Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-08-09
Bunker Hill Correspondence.


i Amidst drizzling rain last Friday
week crowd of about forty of US
boarded the 7:3O train at this place
bound for Mt. Alto, for day of pleas
ure. The morning did not look very
bright for pleasure but soon the clouds
rolled by and smile of pleasure was
seen on every face. The scenery along
the line was grand and as We were
carried through the Cumberland Val
ley / noticed that the farms were
looking well with the exception of
the corn which was badly affected by
the drouth. Everything denoted
that it was the land of plenty. Our
party arrived at the ground in good
time and after seeing that the baskets
were safe started on our ramble. Since
my last visit to this noted picnic
ground there has been quite change;
new buildings have taken the place of
the old and the grounds have under
gone complete repair andeverything
has been done to INVITE the pleasure
seeking public here. My ramble took
me up the steep mountain side to Oak
Knob ; it was hard work to reach it
but once there was fully repaid by
looking at the grandest scenery one
desires to see /; cast your eye in any
direction you can see cities, towns and
fine farms in a high state of cultiva-
ton; after looking at this grand sight
l started to return but was puzzled to
know the quickest way to get down,
walk or slide down on a board there
being no board in reach 1 chose the
former and landed safely at the foot.
1 rambled thence to the Pearl of the
Park in my opinion this spring re-
ceiYed its proper name; to say it's
beautiful would be only putting it
mildly. Whilst here 1 witnessed
quite an amusing scene, A couple of
young ladies and gentlemen were
sitting on a seat short distant from
the spring, when one of them exclaim-
ed, ooh. / am so thirsty" AS a
matter Of politeness expected to see
the young man tear himself off to
waitupon her, but was disappointed;
he coolly said there is the spring, 90
get your water, which they proceeded
to do while the young man stepped
behind tree to quench his thirst
from a bottle of Monticello. The
hour for dinner arrived, l started for
the restaurant to supply the wants of
the inner man and was. supplied with
all a hungry man wanted. Just here
let me say if you want good meal,
kind and polite treatment, you can
find no better place in this particular
/ noticed great change from former
years. Lighting my two-forf FIVE l
started on my rambles but did not go
far before 1 struck my friend, North,
who with a where-Will- I-find-it smile
on his face said, amt it dry here /; as
the old saying is we tipped the waiter
and sent out for some but at this writ
ing he had not returned and even for ,
got to bring our money back.
This closed my rambles as train
time was on hand, l started in that {
seeing one of our crowd
quietly eating his supper L notified
him ofthe time he replied, I'll eat
my supper if it takes all night. I am i
under the impression that it took all 6
night as the train rolled from the sta !
ton l saw him still pulling ON piece '
of chicken he arrived home safely {
next morning. This was day well
spent, every one enjoyed himself /; no :
accidents to mar the pleasures of the {
day the ladies especially las they
made some fine mashes on the boys
of the picnic are loud in the praise
of Mount Alto. | cannot close until
| tell you that our crowd was c0mpos-
ed of almost all branches of trade. {
We had the farmer who raises the {
the miller to grind it; the ,
mill wright in case the mill broke !
down the shoemaker was ready to I
repair our shoes; the merchant with
his sample of lemons the blacksmith {
in case the train broke down; the
hotel mistress who was ready to sup
ply us with grub the school mistress
who was ready to instruct US last but
not least was the young medical
student with his medicine case ready
TO relieve US in case of sickness. This
was jolly crowd if we could have
had We editor with US, the crowd
would have been complete. Then
you would have had a better descrip-
lion of everything than is given by
s, 400. OLD NICK.