeed, accomplished much
that commands our admiration, but tho han
diwork OF God Is the archetype of ALI TO
Him through nature man Ia indebted for ALL
whether IL be art In " various mechanical
contrivances, with whatever else that ~ util.
tartan.
Thus, ~ all roads lead to Rome, 80 all
avenues bring us finally to nature, and here
mud tho cause why wa love TO court natures
solitude aud seclusion.
Obeying the promptings of n similar spirit,
betook myself one bright, CHEEKY morning
In the pleasant month Of May, TO the sur.
rounding country OF Lancaster, having par.
ucularly In view ~ one object of my visit
the beautiful What Glen park, lying on the
Concstoga, about two miles distant from the
city. II was one of those lovely mornings
when all nature seems astir Even tho city
did not escape the contagious spirit that per.
Naded maRcally all living beings. The din
and ciatter OF the city's traffic retained not
their wontod harshness, but mingled with
childhOod's merry laughter and pleasant
morning salutations they blended into An
. agreeable hum as distance between tho city
and mo widened. Tho country was wld"
awake. Birds had early begun their inhuns
and everywhere could be heard the liquid
ditty of merry warbors who in their ecstacy
would have drowned dany1uorruious tonothat
might have broken In discordantly upon the
Hood of melody. Acres of rolling land, well
titled and showing the thrift of its peaceful
Inhabitants, stretched far away To tho foot of
distant mountains. Tho face OF this earth had
donnod its green robe Nattegated with tho
beautiful tints OF flowers Dsw drops from.
hled tenderly on the tips OF grass blades aud
flashed back the stream OF sunlight that
poured down upon them. Through the
smooth green meadows, like a band OF silver,
the placid waters Of tho touestnga pursued
thor sorpentine course. This seemed, in
deed, ono of springs holidays, or II the
figure is not too eNtravagant, the INCEPTION
ot a series of yernal concerts to which we bad
season ticket II We chose Ia bo present
In the course Of my mornings saunterlng
| came to the desired point set down III the
course vaguely mapped out for tho day
What Glen park betrays the origin OF its ap
pellstion in its name. Some individual more
matter. ni.iact than romantic, following his
bent OF mind, ~ described by the former
epithot, rather than that fancy would dictate,
concluded To satisfy his disappointment in
not getting n name by calling II What Glen.
He that as il may. IL is none the less
charming spot, nor does its iDquisitive title
dstract one lot from tho romance with which
1t IL invested. Following the course ot tho
ConestOga, or approaching the park from the
north, you come to a small grove sparssly
wooded. Entering 1t for n little distance you
are brought tO point where, with a sudden
descent, the glen lies before you, and at It's
farther confines nOws by the broad stream,
with perceptible velocity. Some lew build.
ings and "A dancing pavilion are scattered
throughout the grounds which are now fire.
gueutly used by summer parties in picnck-
ing. Pendant from trees are stoutly timb5red
swings Tor such a. have a fondness Tor osCil-
latory motion. These peparatOns, of course,
have, to some extent, made havoc with na.
lures own setting of this scene. out OF the
glen, along the course OF the creek, path
leads to a hillside which is "A continuation OF
tho embankment dense undergrowth,
almost impenetrable, covers this area. The
main path, after leaving the hollow, Tamites
in every direction to thread the ntriCaCieS ot
thislow wilderness, until finally tho differ
ent paths come together again on "a promt-
nence. 4 few PAGES out towards the stream
il the edge OF the high and almost perpen
diCular rocky shore. Projecting out into the
stream IL a elf with its head overhangng
the waters below. the scenery is strkiugly
picturesque and romantic but this is not
manifest at a distance Not until you come
to the edge of the rock does the beauty OF 1t
become apparent ~ II at creation the design
wgs that its grandeur should depend on the
point OF vision. To one bending over the
edge OF the rock the depth becomes frlghtful
as he eazes long and intently on the hood
below. lie feels secure in the possession o I
his senses for awhile, then comes crowdiug
into his mind thoughts OF sudden attacks oil
strange spells of sickness, conceptions OF
what would be the result II, with suicidal in
tent, he should hurl himself down on the
rocks below-and, gentle reader, did you
ever observe into what strange moods we do
drop what dark and horrible Images inn.
agination pictures forth when death Is within
an enticing distance, where we can daily
with him, cajole him and yet bid him stay
AS lay clinging to the edge of that preci-
pice will not gain my purpose by detailin &
the strange feelings that possessed mo, the
shudders that horror sent through my frame,
or the spectral faces that grimly looked up
from the depths below. 1t il sufficient to
say that my feelings were presently broug ht
unfairly shrunk back, fearing, II ] turned
my head, that instant to behold some demon
i'll human form, conjured up by imagination,
in the act OF giving me fatal push.
After had regained my composure the
thought forced itself obtrusively, even tena-
cously upon my mind. May not some
woe-begone mortal here have met fatal
end? For on such spot the heart fostering
with ranking sorrow will brood and nurse
its grief where erst 1t thrilled with delight,
even as in quick succession follow sun-spot
and cloud shadow.
Retracing my steps, met an old man
shadow had well nigh reached its greates
length in the evening of life. With the usua
greetings and respect that youth pays to Ole
age, | ascertained that no had been a life Ions
resident in the vicinity, and consequently
was versed in the local history and Legendary
lore OF his birthplace. To the question
whether the rock which engaged our atten
tion was known by any name, he, after some
reelection and dubious look at the interroga
tor answered atlirmatively, "Yes, Fnta
Rock"
ing the ashes from the bowl Of hi
pipe which he had been eontentedly smok
ing, he related the following pathetic tale
which will not attempt To reproduce in hi
yernacular, but will repeat in substance.
One September evening, in the fall OF Is
slim young man, of prepossess!ng appear
ance, alighted from the stage that had draw
up before wayside Inn near the city. Thes
inns at that day were intermediate stations
atiording nights rest to the waggoners VIII
transported cereal products from Pttsbur
TO Philadelphia, and articles of merchand Is
from the latter to the former place. grou
Of idlers, among whom was mine Jolly hos
had been awaiting the arrival of the coaci
When 1t came To standstill and had d,
posted its living freight and luggage, til
young parsonage approaching an ndiyidul
whom he singled out rs the landlord b
reason OF his rubicund visage, inquired Il
way to "A neighboring farmers. Having r.