The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-11-03
AI.ONdTHE POTOMAC BANKS
QUAINT SCENES AT WHARVES
SEEN FROM DEcKOF
STEAMER.
Beauties Of Northetn Virsinis.

In the pilot house Of the-teamer North
umberiaud one week ago yesterday q
we'll known lawyer oi Baltimore MADE
this remars 90 Captain Smith, the COM
mauder oi the ship.
Il have during my life time made al
most every Interesting water trip IA this
country and many in Europe, but, 10 my
mind. nu more Deautlinl seil can be- taken
than this Every year ! masc it early ia
the spring, gt least twice IN the summer
and three times 10 the iAil-Once in Sep
t.rnher. once in October and again in
November. IL h a never failing source oi
interest TO me Nowhere so FAR ~ know,
does nature more generously reveal her
beauties than along the shores OF the
Potomac aud its tributaries.
The Northumberland was poking her
sharp nose up the Coan river on the Nir.
ginia side. between banks gorgeous 10
color aud smiling beneath brilliant au-
tumn SUM- The sky WOE blue ar tur'
guoise and the water u deepemerald. On
either side beautiful country estates
with white Colonial mansi0ns, appeared
at intervals Here might live the philos-
opher. the student and the stat.sman
The poet and painter, too. wOnli never
have 70 look beyond his own domain TO
lind inspiration for his art
The changing shores cast upon the
water the colorsof the rainbow every
where. There would appear on the
curying shore u stretch oi deep green oi
the pine and II the center flaming
torch ni scarlet wonld be -et or, per
haps. the eye would be entranced with
miles OF richest color ia tree aud shrub
Nature il painting the hllizides every
where along the Potomac now.
Winding hays and shady coyea that
stevenson would have pictured ~ the
ideal hiding place for tne smuggiers or
pirate cut the shores often and 10 some
~ them lay "lOng, low, rakish craft
that swung on the flowing tides ~
though ready 10 darn out and attack the
big steamer a. she almost nOi-ele-sly eur
the deeper channel
Quaint country roads wind down "a
the various Wharyes, where freight ano
passengers make their exit or board the
steamer. here old wharyes. with their
picturesque buildings and small sailing
craft tled to their pi.ing- become scentr
oi hustle aud life as the steamer ap-
proaches. The activity OF commerce ~
it, pastoral environment seemed utterly
out Of place.
As each oi these old wharyes Il ap
pronchei three long shrieks from the
steamers whistle are sounded and be-
fore the dock Il reached the nativer
black and white. tarJug the docks Then
the humor oi the trip adds ~ seasoning
LISA show time for the rOustabOnts
carrie on the steamer. Thr0nging the
wharves hordes Of cOlore1 girls IN their
Sunday haery stand TO watch the un-
loading ol the freight The rOustabOut-
seem - parlake of the belief that IN their
actions lies The opportunity Of making
''rouaucsts" among the dussy bellies
.TLk about cskewalss-tbey are not in
n with the coutOrtiOns o. the Neems
Company's freight handlers, as thej
wheel their trucks down the gangplanks
and arru~s the wooden wharf 90 The
freight depots.
There was one lOuglegged negro or
this particular trip who seemed To b.
spnt to The chin. lie wore a Iair oi
pentaloons 40 tight that his legs seemed
no bigger than bean poles. Ills method
Of wheeling u barrel laden truck down
pa@t the line OF colored girls was cross
between hOp.skip.snd.a.iump and two
step. Those legs seemed 70 tie themselves
! into knots as he daehed down the gang
plank and bis performances were greeted
not only by the applause OF the impres
sionable ladies Of color" but by The
white passengers who viewed bis won
derful antics from the steamers decks
Every one OF the freight handlers ha'
some distinctive style OF motion designed
10 make an impression. Hnt "Hpldel
Legs.n az he wac called by the crew, wa
the favorite and many adusky face brol
into uneven lines as she cried, OATS d
man ioh me.
Rare hirts are these roustabouts, TO
at every wharf the same periormanc
marks the day Those colored boy
nave sweethearts strung along the river
Of the Potomac from Point Lookout t
Washington aud back again.
Al day Sunday the Northumberland
plied back and forth between the l"
shores oi the Potomac, oartirg mp int
rivers and bays always neGgei WI
brilliant color Even the really deligh
tul meals served on the boat can scarcel
tempt the passenger 20 leave the dee
Lest he mis- some new beauty that natul
has planted ashore. The DAY veal
away, the sunset deep ns the tints ot Il
gorge lus folisgs and then comes anOth'
drlightful phase II the trip. The powe
fnl senrchhght oi the ship ia turned q
and swinging upon the shore seeks u
mouth of the river. mp which the sh
must next push her PROV. Even late
night the inbsbi' ants of the villsgyscnu
down 10 the wharyes 10 witness the u
oading or taking on Of theirei ht.-B'
timore sun.
Tne water trips ia this part q Virgin
are unexceled. Pariiss travelling q
,teomrrs On the RappnbnnnOck nre G