West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1895-11-14
INN0CENcE ABROAD
Lights aud shadows OF an Excursion
To the Sunny south
Editorial Correspondence.
HOTEL ALEXANDRA,


ATLANTA, Ga, Nov. 5, 1895. (
Our letter written yesterday deals
more particularly with some of the
special features of the Fair. In this
we shall confine our pencil to moth
ing but the truth, aud may wobble
a little from that.
Our party left Washington last
"Wednesday, comfortably located in
two very fine Pullman cars. We
came by the Great Southern Rail-
way, one OF the finest and best
equipped roads in the world. Even
the day coaches on the through
passenger trains have smoking
room at one end aud dressing room
at the other, aud porter for each
Car. We cheerfullY recommend this
road to anyone going to the Expo
sition.
Before leaving Washington, Presi.
dent Reed had distributed among
the party very handsome badges,
made Of white satin p by 0 inches,
With gold leaf lettering as follows:
West Virginia Editorial Associa-
ton, Annual Excursion to Atlanta
Exposition, 1895" The ribbon was
attached above to white enamel
plato with gold plate rim, on which
appeared the word MEMBER. The
lower part terminated in gilt belt
and deep golden wire fringe. The
officers were all with the party and
designated by their badges.
The route through the grand
cold Dominion" lay along historic
scenes, and seated by Col. Bob
McEldowney, who served CALAMITY
in the Confederate Army, and
fought, bled and died all through
this section during the late pension
producing unpleasantness, we were
highly entertained with his descrip-
tons of the many stirring scenes he
witnessed about Manassas and the
other battle grounds of Virginia,
through which we glide so pleas
antly, and even faster than the
Colonel did occasionally when the
Yanks were after him.
Every station along the route re-
calls history, and the grand old
University of Virginia at Charlcttes-
vile, founded by Thomas jefferson,
is passed with part of it in smoking
ruins, from the recent fire which
came near destroying this famous
structure.
We cross the beautiful James
river, and our memory goes back to
the time of Pocahontas when she
saved the head of the celebrated
Smith family from destruction and
the ungallant Captain failed to
marry her, even after she followed
him clear over to England. There
were five of the Smiths along with
us, but, strange to say, none of
them were named John.
Shortly after leaving Dsnville,
we crossed over in to the "Tar Heel
State" and the shadows Of night
came down upon us, but the full
moon rose over all and gave US a
general idea OF the country. We
had been passing through magnifi-
cent plantations, with old Virginia
farm houses and negro quarters on
all sides, all the way down from
the National Capital.
In the smoker the boys had or
gained Social Glee Club and
were trying who could smoke the
longest and sing the loudest. We
dropped in to hear a rendition Of
"Daisy Bell" and was duly elected
to membership. As we could Meth.
er smoke nor sing, we had to liqni-
date. The initiation fee was one
dollar, and went to the porter In
exchange for an Original package"
which he produced from the buffet.
1t had been 80 extremely dry up
here in West Virginia that the boys
soon cleaned up everything OH the
train, and then didn't irrigate to
any great extent.
At Salisbury we we're hung M
about four hours on account OF a
freight wreck, and here another
member Of the Smith family distin-
guished himself. This time 1t was
Q. B. Smith, Of Parkersbure. repre.
senting the Suite journal, and
very jolly fellow, who can cling like
3 hooking bird aud create more