Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-02-24
A Letter from Cambridge.

country, was to US, a benghted Northener,
a complete revelation. To one accustomed
to the hills and dales, the mountains and
wild and picturesque scenery of Western
Maryland, a level country might be consid-
cred monotonous, but the wide expanse of
the celestial blue, the long, low stretches of
field and meadow, with their somber back
ground OF stately pine forests, the alluring
glimpses of the river, blue and sparkling 10
the sun, that surely shines with "a more gold
en- splendor here than anywhere else, are all
so fascinating, and one can well understand
how a native OF Cambridge in other lands
would look back with longing eyes to his
beautiful birthplace.
The Choptank river at Cambridge is over
two miles wide, and is continually dotted
with river craft, from the stately schooner
and fine steamer to the humble little row.
boat or oyster smack, for this is the land of
the oyster, the iar-lamed canvas back aud
terrapin II diet of fish assures fine
mental capacity and preponderance Of brain,
surely one OF oysters has the same effect APP
parently, for Cambridge is full OF excep-
tionally bright people, cultivated and re.
fined, and not only that, but sociabe, kind
hearted and with true Eastern Shore hos.
pitalty, stalking in" the stranger within
their gates" in the very best acceptation OF
the term, not only TO their hearths and
homes, bat to their hearts as well.
And the ladies OF Cambridge. We seldom
find place with more beauty and style, in
both matron and maid. Such exquisite com
plexions, such bright eyes, and graceful,
well rounded forms. People here grow old
so gracefully, indeed it would seem they had
found here 1.-THE fountain ofperpetual youth"
and all had quatfed large draughts from that
delectable source.
There are several social organizations in
Cambridge, among them reigns supreme the
Current Event Club, composed OF young
married women, literary society which
meets once a week, where "Greek meets
Greek" without "a tug of war;" but where
bright minds are made brighter still by con
tact with other minds as bright as their own.
The tug OF war" indeed Is placed in the
river, and we were reminded OF oyster wars
and Illicit dredging bY seeing cannon on
the lawn OF that most beautiful country
place, "Sandy Hill" an ideal home in every
respect, with its large and handsome man
sion commanding wide expanse OF water,
for the place is quite near the mouth OF the
Choptank river, which is very wide at this
point. Another equally beautiful location
nearer the Chesapeake Bay Is castle liza.
ven" the exquisite country residence OF Col.
Wilbur f. jackson, OF Baltimore Another
lovely place, near East Cambridge, is "Rose
Hin y the former residence of the Bvrn lam
ily. Here the grounds slope TO the waters
edge. and are beautifully ornamented with
fine statuarv
There are MANY notable mansions in and
near Cambridge, and these old colonial
homes are so fascinating both inside and out.
No ouainter or more desirable home could
be imagined than that of the SuliyaDes
with its paneled walls, COSY corners and
window hooks, looking out on the beautiful
river flowing nearly under them, with its
little boats constantly fitting about like
white winged birds.
There is hardly street in Cambridge that
has not a charming water view, and down
these streets, with the trees forming u canopy
over ones head, there is lovely vista, with
always the dancing waters cleaning at the
end. Cambridge has not only wide streets
filed with handsome residences and de-
| ightful gardens, but the oyster shell roads
| in and around the city are imcom parable
| This Is surely paradise for wheelmen, no
staying at home on account OF the mud here.
One can count by scores, when out driving,
handsome and spirited horses and stylish
equipages. Before the railroad came, when
the bay was blocked with ice, Cambridge
was indeed in winter an isolated place, but
now there are several trains day on the
Cambridge branch of the Penn. X. X. that
runs to Seaford. Cambridge is but nights
journey by water from Baltimore, and there
are two lines OF steamers, supplied with every
comfort and convenience Tor the traveller.
Cambridge abOunds in fine churches OF all
denominations but Presbyterian. One OF
the very handsomest 10 the beautiful Christ
p. e. Church, with its old grave yard full
OF quaint epitaphs OF the dead and gone,
Henrys, Goldsboroughs, SuliVanes, Byrns,
Bartons, and LeComptes, its Jealous and
eloquent rector, the Rev. Mr. Page, and It's
fine music ably presided over by Mrs. Bar
bour, its talented and accomplished organist,
aided by an efficient choir.
The High School, for both sexes, mum
oeIs over Two nunureu PuPl'S, anu us pI'n
clpal' the genlal ana popular ffoi' WIN
Neisoh, graduate Oh tne University ol Vn'