West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-09-28
A PILGRtAAGE TO SLABTOwN
A Truth Teller" on Hts Travels
What Ne SAW Along the Route,
Special Conttibution for ths Arrn,.

pNs'"ees 'N'oAy called ME To the
northern line of this county. IL meant
tour OF some atty mues but thSr,
were no terrors In that fact. For
would not visit the historic spot ever
known as "Slabtown?"
Twas still in slght OF Kingwood when
met one OF our citizens with tho fol
lowing Information to tell,
splendid day. this is, hut I'm nfrnid
you'll hud the road n little muddy
down by the river. was down there
yesterday, and be-gad, how the rain
did come down. There was barrel 10y
the house with both ends knocked out
and the bungholo on the upper aide.
Begad. the rain came in at the buny.
hole faster than il could pour out at
both the onds. Never saw such n rain
before"
As walked along, IL made mo feel
sad TO think how some people will tell
things that no one can believe. 80
formed the bright aud shining res.
olution of keeping out OF this narrative
anything having tho least appearance
of exaggeration.
1t did not seem far to Fairfax Manor
turned aside to visit one of the finest
farms In all Preston county. Nh.
Brown has hit on way 10 supersede
sheep aud thus avoid the loss caused
by dogs He 10 experimenting with n
breed OF cattle covered with wool In
stead OF hair. II has taLeu time and
patience to make hair turn into wool.
but next yoHr the change will be so far
complete that he expects TO shear n
lew Plymouth Rock steers and Chester
White heifers To make tho hair kinIS
more rapidly, he feeds them crook
neeked squashes and milkwoed pods.
This breed of cattle will be doubIv
valuable. They are great milk givers,
and II fed well in oTtrome cold weather.
the COWS yield fair quality of ice
cream.
toward the river I met the King
wood Stenographer, who began telling
me OF an invention OF his. He rode his
wheel toMorgantown lately, and got 40
much leg exercise that aftor his return
his knees would persist in going mn
and down alternately as he sat at his
ueah' 30 TO economize this motion. no
hIed up treadle attachment TO his
typewriter and thus dou bled its eflci.
ency. Just then he was taking an
other spin on his bike to keep his feet
in practice.
AT Albrighssville some boys were
playing foot ball. Having no ball Of
the proper sort, they caught n gart.r
snake and made il swallow a gallon ~
Salted dried apple. 1t then drank a
bucket full OF water and was ko5n
pulled into the shape desired. stop.
PED at tho telephone long enough TO
nave those boys apprehended for cru
city TO animals.
On Muddy Creek hill met another
wheelmHn looking very jubilant. He
told me his tiro had been so badly
gashed that he had made up his mind
TO walk the rest Of his way. But while
looking At the wheel and thinking
about tho accident he saw a mouse run
into the gap pursued by n full sized
olacksnnke. when the snake had
craWled clear through, he espied his
tail going in at the opposite side OF the
hole. Thinking IL the mouse, the
snake acted accordingly and not only
was the gap effectually closed up, but
the tire was as well in n6ated as though
full Of air.
Some distance beyond lives n friend
whom ] stopped to see. He has lately
built a new house. and as no 10 n mem
Der OF the IndeDendent Order Of Old
Bachelors, this matter required a
searching investiR alton. He thinIts he
can cope with any man or ANYTHING.
but be always finds it lisa" further M
tho road. His former dwelling he
built for a chicken house. but finding
1t two small for that purpose, he built
larger one for his hens and lives 10
the smaller one himself There was no
bell TO Marshall courage 20 ring. I
bad TO go throug the door on my hands
and knees, but after once getting ia I
found could stand up straight.
I found the situation very grave.
He even reproved nae for leading a
single life While we we're still talk
ing, he chaneed 10 look through the
window Cthere is just one pane Of glass
IN ~ and then made for the door.
There" he exclaimed. "Phers's
the parson coming this way, and up
the road is the very girl for you.
Hello parson, here's follow want
you 30 splice"
"Ali right" came back tho reply.
This was too much with a veil
like the wild, unesrthly howl Of dog
caught under rail fence, I vanished
like spirit fron the silent realm,
while the scornful laugh OF the wicked
bachelor hoated after mo like the
hoarse murmur OF the autumnaI breeze.
II was not far TO BrandOuvHIe. As
J came near, found a big white board
placed in the middle OF tho street. II
bore this legend
srRASoER, WALK trourLx.
MAKE 80 NOISE.
THIS TOWN WAS ONCE ALIVE.
Mr. Kimberly was saving up some
I FrarI eMr re.A D. a..H