Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1889-08-22
Ts'1irginia free gress.
". ". d. GALLAHER, Editor.
august %, 1889.
Hoic We Keep Cool.

We have now reached the middle of the
summer and "Old Sol" is pouring fourth his
warmest rays upon Us.
Tie mercury in the thermometer will busy
itself trying to escape through the top OF
the the glass tube, while man, poor persplr-
ing man, will puzzle his brain in devising
some way by which he may keep COOL and
escape the biting of the energetic Jersey
mosquito.
Most of the enterprising steamboat COM
panes here, knowing mans propensity for
a trip on the water, have made arrangements
for. and run excursions to the different re-
sorts on the river and bay Light Street
Wharf is the mecca" Tor the Baltimore ex-
cursionists, and bright and early each morn
inc during the season the street is thronged
with crowds of parties, with their tempting
and tastiy arranged baskets, on their way
10 the steamers.
The most popular resorts on the bay are
Bay Ridge and COLCHESTER, and their i'm
mense steamers carry down daily thousands
of people. These resorts are fitted up Is
fine rs brains and money can make them
The grounds are filled with all sorts OF
amusements-e,e electric railways, flying horses,
boating. coasting on sleds mounted on wheels
and countless other things to while away
the time and catch the penny of the liberal
young Americans The steamers leave
the city as early as a. M, returning at
about the same hour in the evening. The
ride is a delightful one as well as full OF in
terest to the observer.
The sail is through the harbor, passing the
many little sloops loaded with truck OF all
descriptions from the Eastern Sho', the Bal
timorean's garden. A splendid view of all
the shipping here greets the eye, the immense
steamers of the Boston Steamship Co., the
gigantic steamer, "John w. Garrett" which
ferries the trains of the b. q o. across the
river. As we round the curve which leads
us out into the channel we catch a view of
the new gun boat, "Petrel," with Its yawn-
ing port-holes and dangerous looking guns.
Then comes Fort Nc enry, and farther
on the unfinished structure called Fort Car
roll, and the observer begins to wonder why
Congress doesn't make an appropriation for
the work.
While he is thus amusing himself the
cbimneys of the great steel works rise up
before him and he is awakened from his
wandering thoughts The steel works when
completed will be the largest in the country.
They employ an army of men, run their
own railroad and stores and have prohibl-
tion on the grounds.
Another popular trip is the "aIl day on
the water" excursion up to Port Deposit,
Miles River and other places Of interest on
the bay A splendid view of the b. x o..
r. r. bridge is obtained on this trip. This
is one of the finest bridges out of the city.
1t crosses the Susquehanna River and Is 80
feet high. Hundreds of mothers with their
little ones benefit themselves by this quiet
day on the water.
Then comes the free excursion, which Is
one of the best charities that our city has.
The police issue tickets to the deserving
Door. and there are many who would not
re. a breath Of pure country air but tor these
free excursions The society have beautl-
ful grounds at Chesterwood. Numerous
little cottages, fitted up neatly, are scattered
around the grounds, and here the sick ones
are taken and receive medical attention. 1t
is an interesting sight to see the large hun
cry crowd fed. One of the committee slices
the bread with a machine while another
buffers it and yet another puts the ham be-
tween and passes it out to the people who
have been standing in line waiting their
turn. The Western Maryland r r. also
carries loads of excursiOnists to Its resort,
Pen Mar, on the crest of the Blue Ridge
And last but not least comes the Moon
light Trip" starting down the bay at p. m.
and returning somewhere in the neighbor-
hood of morning, after the cars have stopped
running; and the Sc week fellow groans
as he takes his intended home in a cab But
after all this is the popular trip for the
beaux and bellies, although we heard one
Young lady exclaim that "she didn't like
these excursions; the stools on the deck
were so uncomfortable as they were minus
the backs" However, we noticed afterwards
that the young man with her had made her
very comfortable by changing the stool TO
an arm chair.
1t i. useless to tire the reader with an ac-
count of any more of the trips out Of cur
/ Monumental city; for what has already been
written will show how some OF Us who
haven't cottage at the seashore, or suite OF
rooms at some mountain resort, manage to
keep cool and run the city during the sum-
mer.
But SCOT the fall will reach US and the
! Saratoga trunks will come rolling in, while
we are bored to death listening to the fish
ing warns Of the would-be fisherman.
WELLS HAWKS.
Guard 411fnsf the Strike.