The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-06-22
TRIP THROUGH A PORTION
OF MARYLAND


Gapland, Md. June 18th. 1907.
Leaving home on the mail from Court
House to fredericksburg We bumped
along. finally overtaking a neighbor
stranded in "A mudhole so deep he could
not hitch up after repairs without as
sistance, which WAS freely given. At
I :33 We boarded nOrthbOund train at
fredericksburg for Washington, spend
ing the remainder of day sight seeing.
Awakening next morning we lind il pour
ing rain. At I p. IN. We are on the -. 4
q. Tor CharlestOWn, ". Va, where We
are warmly welcomed at the store OF
Messrs. Jones \ Jullille and later enjoy
ed the hospitality of the junior partner.
/ Next evening We reach Winchester after
a brief stop at summit Pt. between
trains, and are again entertained by a
Mrs. Jollifts. At , D. IN. we are on the
/ &. V. II. r., heading for Clear Brook.
/ The same cordial greeting is extended
here and We are comfortably ei.sconsed
by IA fire on the 18th Of June. the ele-
ments still being unprOpitiuus With n
good outfit, however, and company. we
spend next day driving over some Sec
/ tiOns OF country. witnessing on our re
/ turn the fret clear sunset uf that week
and our hopes and feelings are revived.
and we stop with another friend for the
night Next day is spent in social con
verse with "A brother and family. sun
| day morning We are driven 10 the old
] Quaker meeting house, called llOpewell
IA prominent landmark during the Civil
War, u portion of which was built nearly
200 years ago and the other part few
years later. As we are seated i'm the
solemnity of service held there our minds
revert to the many changes occurring
therein since our removal many years
ago, death claiming all the older ones
comprising the membership, not one left
/ whilst various causes have ie-ssrue1 the
attendance, placing increased RESPONSE
bility on those left Very gratifN ing To
all il the HOpewell Juvenile Union. whose
meeting was held at theclOse of religious
services. There are 2i members and a
well arranged program ri prayer, Bible
reading in concert, then studying thereof
with original essays and selected read
ing, give assurance OF good timber 10
bear the responsibilities that will soon
rest upon them in maintaining the church
/ We again partake of the hospitality Of
dear friends at 'The Glebe," returning
/ thither after a brief call for tea when We at
! tend service at the Presbyterian church.
Now We are driven to Book Spring Cot
/ tagsVOr the night, thoroughly enioying
the attention accorded by these dear
/ friends for the night. and are then taken
to the train bound for HarperS Ferry
next day. But, my friends, you no doubt
want To hear something about condi-
tions OF crops. etc, as | pass through
this wonderful valley with its almost
limitle-s resources. Corn was generally
backward; some scarcely could be- SEEN
though, | must admit that with rapid
transit ON AN express, scarcely stopping
between Washington and Ha. Ier- Ferry,
it IL difficult to diagnose conditions
There are many fields in fair shape for
the backward season, having been
worked over once and partly a second
time. and farmers we've busily engaged
thnre walking cuitivators beingat work
Whilst many good looking fields Of
wheat We're seen, an examination oi the
head shows only two grains abreast and
as rule these heads are not long. The