Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-07-12
AFTER A THIRTY
YEARS. ABSENCE
Oonyngham, June 10, 1906.

COuS ~ Sildlll, Juu6 ~, IbOO.
To the AMERICAN: Il am spend
ing few days at this romantic little
mountain town, attracted hither after
an absence of thirty years for the pur-
pose of renewing associations with old
and we'll nigh forgotten friends |
need not remind YOU that in such an
experience there is something to re-
mind one of the trials of Rip Van
Winkle. 1t is true, have not been
taking prolonged nap as was the case
with the hero of Sleepy Hollow, but
in point of absence l have gone ten
years better than old Rip.
Thirty three years ago, then boy,
of nineteen years, | stood my first ex-
animation for a Teachers certificate at
this place. | won the coveted paper
and at the coal mines a few miles
down the valley, taught my first
school. later became teacher of the
school at this place, following a line
of successful teachers, among whom
was |. q. Barber, now a practicing
iphyscian of Danville.
Naturally the little town, the center
around which L swung for years dur
ing the most rosy and impressionable
period of life has always been bright
and shining spot in my memory and
the present visit is one have looked
fondly forward to for many years
L didn't expect to find the town as |
left it thirty years before, but some
how all the images that unconscious
ly fingered in my mind, whether of
Landmark or individuals, were such as
| was familiar with in the olden days.
it is something of a shock, therefore,
when. the name of this one or that one
is mentioned that instead of the lively
youth or blooming damsel that one has
in mind altogether another sort of a
person looms up before one-a man
with bent shoulders and face begin
ming to take on wrinkles, or a matron-
ly woman who probably has a second
husband or is a grandmother. Ones
first impression is that cog has slip
ped somewhere but it does not take
long to reason it out The effect of it
a patriarch.
Last evening dropped into the news
paper office, the proprietor of which
was an intimate friend of three de-
cades ago. He was the same earnest
companional fellow, but his face had
careworn appearance and his should
ers we're bent as under a great burden.
He said the newspaper did it all.
Then, sad to relate too, the newspaper
no longer lives and has being. My
friend started the paper 1t served its
day and generation and then died, the
victim of adverse circumstances.
Running a weekly newspaper is
the hardest work in the world" My
friend made this sage observation and
punctuated it with a deep sigh.
Among my old friends who are max
ing it very pleasant for me during my
stay here is DR.. +. NJ. Brundage, who
for eight years was American counsul
at AK la Chapelle, Germany. DR..
Brundage retired from the consular
service last September. He had many
interesting experiences and unearthed
many romances or rather tragedies in
real life while dealing with the affairs
of the two nations. DR.. Brundage will
continue to live at Conyngham and
may eventually resume practice.
There must be something i'll this
mountain air conducive to logevity. 1t
is surprising how many people are
still living that l considered old thirty
years ago. Even the towns horrible
examples" and there were several of
them-who every one thought would
die of their excesses i'll a few years are
still living and are as horrible" as
ever.
F. Nj g.