The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1892-08-30
AT MIDDLEsBoRoUGH.
Rev. Geo. o. Barnes Warmly
Welcomed at the magic
City"
Things Dull In the Mountain Town,
But the Future is Full of Prom
ise and Prosperity for It's
Citizens.
Citizens.
"GoD Is LOVE AND NOTHING ELSE
PRAIsE THE LORD.
MIppLEspoRotH, Ky., AUG. /. ,02

MIDDLEsBoRouH, KY, Aug. l, '92
Dear Press :-4Good Bunyan, in his
unapproachable "Pilgrim's Progress"
brings his travellers en-route to the
Celestial City" through the EN-
chanted Land" That is where we
are now.
To one intimately acquainted the
rough wilds of Eastern Kentucky--as
in past years thoroughly traversed
from "eend to eend" by this quartette
of gospel tramps-the sight of such a
city as Middlesborough at the foot of
rugged Cumberland Gap is enchant-
ment-no less. Aladdin and the
slaves of his lamp seem to have been
at work in right earnest "while men
slept"
declare 1 can't quite realize it
all yet, though 1 have been staring at
it in wondering surprise for five
days.
There is the old "Gap,' whose out
line is not changed since first saw it
in the fall of lS4S, humping along in
the stage coach of those half forgotten
times, on my way to Savannah, Ga,
aged 81, seeking fortune by the pre-
carious rout of a clerkship in a cotton
factory Office.
So powerful was the impression made
upon me then that the forty-four
years that followed have not sufficed
to eradicate it. and the bold Pinnacle
to the left and contour of the noun
tains surrounding the valley of the
Yellow Creek come back to me, as a
memoryof something recently seen,
though never beheld, from 1S4S to
1892.
But Middlesborough! She sits in
scattered, skeleton granduer on alter
nate hill and vale, every inch the
Queen of Modern Progress; though
now with dropping head and lowered
sceptre, for brief moment while the
days of temporary mourning are upon
her.
The smoke has not issued from the
stately chimneys that surmouut her
costly "plants" for iron and steel and
the steady ebb and flow of her thou
sand of operatives coming from and
going to their work, has not yet set
in.
Her beautiful hotels are not now
thronged with eager guests at remm-
erative rates. One is closed, the 9TH
ers have a mere handful of visitors
that do not pay expenses.
The city is in eclipse just now,
"Total," outsiders say. "Partial'-
here residents retort with a courage
that never falters.
There is this fact, that strikes you
at once. Everybody in Middles-
borough believes steadfastly in the
future Of the place with placid faith
that is not little pathetic where so
many are changing on by the eyelid"
to their investments and wondering if
they can hold on till "the good time
coming" shall come and justify their
faith. That is the only question with
them. You will search the city in
vain for one who wants to sell if there
continues the faintest chance of hold
ing on till relief shall come, and athe
greatness of the city is well assured.
Undoubtedly many will succumb,
"hope deferred" will make many a
"heart sick" until the inevitable sac
rifice will reluctantly be made. But
that is all that buyer now will find
who brings ready money to invest.
You will find many who do not
live here, and who have invested, that
would like to sell; but, even they, not
at heavy loss. So potent is the
spell of what they have once seen;
though, once away, the memory of it
loses the power that constant sight
affords. Those non-residents will
shake their heads, talk despondently,
wish they were "out Of it," predict
disaster, till you wish to buy their
claims. Then they will coolly set you
price, if they can be induced to
name one at all, that reminds you of
the "great BOOM" and b.ots out all