The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-10-22
For the Democratic Advocate.
A Summer Outing.

DEAR Automatically during my stay at
''Graystone in the beautiful Catoctin Valley, lying
a the foot of South Mountain, in Frederick county,
| your welcome face, in company with the Baltimore
sun and Methodist Protestant, has greeted me, a
| trio never part company with matter where
| we 60
| We upon historic ground now, and i'll ii
meadow near by the famous battle OF South Noun
tain opened in 1867, between Genls Slocum yam
| keel and Cobb. (Confederate) won by the former
Tablets along the roads bearing interesting data,
greet we drive about and it seems strange for
to be here and see the spot often talked about
by two brothers who participated i'll this conflict
one in Stuarts Cavalry, another in Stonewall Jack
sons Brigade. The years have been long and many
since then, and trace is left save the tablets of
| that event. On the summit of South Mountain,
spot called Gapland, Geo. Alfred Townsend, we'll
known to the literary world as Gath, has erected,
it pleased him. cluster of houses. As you enter
the massive gates you find upon the left the
! Lodge" which contains the diningroom, kitchen
and servants quarters Farther on, THE House of
! Seven Cables" belonging to the mistress of Gap
| land. A cottage for his only son. G. A Townsend.
Jr then his nookery, called 1.-THE Den." Itafforded
us great pleasure to be shown through the buildings,
! and the arrangement of his extensive library
| pleased greatly. The poets, historians, biogra-
| pliers, &C. all occupy corners of their own. Busts
of familiar writers greet you here and there Curos
| and bric-l-bTac from home and abroad abound,
with rare old paintings, as well as those of his
! native land The mantels are dreams of beauty.
One contains collection of tiles representing the
homes of different authors, i'll cream and brown,
! which specially attracted us.
In conversation relating to books he told us he
reached his 10th before writing katie of Ca
toctin, his first book )and was three years comple
| ngi We were reading it then, and thought what
a waste of time, as it impresses one as having cost
him much labor for nothing. His "Entailed Hat"
is said to be his best effort. Having explored Nir-
ginia and the dear old Southland, we found him
genial entertaining host. When we parted we
asked him if he had reached that stage when he
could say ''NIy mind to me kingdom is, but his
lnodesty forbade a definite reply. The view of
Middletown Valley from his porch is superb. The
Switzerland of America it can truly be called and
what an inspiration 1t must be to him when in need
of thoughts and ideas Just beyond the entrance
to his place is fine monument erected through his
efforts by the correspondents, costing $4,000
On June Goth. in company with our hostess her
son. and d. A. G. Webster, we drove over to another
historical spot old Harpers Ferry. Stood on the
spot and saw the monument erected thereon where
old John Brown was captured and shot Ate our
dinner opposite the old Arsenal, at the foot OF
"Bollivar Heights" Then we assembled. On the
negro man. 1t was filled with guests from all parts
of the country The scenery from the hill is charm
ing, and one feels loathe to depart. The Potomac
flows at the base with Maryland Heights for back
ground while the Blue Ridge, with the Shenan-
doah flowing peacefully by, and "Jefferson's Rock.
Just above, upon which we stood, completed our
sightseeing, and ended day of perfect joy. The
memory of these lovely people the fragrance of the
sweet peas and ofdear little Dorothy and Wehbie,
will bear us company for many day
Then we pass on to another home, rightly called
"Sunnyside," in "Green Valley made dear to us
by loving ministries in the past when the shadow
of sorrow hung over us, and enjoy for while the
association of the most hospitable people it has ever
been our lot to meet outside native land. Moth
ing is ever left undone to contribute to your COM
fort and their efforts genuine and whole
souled that it is joy to be with them Here the
Death Angel had culled the sweetest and loyeliest
flower between our visits, and we found ourself
oft times longing
For the touch of a vanished hand
And the sound of voice that is STILL.
Summer Of Ninety Eight. SALLY C. WEBSTER