Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-02
LETTER FROM |. A. PRADT.
WASHINGTON. June 2S

|
This is time when, to escape the
deadly heat that envelopes the city dur
ing the day and is stored up by the
miles of dreadful asphalt to be poured
out all night, when the white inhabitant
of Washington fees unto the mountains
or the sea shore or to the abandoned
stone heaps of New Hampshire or to
cool lakes in waving piney woods or to
his back yard in his shirt-sleeves
The black brothers face simply shines
little more than usual and he remains
to drive about the scorching pavements
in skeleton wagons with each wheel
pointing at different angle, drawn by
ghosts of horses, decorated with straw
hats. At night he dances. In every
wise he gives evidence that he is true
son Of the tropics. The electric cars,
am bound to say, are blessed source
of relief after the molten sun has ceased
to glare, to people of all classes who
abide here during the summer.
They that depart, fill trunks to burst
ing with things that they do not
need, overlooking many indispensable
things; so that the head of the family
is forced to humiliate himself by lug
ging them in awkward and suspicious
bundles on his subsequent flying visits
to his family in their summer retreat.
If there is baby land if there isn't,
God pity themJ one trunk is packed
with little dresses and slips and bands
and bibs and-a0rappers, so to speak:
hundreds of these. Later, at the sum-
mer resort, they make a gallant display,
on occasion, Tapping in the high-priced
breeze. True, they are open to the
criticism of mOnOtony in color. But,
to obviate this, my idea, which, how
ever, meets with no approval, is to have
them fashioned after the flags of all
nations. Reflect for moment on the
inspiring spectacle thus to be pre-
sented!-But to change the subject.
The aforesaid trunks occupy at the
summer resort inconvenient portions of
a room considerably larger than they.
And in the dark, until one has learned
the channel, they have malignant pleas
ure in denting shinS and breaking toes;
likewise, by indirectiOn, the ? tn. com
mandment.
But up in the mountains of the Blue
Ridge, where it is our happiness to be
this summer, the narrownesS of the
rooms is forgotten in the glorious
breadth and freedom of out-of-doors.
1t is the "greenest of our valleys" on
the summit of the Ridge, with mountain
tops, like great waves of forest, all
about whereOn is an ever changing play
of light and shadow. And there are
two opposing gaps therein through
which a soft, delicious breeze is always ,
blowing. 1t is fruitful valley with
famous peach orchards wherein ones
thoughts linger with anticipatory fond
ness. Mason & DiXons line runs
through it-a fact dwelt upon with
much unreasoning pride by the indigen
Gus inhabitant. The drives are charm
ing and can be made for fifty cents an
hour. Clearly the native owner of
bosses is not fully onto himself One of
these drives ends at Buena Vista Hotel
on neigbOring mountain top. Its
rates are as high as its site. But such
magnificent view as you get from its
verandas! AS far as your eyes can look
there stretches below you the Cumber-
land Valley, melting at the south into
the valley of the Susquehannah. 1t is
a valley of waving grain, broad mead
Ows, shady pastures and countless
peach and apple orchards. The thrift
and prosperity of its inhabitants are
shown in the carefully titled fields, the
great barns and the comfortable and
tasteful homes. The Blue Ridge walls
it on the western side, from whence
you are gazing, with Blue Mountain
towering above all and deSecrated at
the very top by an iron lookout tower
for the use of the ass who is never salts )
fled with natures observatories. Oh
have not visited it yet, but intend to do
so and to climb to its topmOst platform
This valley was perpetually ravaged by
the soldiers of both armies during the
Civil war, and through it Lee brought
his veteran hosts thirty eight years ago
the first and last army of the Con-
federates to invade a northern state
poured through the western gap and
out of it through the eastern gap into
the great and fertile plain in which Law
the quiet country village of Gettysburg.
We visited the holy ground of the
three days awful battle of Gettysburg
only the other day and drove about the
splendid highways that the govern
ment has built throughout the battle
field. These roads stop at nothing, but
wind by easy stages up Culp's Hill and
Little and Big Round Top. Everywhere
are monuments, many half hidden in
the forest, marking memorable spots
and the positions of the various regi-
mentS of Union troops. But the most
impressive monuments of all are the
earth works and the lines of breast
works which constituted the hasty en-
trenchmentS of the Union troops and
against which the waves of fiery south
ern SOldiery were dashed back in bloody
| foam. These entertainments remain
just as they were on the morning of
| the glorious Fourth when the last of
Lees retreating invaders had vanished
out OF sight in the west, save that, like
the mounds that cover the dead of that
/ fearful conflict, they ere peaceful and
sweet with quiet daisies and the fine,
soft sod of years
The story of the battle in which two
/ hundred thousand of the bravest men