Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-26
Written for TEE EVENING STAR.
MANY LEAGUES In A BUGGY,
How Two Washington Women Enjoyed
Their Outing.


Their Outing.
ADVENTURES OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS RIDE FROM
WASHINGTON THROUGH WESTERN MAINLAND
REVOLVER WHICH WAS NOT UsED-INTEREsr-
ING INCIDENTS OF DELIGHTFUL JOURNEY.
To vary the usual program of summer out
ings friend as fond Of adventure as myself
suggested that we put her saddle horse to a
light buggy and drive up to visit some friends
| in the Blue Ridge mountains Of Pennsylvania.
All Of which we did.
1t is true we forgot q lantern and several
other useful things, but We did not forget a
five-barreled revolver, the all-important ball
Of Irvine and a strong pocket knife, without
which I'm afraid the trip would have ended
with the Rockville pike, but with which indis-
pensable articles we were enabled to travel the
200 miles we did not only withou. accident but
with greater amount of enjoyment than we
thought possible to put into twelve days.
The weather was fine, the country beautiful,
and what shall say of the air, which came to
us laden, as a real, prosaic fact, with the fra
GRANGE OF new-mown hay. We seemed to drink
In new life and energy at every breath. or
course We encountered a few 'lons on the
way, the first being the aforementioned
Rockville pike" which we were induced to
take on account of its being $50 plain We
tried the summer roads" running beside the
PIKE, but, coming to an impossible mud hole
on one that was too narrow to admit of turning,
and being compelled to alight and spend half
an hour IN backing out, we were glad to return
TO the boulders of the pike.
Our route lay through the beautiful farming
valleys OF western Maryland, and it being har-
vest time we were seldom out of hearing of
the mum OF the patent respers, which to US
seemed wonderful machines, as they not only
90 onIh A,,, 81, H..
DAYS JOURNEY.
Our general plan was to drive about Ave
hours, then picnic at some pleasant spot for
two or three, and then drive until dark, thus
accomplishing about thirty miles each day.
This was adhered to, with the addition of as
many short stops as We felt inclined to indulge
IN. A bit of fine scenery. a tempting lot of
berries or wild flowers, generally meant a stop
and handful of clover for Gypsy. our only
trouble being her great desire to follow as
We DoDbed In and out OF fence corners. Being
saddle horse she never seemed to realize the
responsibility back of her. Never have rev.
eled in such luXuriance of wild roses as
greeted us with their fragrance along the en-
tire way from Washington to Pennsylvania.
1t was well we took the precaution to have
our route carefully mapped out on paper before
starting each morning, as we rarely met any
one. and the cross roads were minus signboards
until we crossed the PENNSYLVANIA line when
VIC lOuuu iHOse inexpensive Dut mighty
portant guides at all the crossings The adj
vent OF our modest turnout in the country vii
lagos through which we passed frequently
awakened the astonishment of the sleepy store
porch ioungers, who were about the only
representatives of such communities visible
These we never failed to find. even if we did
sometimes fail utterly in obtaining even the
commonest information from them.
ON THE WAY UP
Going up we spent q pleasant Sunday at
Darnestown and Seneca Mills. Resuming our
journey early Monday morning, we stopped
for lunch under some wide-spreading oaks ad-
joining a very inviting looking farm house
near the Monocacy, where our request for milk
was not only granted. but we we're cordially
invited in and SO Hospitality entertained that
when we drove away at O'Clock il seemed like
parting from old friends In the course of
conversation We found our hostess was the
mother OF one OF our rising specialists in
Washington. as well as two well-known lawyers
IN nelghborlng cities.
After crossing the Monocacy we were over
taken by violent storm. and farmer dashing
past in buggy called out, You ladies had
better turn in at Maj. Snouffer's." Surprising
him to mean large manor house just ahead
we turned in" and were made very welcome
by the courtly major himself and his dignified
niece, who pressed us to remain to supper. but
being anxious to cross the Catoctiu mountain
before night we declined.
SAVED BY THE BOY.
AT Adamstown we stopped to make some in
quiries of the usual row of loungers.
Can we reach Jefferson before dark2"
''Oh, yes; plenty of time
els the road direct?"
"les; you keep straight ahead across the
creek there"
We were about to proceed, when a bare
footed but bright-faced boy came running M
and warned us not to think of attempting the
ford; that the rain had made it very dangerous
ana We would be swept down as soon as we en-
tered. He went on to tell us that few DAYS
before wagon drawn by four draft horses had
been carried away. The driver swan out and
another man rescued the horses by swimming
into the stream lower down and cutting the
harness. During the recital of all this we sat
aghast at the danger we had escaped and felt
| like doing some target practice on that row of
men who would have sat there and watched us
drown like rats. What to do was the next
question. One of the men drawled out: Il
rlcken the water'll fall fore morning and I
guess them folks across the street'H keep Won
| ali night" but the lad again came to the rescue
| by telling us of a bridge across the Tuscarora
in neighboring farm and offering to show us
the way and open the gates. We gladly ac-
cepted, and thus escorted crossed the mad tor
rent in safety. but owing to the circuitous
route 1T was shutdown when we reached the foot
of the mountain. Calling to a man in a house
near by to know If the road was steep, he an
swered:
Not very"
SIS it stony?"
"Not yery."
sis 1t very lonely?"
mo. there's lots of people on it."
Being In some doubt as to the meaning of the
last answer we decided this might be the time
and opportunity for the Derrnger to come into
| active service, so putting several cartridges in
place, and laying it on the seat of the buggy.
we sprang out to walk up, but instead of meet
ing highwaymen and tramps we found woods
mems cottages dotting the roadside all the way
| to the summit, at the doorways of which were
gathered the most peaceful-looking family
groups; several times turned to my companion
and pointing to the revolver we both burst into
hearty laugh.
WHAT DOLLAR AND A HALF WILL GET.
At Jefferson We found that local option"
| had closed the hotels, on account of the newt
able bar accomplishments, but were directed to
livery stable and n Every comfor table" board
| ing house, both of which we unfortunately
found say unfortunately, for on comparing
our condition with Gypsy's next morning we
| concluded the stable afforded better accommo-
dations than the boarding house, and that our
| dreams might have been more serene had we
| shared her oats and straw instead of the I'M
palatable meals, low-ceiled room with two port
| holes for windows and a bed hard enough to
| make war-worn veterans back ache, and
| harken We my friends, all for a dollar and half
| We shook the dust of Jefferson from our feet
next morning with the comforting assurance