The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-04-16
a FINE TRIP.
Mr.. Marye Tells How He Would En-
Joy a Trip Through Mountains An
ecdoto on Webster.

Joy Irip Ihrou9h mountains -"
ecdoto on Webster.
Washington, u. G., April 18TH 1901
To The Free Lance:
At three score, men seldom vary their
experiences; theg merely repeat them
solomon said: Rejoice, o young man,
in thy youth " (Aud according 20 he rec
ord, he did (as Pat would say "A dale oI
rel Jicing, iIf his own yOuthD Al sixty,
one day ID as the epitome Of f.; and re-
joicing is in the realm of memory.
Nevertheless, believe can outline a
month OF genuine and diversified ebi ~
ment. let four cOngenial gentlemen
start ont from Fredericssburg, some
bright summer morning, for ~ nth 4
outing. li2ht, strong naytf II. with
good horse and nigger boy To drive,
cook, forage and pitch tent. Some SIM
pie sleeping paraphernalia, with "a dozen
OF Dumas and Stevenson novels, would
be an abundant outfit Route via War
rentOn, Ashby's Gap. Luray, StauntoD,
Lexington, Natural Bridge. Balcony
Falls. Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Mon
ticello, Montpelier, Orange Court House
and VOLTA twenty miles day. morn
ing and afternoon; bathing, smDki"g,
reading and study ing folk lore For ex-
ample Nymph rides down mountain
path upon horse with burs ia his
sweeping tail and with ietlocks ike a
Rabbits beard Nymph adorned ia slat'
bonnet and riding habit. recalling the
old-time bed curtains She opens her
business. at the cross roads store, in IN
impaired yernacular: Mister, ytu ain
got no five cent calictry' "Who say
aint?' II ain say you aint, | AK you
is you?" Long may her vernacular
bloom a. her rosy cheeks, lnieed, n
worthy deacon, in Nelson county,
Through which we drive. by the way
made an innovation in grammar, which
both for beauty and linguistic analogy
should be adopted He thus announced
70 an expectant congregation the failure
OF a distinguished minister To iHlill his
promise: II have to announce 90 the
congregation that the train. in which
our brother wac 20 have arrived, have
arroye, hut our brother himself have not
arroven" That man had a genius for
language
But 20 our journey We have con.
slant view Of the mountains for hun
dred miles OF our route. And what reno
Yates the mind like they DO
with their heeting farms, their shifting
yiewp,
Their varied light and shade.
Now robed in gloom, now smiling 10
the sun,
Now sharply set against the evening
sky;
Now fading in dim distarce far away
Like some fair vision Of our boyhoOd''
dreams
There Is nothing unreal, artificial or il
lusory in the lessons Of such tour. la
comparison thereof no mention shall be
made OF the mOnOtOny OF the sea ride oI
the weary sameness OF the great city
Earthly fame il the merest bubble. Sure
ly. II ever man had, Webster hac intel
lectual sanity aud Robustness And
when Secretary OF State, he used to love
to tell this OF himself,
When at the very zenith oil his career
the yearning came upon him, az It does
upon all genuine natures, to revisit the
scene OF his boyhood. The old home
stead was tumbled ruin; but the famil
lar landmarks were still there. A mile
distant, yet fingered on little while
an old friend OF his father Mr. Webster
went to see him, without revealing hi'
indentity.
You knew MIR. Webster, who used tc
live upon the adjoining farm? ?"
81 knowed him well. We was allu'
friends.
"Do you know what children he had
and any thing OF their history
The old man was a faithful chronicl
as to all save his in errogater, whom he
did not mention.
"But was there not a son named Dan
iel?'
"Dan1. Dan'l? Now, since | think o.
1t, pears to me there was one on EN-
named Danl, but he went away; and
we never hearn tell Of what ever become
OF him" p"
Mr.. Webster's experience, mutatis mu
tandis. is the universal experience
A trip along the Blue Ridge beats iamt
out OF hand.
A s. MARyE