Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-09-26
From the Catholic Mirror. Sept. 15th.]
Picturesque Harper's Ferry.

From the Catholic Mirror. Sept. l5th.l
PICTURESQUE Harper's Ferry.
Editor Catholic Mirror: When one, awed
by the grandeur of the rare combination in
nature at Harper's Ferry, declares it the
glorious elimination of the perfect conson-
ance of the Potomac scenery, he speaks that
which none can deny. Nevertheless, he does
not do it full and complete justice, for here
is the Shenandoah fastening to rapid and
rapturous union with the Potomac, while
over them historic memories throw the we'd
ding veil, as it were, and render the marli-
age of the waters most memorable. 1t is
difficult to portray with the brush or de-
scribe with the pen Harper's Ferry. The
glory Of the trio of towering heights, which
stand sturdy upon the borders of three
States (the work of nature), and the grand
and wonderful Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
bridge over the Potomac 1.-THE work of mans
brain and hands,) so impresses and fasci-
mates one as to cause all that is responsive
in him to pay tribute. Loudoun Heights, on
Virginia shores, which lose their borders in
the waters of the Shenandoah, soar upward;
the tangled masses of foliage, the SCARED
crumbling rocks, the gaunt armed pines and
symmetrical evergreens form pictures them.
selves; and many time have Toasted my
artist appetite, when memories of the sacred
past came stealing over my imaginative
soul. Stalwart boys in blue and in gray
struggled through those thickly growing
trees and bushes, and one and then the 9TH
er signaled from the highest peak to an.
swering forces, like themselves cloudward.
Nesting under the kindly protection of
the billowy masses of Bolivar Heights,
quaint and orumbling Rarper's Ferry lies.
The white steeple of St. Peters Church
lifts its glttering finger, indexing the final
ambition of man, while the weatherbeaten
side of an old-time warehouse dwarfs sur.
rounding dwellings by its larger dimen-
sions, throwing them into such deep shade
as to cause an involuntary feeling that the
| shadows of the past and of the present are
in keeping. One cannot look upon the pic
turesque and weather-be town, and
climb the rugged and wind testing streets
without wondering at every step if John
Brown went that way to his death, or if the
great and noble Generals Jackson, Lee,
and Burnside marched their men along
these same quiet streets. The old engine
house where Brown made his stand still
exists, and can be seen from the car win
dows of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
From the top of Bolivar Heights the view
is grand beyond description, and almost ev-
cry foot of the wide expanse of country laid
so temptingly before the eye is historic
ground. Maryland Heights are just op-
posite, and over the Potomac, in the State
from which the name is derived; Loudoun
Heights are in Virginia and Bolivar Heights
in West Virginia. High upon the rock,
which has ever since retained the name of
this ilustrious statesman, Thomas Jeffer-
son stood, and warmly declared the view
worth journey over the Atlantic to behold.
Standing" he says, son very high point
of land, on the right comes the Shenandoah,
having ranged the foot of the mountains a
hundred miles to seek vent; on the left
approaches the Potomac. in quest of a pas.
sage also. In the moment of their junction
they rush together against the mountain,
rend it asunder, and pass off to the sea-"
During the years which have passed since,
the rock has been preserved as carefully az
though its material were precious. Time
has extracted all the bitterness; fraternal
kindliness has taken the place of vengeful
| feeling, and arms that once were raised
against each other now couple in hearty
| communion and during the latter part Of
| the summer old soldiers and others, the blue
and the gray, impeled by the same reeoleo
tions of the past, camp at Harper's Ferry,
and spend the time rambling together over
| the historic ground, once anything but
green, whichnow nantes soil and memories
alike.
In this old, picturesque town, SO full of
memories of the war, stands, as we have
said before, St. Peters Church. 1t is built
on foundation of rock. but the walls of the
church are unsafe, hence it is proposed to
build new one. Rev. Thos. J. Wilson,
the pastor, full of zeal in the cause of our
holy Mother Church, has charge of twelve
other missions. These missions, which he at
tends cnihly, with all his other duties, are
scattered through the sections of country SO
historic from the late war. This is his fifth
year of uosk and zeal at st. Peters, having
bnilt and paid for during that time new
school house costing $4,000 at Harper's
Ferry. aud is building at present two new
chu' ches in the missions, and will award
the contract for a third in few weeks. In
three years from now the building of the
new 81 Peters Church at Harper's Ferry
will begin, for which the present fair at
that place is being held. II is said that the
display of fancy articles at this fair far sur
passes anything of its kind since the war.
1t will continue until the 18th of September.
The missions of VIII CD father Wilson has
charge are very poor, and it is to be hoped
that those who enjoy the greater privileges
of the Mother Church 10 the big cities will
not forget the needs of the poorer children
Of this universal Mother, and out of their
plenty send some aid towards the building
of these churches, which are to be erected
in order to receive more fittingly the divine
Master. Any contributions sent to Rev.
Thomas j. Wilson, st Peters Church,
Harper's Ferry, West Va, will be CRATE.
fully received by priest and people.
| BERTHA Won HILLERN.
Summer Studio" Fishers Hill, Shenan-
doah County, Va, September 4, 1888.