The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-11-06
of the farm 10 another.

old national road was in the first of
the century to the Mississippi Valley.
Freight and passengers were convey
ed in Conestoga wagons with great
white canvass tops and immense,
slow moving wheels. They were US
ually drawn by six stout horses and
and could carry heavy load. The
drivers of these teams were called
'turnpikersn or "pike boys" and
hardy, good-natured class they were.
The wagon beds were long and deep
and painted in gay colors, while bells
were fastened to many of the teams,
and the tinkling could be heard long
before they came in sight.
Stage coaches we're also favorite
means of conveyance. These were
run in trains, and the business was
kept in close corporation. They
had no springs, and but one door, but
as time passed there were some i'm
provements in their makeup. The
fare between Cumberland and Wheel
ing was S. or So, and two days were
required to make the trip. The old
coaches had queer names, of which,
however, they were very proud.
There were the Good Intent"
Landlords Line" pilot Line and
others equally odd. Mail coaches and
other fast coaches were run in relays,
horses were exchanged every few
miles, and postillions stationed at the
foot of hills to help the coaches up
the ascent. Great was the rivalry be-
tween them.
The pony express originated on the
old pike road in the year 1886. 1t was
thought that single horse with a
boy could greatly reduce the time be-
tween stations. Relays were placed
at intervals of every six miles, and
express riders carried horns to blow
as they neared the towns. The fame
of the old stage coach will never be
forgotten. Many great men travelled
over the road by this primitive meth
cd. Monroe, John Quincy Adams,
Andrew Jackson, Harrison and Tay-
lor were but few among the many,
while Henry Clay, John G. Calhoun
and the eloquent Tom Corwin were
favorite guests at all the wayside tav-
erns.
Oh, those old taverns of the nation
al road! Many private letters are now
in possession of families who ought to
give their contents to the world. They
are full Of anecdotes, of lively stories
and startling adventures, all happen
ing on this old highway. Nearly all
the men who were prominent in the
public affairs of those days had some
story to tell of the old stage coach and
the old tavern. Some of these quaint
old inns still linger along the road.
An Ohio poet gives a vivid pen pic
ture of the ancient roadside tavern:
1t stands all alone like goblin in gray,
That old-fashioned inn of a pioneer day,
Its glories vanished, and only the ghost
OF signboard now creaks on its desolate
post,
Recalling time when all hearts were akin,
AS they rested at night in that old fashioned
inn.
1t was in just such tavern as this
that the Little Giant of Illinois met
slender young man and won his indy
ing devotion by the bewitching flavor
of his conversation. The writer has
heard John NJ. Palmer describe the
scene and comment upon the happy
fate that brought him under the in
fluence of Stephen A. Douglas in an
old-fashioned roadside inn. Around
these taverns of the old pike conferred
the interest of the community. For
the weary traveller, exposed to the
springless seats of the coach and the
biting winter winds, nothing could
equal the indoor comfort.
In the low-ceilinged rooms were the
songsters, the fiddlers, the story-tell-
ers, the loafers and the gentlemen-at-
large. Oh, what stories have heard,
of the wit and merriment, the cpl
grams, the songs, the jokes and rid
dies that first found vent in those
taverns of the old government road!
In those days fiddling was a great ac-
complishment; not, as in these de-
generate times, left to weak girls and
weaker boys. Teachers fiddled, states
men fddled and preachers fiddled.
The father of all the Beecher tribe
was a notorious drawer of the bow,
and the gallant Henry Clay could fid-
die his way right into the hearts land
votes) of all the constituents. Then
everybody danced, the story-teller
was in his element and all mankind
was free and even before the blazing
tavern fire.
The tavern-keepers were remark
able class of men. usually freeholders
and of influence in politics and church.
They had no bills of fare but all the
food was good and appetizing and
very tempting to the imaginations of
those who listen to the stories of their
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