The morning times., 1896-04-12

toulac
The German castles may have the adj
Vantage in age and majestic appearance;
thc guides who tell YOU about them may
charge more for their services and speak
poorer English than their Virginia con-
tcmporarics, hut the ruins themselves
should be far less Interesting 10 the Amer
lean sighiSecr than those nearer home.
one can gain a reasonable and fairly
accurate idea of the show places OF fOrCiEa
countries II he Will but read what has been
written about them.
II is the domestic article that has es-
raped attention. and il is only when the
foreigner comes among us that we realize
the ncarneSS of these points OF interest and
marvel that they have not been thought OF
Dr. appreciated before.
trip down The Potomac would develop
several OF the show places of Virginia.:
places worthy OF a visit from cverg Amer;-
8 ran travelcr. and places ihat have not so
Tar been despoiled 10y the reliC-hunter
or MADE common toy the daily excursion.
The Traveller may see them without pay
ing an admission fee, and the egg he'll
refuse OF the paper bag luncheon iS nOiicea-
bic by ITS absence.
These historic points. so near and yet so
far have been neglected for other reasons
than because The general public knows lit
tie or nothing OF Them, except through the
histories. or the textbooks of childhood.
They are not visited even by those ac-
guaiated with their locality, because OF
their inaccesSiGIlity and the length OF
time necessary TO reach them from cen
tai points.
HISTORIC OLD WESTNORELANp
Virginia has given the country on, quarter
OF It's Presidents aud -,hir,i ~ these
have come from WCstmorciaud county.
Probably no spot in ali the land is 80 rich
ia historic interest Gs hat single county OF
The Presidential State.
Here were the home Of Washington. Mon
roe and a branch of lhc Lee family. whose
name has been identified with national
history since thr day, OF Inc earlics- colo
nicS No NOR. beautiful or historic house
stands to3ay in tiIC la9d tbIn tae grand old
mansion of the Lees, high up on the banks
OF the Potomac, Stratfori Han.
To The Traveller IN search OF the his Oric
ii would be- a vcritablc fini. and even the
mere OuiOoker. WHO travels Tor nothing bat
pleasure could NOT fan put be impressed
with its beauties.
The homes of Washington aud Monroe
arr likewise rich in colonial interest Al
though the houses have long since been
Tazcd. and hardly "a ycstge of them re
mains. cNcep: the foundations, the broad
acres over which they presided are still
There. and il takes hut feeble effort Of
the imagination TO people them with their
bewigged propretors and surround them
with an air Of by-gOue days.
1t is NOT alone because of its past that
WestmOreland county is Interest ing, al
though irs people and associations of da ys
agonr are the magnet which draws the
traveller thither He will find in the in
habitan;S of today much that viii claim
hisattertiou. Living within a hundred miles
OF d great cilr. they have never felt its
influence. and The absence of railroads and
modern means OF transportation ha left
them stationary in the onward march OF
the times.
They sin live III The early days Of lie cen
fury. and their methods and manners are
those Of their fathers. Their lives are
bounded hy The limits Of their possessions