The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-08-18

Special Correspondence.
MOUNTAINS OF MONROE, W. Va,
August l2.-pid you ever witness n
storm2 II you are alive now and were
not dead during the summer. to speak
In the language of the immortal Sir
John Boyle Roche, who "smcllcd a rat;
aye, saw him floating In the air." |
know you have witnessed many cleo
trlc storms, and read and heard about
cloud bursts golorc, Even that bright
and entertaining report in the weather
" West Virginia sent forth by the sta
thatIcIan at Morgantown, speaks OF such
dry matters. But did you over witness
a storm In the wOods2 | did. and until
the last inhalation Of oxygen that col
0rs the mud which supports lIfr,,
shall never forget 1t. l left Lowell
station, on / he Chesapeake a. Ohio
railway, about four o'clock OF n OF the
most melting days | over felt. In Il
sur:y with Il canopy top. Through the
lon: hot dusty lane, where even tho
g"raSShopper was too fatlgucd Ia make
his accustomed flying leap, where tho
dust settled In clouds over vehicle,
man and beast, We tollCd slowly along
under a sun that might have belonged
to india, the country of hot suns, free
silver and cheap labor. longing for the
foot OF Gwinn's mountain where the
tall avenue Of forest trees reared their
heads on either side, making q cool
and pleasant drive.
As we went slowly upward sat
and watched the giants Of the forest,
rough and shaggy bRrked on the north
side and smooth barked on tic south
side. Watched where kind nature a
covered the dead and decaying bodies
OF It's fallen children with a beautiful
W. OF green moss, Watched how ma
turc ahhorrcd that which was not beau
titul and decorated the stones with
gray lichen and varicSated MOSES and
paintings, gardens OF fine and feath-
cry ferns and flowers all around thsm.
Watched the dead giant OF the forest
who had been stricken but not DOOM
cd by It's ~antagonistic forces, sprInEiug
from the same source. Watched the
shrubs and underground with their
varying tints OF new, tender purple
leaves to the green whortlcbcrry COW
cred with its blue and succulcnt fruit
at their feet. Took q last long look at
ths valley OF the GrcenbricF, where Its
pcllucid river ran It's serpontine course
through the verdant bottoms.
Despite the ever increasing distant
rumble in the west I drank In the beau
ties OF nature and her wonderful works,
and Sat and unused and dreamed. The
dark blue lowering clouds was hasten
Ing rs II for battle across the unbrdkcn
plains OF tn heavens. and the thun-
der of natures artillery, grew louder
and louder.
All al once tho storm broke upon us
IN full force. hurting its bullets Of waite
in sheets of flame against US. Dark
ness came on. deep, thick darkness
darkness that could not be seen. but
felt. The trees bowed 10 each other as
at the call OF a master. Arose ertct
only 10 bow and bow again. To n
brace and kiss and entwine their arms
like a wltch's dance. only with that
fearful grace and strength that was
fascinating. Some Of the weaker kiss
cd the fOce OF mother earth. never to
leave her bosom again. Our we'll train
ed horses trotted on through thu riy-
ulets that ran down the roads in
sheets. Down came the rain, sounding
on u surry top and sides like the rat
tie OF Il drum. Splash, splash, went the
horses feet, Keeping time TO the Wild
ness OF the night, and as nature touch
cd the electric button about every three
seconds We looked ahead FOR fallen
timber and trntted on.
After ten miles OF this grand and Glo-
TiouS ride We landed head up and dry
at the Rcd Sulphur. and Y again
in this lie do l expect to enjoy such
another ride. Such an experience does
not come TO n more than once In
ones short span. II 1t did 1t might
spoil all the fun by giving him n good
wettlnS. As all trees. both small and
great bowed to the storm. and all but
a few arose erect and cleansel. 1t re-
minded one Of the free silver storm,
dangerous and windy. that Is sweep
Ing OVER this country. %presaSing de-
struct!on and havoc, but like the storm
Of the woods. when all Is over the air
VIII be purcr and sweeter. and those
now under the influence OF the storm
VIII right themselves again, erect SEN
tlncls OF a new and glorious day. Only
Il few weak In their tops and rotten In
their hearts will fall to RISE no more.
One OF the most amusing as well as
instructive lessons on free silver fell
under my notice not long since. An
old gentleman who kept n store, and.
by the way. 4. Je!fcrgOnlan Democrat.
and. stranger yet, for free silver and an