The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-01-09
STEPPING BACKWARD.
A Description Of the Days Of
Aud Lang Syne,"
M0RGANrOwN AS 1T USED TO BIZ.


beil lis 6OlflbbDlDg Oh the Oluen
time," as in the case of the tyran-
nical monarch of ancient Egypt,
requiring "bricks without straw"
| For, with the records and cores
lpondence of years swept away by
the flames in a few short hours,
where are the materials from which
to weave this record? 1t is to be
regretted that we cannot call upon
| the "reminiscences of some one who,
identified with the past and pres
lent, could also reproduce the recol-
lections of some ancestor, thus
furnishing an unbroken chain.
Let those of the present day
take a lesson from our failufes
and gather up the scraps of local
history as the days pass on. The
writer's life in Morgantown, COM
menced in January '53, the jour-
ney from Wheeling requiring three
days via Pittsburg and Browns
vile, The Baltimore and Chic
railroad was just completed to
Wheeling, but trains were not run
ming regularly. The picture Of
peaceful, dreamy Morgantown,
dwelling the world apart" as then
presented, has lost none of its
charm, but is mellowed by the
touch of time and its citizens of
both sexes, who impressed all, COM
ing within the charmed circle of
their presence, as possessing un-
usual gifts of mind and character,
are remembered as types of van
ishing era, for in recalling these
meagre incidents, the changes in
the population of Morgantown
must be noted. Then among the
prominent families were the Will
sons, the Hanways, the Towers, the
Cars and the Kramers, who have
gone from this community, leaving
no representatives; the Aliens and
Gays have left none of the name;
and some branches of the Evans,
Dering and Dorsey families, whose
homes were centers of taste and
cultivation, have passed away. The
old Cherry Hill mansion, which
had sheltered representatives of
four generations of the same FAM
lily, has given place to the elegant
residence of Dr. |. G. White. But
as many OF those associated with
the place in other years look to-
wards the once familiar spot, the
modern building seems to fade
away, they see again the columns
of the antique portico, across
which
.sFall locust trees their shadows
threw"
they enter the hall with the an
Gent time-piece in the corner, say
ing solemnly, "Never, forever; for
ever, never" and they are greeted
in the quaint, cozy rooms with the
same "free-hearted hospitality"
which made the place proverbial.
Mrs. Thomas P. Rays beautiful
home, afterward greatly enlarged
as WOODBURY. Seminary, stood on
the site of the University buildings.
Mr.. John Rogers built and occu-
pied Judge Dille's present resi-
dence, and Rev. James Davis that
of Mr.. F. Domain. These, with
the honored ones who yet remain
with us, formed circle whose con-
trolling influence made itself felt
in all classes.
Officers of justice enforced the
laws and the moral sense of the
community sustained them in it,
A law-breaker was criminal and
no subterfuge or bubble availed
for his immunity.
No town at that day could boast
of better society. Having had for
years an endowed academy, and
well supported school for girls, its
educational advantages were far
beyond those of many much larger
places. Railroad communication
was not general; so that stage
ride of twenty miles or more was
not considered hardship. Visi-
tors came and went during the
summer, and even braved the hor-
rors of the mud transit of the win
ter, to be entertained with such
lavish and hearty hospitality as
finds no parallel in these days.
| "Ah" | hear some youthful
critic exclaim, ''degeneracy of mod
ern times" looking on the past
through rose-colored spectacles,"
&c. To which we can reply, the
witnesses to the truth of the asser-
ton can be found in your own
households. Ask your fathers and
mothers. Morgantown still main
tains abroad its reputation, which
rests upon it, as a reflection from
those departed days. The summer
and autumn had their round of
excursions and picnics for old and
young. The Sweet, Red and Cool
Springs, with the Cave, were the
principal places of resort. Camp
Eden being, with Cheat View terra
lncognita. Then with the advent
of chill winter inviting to domes-
tic enjoyment, the discharge of
social duties began in a round of
dinner and supper parties, often
three or four per week. The ami
NAL and vegetable Kingdoms paid
tribute in viands, and the culinary
rites of old Virginia cooks, then
| the presiding genii of the kitchens,
prepared banquet that the gods
might enjoy.
What special providence protec-
ted the generation, giving and re-
ceiving this almost perilous hos
pitality from confirmed dyspepsia?
But we must not leave the i'm
preston that the engagement was
wholly material. When the repre-
sentatives of such families as we
have named, with those whom the
present generation is permitted to
meet, mingled in social life, "there
was a feast of reason and flow of
SOUL" with keen encounter of wits
j l.. II -