Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-09-24

having been travelled gravity again car
ried US to the quaint mining village OF
Summit Hill with population of 5000.
The streets are not straight, the build
ings are old and the town hall resembles
French bastile, so is quite forbidding.
The conductor was very courteous and
took me up one of the streets to see
miniature engine which had been fashion
ed from "Black Diamond" by an in
genious workman.
After stay of Is minutes the brakes
are again loosened and gravity once more
sweeps us downward with great speed
through stretches of shaded roadway,
around wondrous curves, along giddy
cliffs and under shadows of great ivy
grown crags until we once more see Up
per Mauch Chunk after having travelled
10 miles over rough uncultivated country,
stones, mountains, ravines, hills, cliffs.
declvities, rocks set up endwise and
stuck on edge in wild confusion. 1t is a
most enhancing trip the enjoyment of
which would doubtless be much enhanced
if taken after the frosts of Autumn have
painted the leaves with gorgeous BRILL
ance. One thing is sure person might
travel thousands of miles and not find
a locality so rich in scenic beauty, town
so oddly, Enthusiastically, situated. l left
this place feeling more than repaid for
having decided not to pass it by.
Another place of interest is historic
Valley Forge where Gen. Washington
and his ill-fed, poorly-clad Continental
Army endured the rigors of old King
Winter with heroic fortitude in their de-
termination to be free from the tyranny
of King George of England. A number
of acres surrounding Westinghouse head
quarters are being beautifed. Miles of
graded, macadamized boulevards are be-
ing constructed, monuments are being
placed where various officers were sta
toned; neat fower-bordered little parks
are dotted along the drive ways; an OBJ
servatory commanding an extensive and
charming view of a very highly cultivat-
ed section of Pennsylvania has been
placed on prominent elevation. The
house used by Gen. Washington is still
standing and is most attractively situat-
ed in a shaded ravine through which a
romantic drive can be taken by the banks
of winding stream upon whose dark
placid waters the over-hanging boughs
cast dancing, grotesque shadows. Many
relics said to have been used by Wash
ington are on exhibition in this ancient
looking commodious house where tour
lists are served with meals and refresh
ments on the spacious porches. Though
so much has been done to please the eye
and render visit pleasant it is not hard
for thoughtful person to raise the veil
of ages past and see the picture of that
winter when deep snow covered the
ground, and icicles were pendant from
the bare boughs of the leafless trees
as the starving, shivering soldiers
paced along the intrenched hillsides and
valleys. Many of these mounds of earth
are still standing in the wooded portions
of the country about Valley Forge and
now they are being carefully guarded so
that they may not b. destroyed. Truly
our Nation has been bought most dearly
and should be most jealousy protected.
Though other points of interest were
visited no more will be imposed upon the
suffering patrons of the "CLARIoN."
Adeu.