The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-03-23


Our drive direct to Deer Park, a
distance of five miles, was over what
is known as the Old State road, but
which of late has been highly I'M
proved for the better accommoda-
tion and pleasure of the visitors at
these two places of resort. All of
this country, now so inviting and
productive, was hunted over many
years by the old hunter, long before
Oakland was thought of, and where
he had killed many deer and bear.
We halted alta huge, white oak,
Immediately on the road. from
whose branches he brought down
the largest panther killed during
his life.
Through Deer Park, with its
beautiful grounds, its magnificent
hotel, its earning cottages, its ar
tistically laid out and adorned
grounds, our drive continued across
the YoughioghenY, on whose banks
Meshach Browning. as early as 1925,
erected the first grist mill in this
section of the State, and around
and at the foot of the great Back
bone Mountain. The road was de-
lightful and embroidered with ma
jestic and romantic scenery, with
here and there some trembling lit
tie vista, through which could be
seen the outlines of distant noun
tains.
1t was at the close of the day,
which had been clothed with peace
and beauty, and while the Occldent
was upholstered with fleecy clouds,
that we drove across narrow por-
ton of meadow glades into Noun
tain Lake Paak, which has become
so famous IN the literary world. 1t
was not the numerous artistic resi-
dences, scattered in every direction
aud emboweres in shade, that at
tracted my attention. but the intol-
cradle splendor which enveloped
everything on which my eyes rested.
From the sloping woodland heights
came the songs of birds, so plain
tive and subdued that their voices
seemed the echo of golden harps
swept by the fingers of the forgot
ten dead. Over all rested the RAYS
of round, red sun, the richest
ruby in the jewelry of God. But
even as | gazed 1t passed away-sic
transit gloria mundi.
With the next morning | boarded
the train for home. Just as
emerged from tunnel near the
head of the 17-mile grade, which |
have already mentioned at some
length, OH one of the spurs of Say
age Mountain, lie in full view the
home of Gov. Frank Thomas dur
ing the last rs years of his life.
Where this maddened man of gen.
lus, when bankrupt in fortune,
almost crushed with domestic trou-
BILE. and after his party in his State
and Congressional district had
withdrawn its confidence, its almost
worship, sought isolation, and. if
possible, repose. Where after long
years Of abject seclusion, by some
strange freaks of fortune, a party,
deadly hostile to that which had
ever delighted to honor him, called
him from his seclusion and kept
him in Congress for - consecutive
years, and subsequently sent him
as minister TO foreign court. Dur
lLg which last term of public SER
vice he applied the most of his reve-
nue. arising therefrom in beautify-
ing and improving this home.
| remem bered | had visited him
at this place in the very first years
of its occupancy by him, while he
was living in floorless cabiL and
with no companion, save an old
negro man, the last remaining of
his once many slaves. Nor had |
forgotten the courtly dignity and
ease with which he received and
conducted me to a seat on a rude
bench under a peach tree near his
house, making no excuse for his
personal appearance, for he was but
poorly clad. nor alludlng in any
way to his extreme poverty.
How absorbed | became as
listened to some of the thrilling
scenes in the life of this man who
loyed to revel in the midst of the
tempest and view with conscious
pride the magical effect of his
splendid voice. This man of whom
it had been said: "Give him foot
of ground on which to stand, a
point on which to fix the fulcrum
of his lever, and if he could not,
like Archimedes, raise the earth,
he could at least shake the Judg-
ment OF the gravest and most
learned courts
| looked out on the very spot
where later on, during the day of
visit he cOnduptad ma in ordar to