The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-07-13
A Bicycle Trip from kentucky to Mary
land

After examination, a college mate, Mr.. Har-
ry Lanius, of New Park, Pa, and myself de-
cided to reach our homes independent of rail-
roads and horses. Our chief aim was to see
the country and study the differences of the
people.
whence we started is one of almost unsurpass-
ed beauty and fertility. Within three or four
feet from the surface of the ground is Il solid
mass of limestone rock. The gradual decay of
this and the action of the rain upon it aids in
giving the soil its peculiar richness. Fully one
half of the fences are built of stones of this
character and they add to the beauty of the
farms. The farmers use no fertilizers except
in very rare instances where they allow their
fields to stand for while in clover. Springs
are of immense size. but their number is ex-
tremely small. In the corner of field the
farmer digs large pond in which rain water is
caught. BY peculiar quality of the soil this
water is held even through the dryest seasons
and, although continually muddy, it is in many
instances the only water for the stock. Farms
here contain about three hundred acres, and
sell for from one hundred and twenty-five to
one hundred and fifty dollars per acre.
In travelling to CovingtOn, which is the sec
ond city of the State in population, we passed
over a road which for forty or fifty miles, was
on the top of a water she'd Being considerably
higher than the surrounding country, we could
see in any direction to distance of ten or
twelve miles. The country, being somewhat
romantic and almost mountainous was ex-
tremely beautiful The roads of Kentucky
have quite reputation. Taken as whole it
is said that they are not surpassed by those in
any other State in the Union.
The Kentuckian possesses certain traits of
character by which he may be readily known
wherever met. Plain, frank, open hearted,
lacking perhaps u very small degree of Eastern
refinement, yet possessing a remarkable degree
of hospitality, he is not in the least unworthy
of the saying which makes him Il second cousin
of the Marylander. Before crossing the Ohio
we filled our pneumatic tires with Kentucky
air, which lasted us for six days riding, until
we reached Hancock. Md.
On leaving Cincinnati we found the country
more level and the people more independent
We had only to inquire the way to see the
change in the people. They seemed busily en-
gagged with their own affairs, answered ques-
lions in the fewest words possible and the SOON
err they were left alone the better for both par
ties. From Cincinnati to Columbus we found
beautiful stretch of land. Large farms with
heavy crops of waving grain and beautiful and
neat dwellings were 60 be seen on either side of
the road. The most beautiful picture of the Ohio
farm does not exceed the original. Fertilizers
are not used here. The soil is of very dark
color, and the fact that land cannot be bought
for less than 500 per acre. bears testi-
mony to its richness. The roads here are also
extremely fine, most of them being gravel
pixies.
At Columbus we took the National pike
which we followed nearly all the way to Balti-
more. The beautiful hopes which we had