Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-28
CHANGES OF TINE.
ImpresslOns of Southern Montgomery
County After Long Absence.
Written far he Evening Star

| Impressions of Southern Montgomery
| County After a Long Absence.
Written for The Evening Star.
| So rapid has been the flight OF time that
one scarcely realize the fact that near
| ly thirty years have passed away since the
| present writer became the rector of what
| was then Labyrinth. now Silver Spring.
| parish in Montgomery county. Md. This
| beautiful environment of Washington city
stretches away from the Patuxent river on
the east to the Potomac on the west. with
| an average depth of eight ten miles
| from the Prince Georges and District of
| Columbia lines. embracing an area of over
| 1G0 square miles. With it's beautiful larger
water courses of the Paint branch the
Northwest. Sligo and Rock creek, with their
lovely little valleys and the picturesque hill
and daae country interjacent. it is greatly
doubted whether any city in the Union not
excepting even Philadelphia and Cincinnati
with Clifton and the Walnut Hills is more
fortunate than Washington city in its
northern and northwestern outlaying coun-
try. Thirty years ago it was wholly unde-
veloped. Without railroad. its two great
arteries of traffic and travel were the two
rough turnpikes of It'll street extended.
known as the Union turnpike. and the
Georgetown and Rockville pike. with such
country roads as were a terror in winter
time to the farmer. and both a terror and
torture to the pleasure seeker alike in
winter and summer. and this because they
were ungraded and very rough. Now the
baltimore and Ohio railroad has multiplied
IT'S trains with double track and convenient
depots. while the electric lines have made
a large portion of this section a charming
suburb to the only truly COSMOPOLITAN city
In this continental republic. Coming back
to this section after long, long absence the
very improved condition of the roads, the
higher standards of a mixed husbandry
the increased fertility of the soil. the large
barns the commodious homesteads with
beautiful grounds; the large herds of inn
proved cattle, the f1ocks of sheep in MANY
cases the payment of the mortgages: these
are among the changes which speak vol
umes of the betterment Of the people.
Within the past two weeks the present
writer has mingled freely with these people
and ana. while he notes saddening changes in
the withdrawal by death of prominent citi-
zens. such as Montgomery Blair Admiral
s. P. Lee, Joseph II. Bradley, Hugh NC
Suiioch. Charles Albert and Drs James H.
Davidson and Josiah Harding, with that
sweet-hearted old Irish gentleman. Thos.
\. Conley. there are many. many features
IN the present condition Of these dear people
both to encourage and enhearten them In
the.r present and future relations to life
and its duties.
AS Indicative of the rapid growth of the
may be stJed that where the presen ut Wyite II
was the only clergyman of the Episcopal
Church, and where he gave the flower of
ms me, there are now five clergymen at
work For the comfort and convenience of
the people. largely increased in numbers
the places of merchandise have muItinIied
while the government has thoughtfullv pro-
vlded post offices, while private enterprise
mas mas furnished telephone and express facili-
ties: At Forest Glen large institution for
female education. abreast of the needs of
the nineteenth century civilization has been
developed, While near by the Catholics have
quilt a large stone church and near by a
very sweet home for the officiating priest at
old Carroll chapel. Thus is it that both
Protestant and Catholics have been bIsv
IN their nigh duty alike to the dead and
living. ~ anu
Ihus gladly do we note that the Quick
pulses OF social, moral and civil life so
strlk1ngiy characterizng this blessed youne
republic of ours. indicate such conditions as
TO make this section equal in many respects
TO many, If not all, of our favored land
with best wishes for continued health and
happiness for the dear people in his old
parish, from whom he has received so NAM
tokens of affection in his old age. durine
ms late visit from house to house where he
mas many. many readers of The Star. the
oid country parson writes himself very
faithfully, very
JAMES BATTLE AVIRETT