The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1895-10-25
THE BLIND ROAD MAKER.

From the Cart ha gcnians and he Romans
We have learned the art of road making,
but around those early scientifically CON
structed hi ighways but little of romance is
gathered When the paved road was worn
out or sunkcn, when highways ran as paths
over the hills, when fosse WAYS and hol-
low ways were traversed by pilgrims and
mule trains, or haunted by footpads and
outlaws, the romance of the road may be
said to have begun.
1t may surprise many to learn that road
making is Il comparatively lately accepted
occupation. SmcatOn, the eng yinecr, was
looked down upon for attempting to engi
the last century Scotland was barren of
roads Going back Il little, we may trace
the gradual development of road making
from the time when the Strand and Tenn
pie Lane were ''mnch choke1 by bushes
so that tolls were raised to keep the way
clear In l ,:'6 it was il two hours journey
from the city of London to kcnsingtOn,
and the complaints respecting the state of
the roads were loud and frequent. The
Turnpike act was passed in 30, but the
roads then called "turnpikc" did not APP
preciahlv improve. Although the people
grumblcd at the condition of the highways
they resented the imposts for their repair
and maintenance Tollratcs were dcmol-
ished; and when the bar was replaced,
'Rchccca and her daughters" arose and
swept the gates, bars and cottages of the
toll collectors away. But the roads slowly
improved; communications were opened
up, and road making received a tremen
dous impulse from Tclford, Mctcalf, and
the celebrated General Wade who in his
Scottish campaigns had seen the necessity
for good roads in the north.
As time went on, coaches began to run
rs public vehicles; but to Thomas Trlford
and few others the true engineering of
roads is due. Smeaton was looked down
upon for attempting 10 engineer the high
way; hut perhaps the most remarkable of
III! tul tiiiN tHelHcti> Ill Ms way " ~
j ohm Metcalf, whose history is rs curious
~ any romance. and the incidents of
whose career will repay perusal. Metcalf
was born in III, and rs soon as possible
WAS sent to school, where, when he was
still very Young, he unfortunately was at
tackled 10y small p"N, which rendered him
entirely blind. This was 4 terrible intlic
tion; nevertheless, though he could no
longer study, he found ample field for his
energies in play and in riding. He was
proficient in practical Joking, in swimming
and hunting. He was known rs the
blind huntSman,' or Blind Jack Of
knaresborougll," and in some way he man
aged to become acquainted with the York
shire roads and paths and able to traverse
them uncrringlv. This study of highways
was eventually most useful to him; and
about l140 he seems to have known the
direction and condition of numerous roads
and paths. This curious faculty was on
several occasions turned to account, but
in no instance more completely than in
the circumstances detailed i'll the follow
ing anecdote; though, us he was in demand
as fiddler ut parties, his eNplaits were
frequent i'll his prog 'csS from place to place
unattended and in darkness.
One afternoon he was lounging about
the stables in Il certain hostelrv in the city
of York, when he overheard Il traveller in
ri far - ,,,,il,, t,, IInr tn Mntt1lf
and the landlord were great friends, and
the latter unhcStatinglv recommended
Jack, whose intirmty he, of course, care
fully concealed: the arrangements were
made: Jack consented and mounted, rid
ing in advance of the traveller through the
bar gate, and 50 on Ia the llarrogate road
and across the moor. As the darkness
crew the stranger rode beside the guide,
and made many inquiries respecting fca-
lures of the landscape, houses and estates.
which Jack, still riding with confidence,
answered readily, and no idea of inlirmity
seems To have entered the mind of the
traveller. Thus the pair proceeded, and
Jack was never nj fault, taking turnngs
calmly, and nursing only one fear Would
he be able 10 strike the gate leading into
the knarcSh"rongh road, had he been
alone he would have searched for it. hut
much Scarrhin" was then almost impnssi
bic Fortunately there was another ~ate
in the park wall which bounded one side
of the road. opposite to the the knarcs-
4 ,,..I, L rt.,l h..
wall, hoping /" drScry the gate, hni hc was
uneasy. Fortunately the wind blew over
the park gate from the east, and the sud
den pull gave Blind Lack" his cue; he
turned /" til" opposite side and tried t"
open the eatr-hut at the hinge side, The
Traveller noticed this, and came to Jacks
assistance hut The muid,. laid the blame To-
his rrstivr horse and soon led the way
again along the old gathering ca,lseways,
or hollow WAYS, and paths, in and out, un-
till remark shilltullv chctcd, told that
lIarrn@a,r lights were twinkln" ahead.
When the traveller had dismountcd at
his inn Blind Jack led his stecd to the sta
blrs, and the gentlemen made some remark
concerning his guide. He mentioned the
incident of the gate, and the queer look i'll
tlic mans cvrS-as if he had been drink
in@ too freely
The landlord smiled. why sir, don't
vnu know that Jack is hlind:" he asked
The traveller WAS incrcdulous Blind"
he exclaimed This is too much Call
him in"
Jack came in, and personally assured
the guest that his sight was wanting.
..lf | L..l ht...n 4 " IL. nf Illl | Mnull not