The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-08-26
| A JAUNT ON THE BALTIC. AND OHIO.
| Harper's Ferry-The Valley of Virginia
Rockbridge Alum Springs.


Correspondence of The Egis and Intelligencer.
RoCKBRIDGE ALUM SPRINGS, VA, Aug
ust 1.-THE unprecedented heat of the
past few weeks has swelled the tide of
travel IN this direction, and on arriving at
the Baltimore and Ohio station at Wash
ington several coaches had to be added to
the long line of cars to accommodate the wait
ing throng. 1t makes its way through lovely
stretch of country, this eonqueror Of space.
AS we steam out of Washington on the Metri-
politan branch of the great Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, beautiful specimens of modern
are followed by less pretentious farm build
ingS and the teeming fields Of Montgomery
county, Md. This county resembles Hartford
more nearly, perhaps, than any other county
in the State, in its scenery and agricultural
productions, but Hartford man would be like
iy to point out differences in favor of his native
county.
As we approach the Blue Ridge at Harpers
Ferry the scene grows wilder and Nature, al
ways grander if less beautiful, when
unadorned, lies about us as it came
from the hand of the great First Archi-
tect. AT Harpers Ferry, 1.-The scene of the in
stigation of the rebellion" as u gentleman just
behind me remarked, we may buy from wary
old colored man, who always keeps one on
hand for the benefit OF credulous travellers, the
very last bullet fired by John Brown ut Col.
Robert E. Lee and his federal soldiers, when
that officer, since famous as the great Captain
of the Confederate army, led storming party
against the engine house i'll which John Brown
and his followers had entrenched themselves.
John Browns Fort, for many years an object
of interest, has been removed, believe, to
Chicago, where it will be shown at the great
Exposition next year.
At Harper's Ferry the Shenandoah river
unites with the Potomac, and the combined
waters appear to have forced their way
through the Blue Ridge. The scenery is bold
and beautiful Steep and rugged hills rise up
from the shores of the shining river, justifying
Thomas Jeferson's description of it as "one of
the most stupendouS scenes in nature"
But one can not subsst upon articles of
0ertu, even though it be one so rare John
Rrn IgnfC Ing hr1ll M mt i'm
scenery, and we were very glad TO see Il color
ed man board the train dexterousy balancing
upon his thumb and foretnger a mammoth
waiter of chicken, smokingihot and fried as
only Il 10 de wah" darkey can fry it. He was
poetical, this darkey, crying his wares in verse,
but though his poetical feet were incorrect, the
prosaic feat of catching and preparing the
chicken had been most satisfactorily perform
ed, and we were not disposed to be critical.
Leaving Harper's Ferry behind lis we enter
the beautiful Valley of Virginia. 1t is doubt
full whether a fairer spot can be found in all
this broad land. The Valley, is bordered on
the east by the Blue Ridge and on the west the
Alleghanies tower aloft here and there peak
rising from the blue heights into the bluer sky
above This Valley was the scene of some of
the most desperate fighting in the late war.
Here the Ashbys, Jeb. Stuart and Mosby, on
the Confederate side, performed feats of valor
with their dashing troopers and it was here,
too, that General Sheridan, or Little Phil as
he was called the equally famous Federal cav
airy leader, won his laurels All traces of the
war have been effaced by the beneticent hand
of time, and instead OF grim cannon, stacked
arms, and the pomp and panopIy of war, the
traveller sees smiling homesteads, well-tilled
barns and peace and plenty on every side. The
Valley abounds in historic interest but as the
well-appointed train glides along swiftly we
can only note from the window of the hand
some and comfortable parlor car, the stations,
and recall the story, so often told i'll histories
of the war, of the marches, routs, bivouacs
and enfiladng'' which occurred in every por-
ton of the Valley.
But the haven where we would he was the
Rockbrdge Alum, and at Staunton we must
change to the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
i'll order to reach that point. The county in
which this resort is situated takes its name
from the bridge of stone, called the Natural
Bridge, that remarkable piece of masonry
formed by Natures cunning hand. At the
Rockbridge Alum four mineral springs of
wonderful remedial efficacy gush from the
pavilion, surmounted by statue of Hebe pour
ing perpetual hbatious to the invisible gods.
They are numbered, these four springs, and
we go on from strength to strength, or pro-
NOTED, in other words; for health, like Heaven
is not reached at single bound. We climb
the ladder round by round, and woe betide the
man or woman who recklessly plunges into
number four without the preliminary prepara-
ton of the system which comes from the use of
Alum was originally simply resort for nva-
lids, who came bringing their own accOmmo-
dations with them and encamped about the
grounds but merit. let it belong either to ind-
yiduals or localities, cannot remain long I'M
discovered. Enterprisng spectators have de- |
veloped this charming spot of retirement. So |
ciety lays claim to it and the devotees of fash |
ion and the pleasure seekers well as those in |
search of health now annually flock here in in !
1fKNfr hams