The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1907-01-23

/ c0In DOuSIdS, lass VI SOLhS OtliCA VI"
tingushed parsonage of the time
whose words would be treasured for
wears. Dickens, Mrs. Trollope, Prince
Macmillan of Weld, Rafinesque, and
many other travellers from Europe
were guests of the old taverns and
have left entertaining accounts of their
| impressions.
At the side of the old fireplace hung
the Flip IRON and the huge poker, and
sometimes the latter utensil was seven
or eight feet long. It's use was jealous
! ly guarded as a prerogative of the tav-
| ern landlord None but the innkeeper
| could touch the great fire, which was
! one Of the main features Of their hos
pitality. Eccentric old Boss Rush, says
Mr.. Hurlburt in the Historic High
ways of America" kept his poker at
his famous tavern at Smithfield (Big
| Crossings under lock and key.
But while the automobile and the
| pleasure coach may restore the old
| taverns to pristine glOries, yet the real
| life of the ancient highway has passed
| beyond recall The caravans of great
VI
| mail and stagecoaches were pictur-
es0ue features of the old life that his
tory will not repeat.
But the time that the life of the old
highway throbbed in its greatest inten-
! sity was when president or a presi-
dent elect passed in triumphant process
| sion along it's dusty stretches. 1t was
the gala day of the pike boys" All
| the taverns and houses along the route
were bedecked in the welcome, and
| cheering crowds from miles around
| thronged the stopping places and cross
roads. The finest horses and the most
gorgeous coach procurable were assign
ed to the task, and the proud position
| of "charioteer to the president was
given to the pick of the jehus on the
| line, who ever afterward were marked
and noted Jackson, Van Buren,, Mon
roe, Harrison Polk and Tyler passed
over portions of the old road in digni-
| fed presidential pageant, like the tri-
umphal Roman emperors. Clay, the
great champion of the road and of the
! policy of internal improvements, was
| faVorlte in every namleI.
Martin Van Buren's Mishap.
The opponents of internal improve
| ments were far from popular in this
new country, as Van Buren, discovered
| once when his coach broke down in
spot where the mud was deepest, the
! axle having been sawed almost in two
| by some waggish Wing.
But the life on the old pike was not
without its dangers. In the wild passes
of the Appalachians lurked the proto-
| type of the modern road agent, and
I daring bandits frequently relieved pan
ic stricken passengers Of their valua-
bles in the good old Dick Turpin way.
! Fatal wrecks sometimes occurred in
which coaches were hurled from high
cliffs, dashing their passengers to death
on the rocks below.
Hastily sketched, such was the past
of the old national pike. which carried
| hundreds of thousands of population
and millions Of wealth into the west
and which more than any other one
thing served to harmoniZe and strength
en-, if not to save, the Union.
OF its future Mr.. Hurlburt. an enthu-
! siastic prophet, says: 1t will become
again the foremost of American high
ways. Its his ORIG Il associations will rem
der the route Of increasing interest to
! the thousands who in other days will
travel over thoS" portions of the road
which long ago became halloWed
! ground. The shades Of death will
| again be filed with the echoing horn
which beral:ed the arrival of the old
time coaches. and the winding ridge
will again be crowded with tie traffic
| of nation. \ hundred Cumberland
road taverns viii be opened and bus
thing landlords welcome as of yore the
travel stained visitor. Merry parties
will again fill those tavern halls, now
! long silent, with their laughter
Historic associations are not confined
entirely to the eastern end of the pro-
posed national highway From Kan
sas City to the Pacific coast the old
Santa Fe trail will be the most impor-
tant and natural route, and where in
the world is a thoroughfare with so
stirring q history? There is much Of
historical significance to be preserved
on this famous trail. and the need of a
government road from coast to coast is
! ever present in the minds of military
commanders The automobilist will
hail with joy Representative Pearre's
great project. and he should have the
cooperation of every farmer and every
| class of citizen.
WHEELER AND OBEAR DETAILED
To Inspect the Georgia Troops in