The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-15

Standing on the heights az Pan-Nar
and looking northwestward one sees a
panorama which will remain indenibly
printed upon his memory. Below. stretch
Ing away 70 the sunset. lies the Cumber-
land Valley, with its dusty roads. its
well-kept farms. and patches OF wood
land. It is Ike the miniature arrange
ment Of the landscape gardener who
fixes up the parking systems OF big cities.
except that it is larger, finer, and more
beautiful than the art OF man ever de-
vlsed
Standing on the mountains above SIer-
cersburg the reverse OF this picture is
shown, for there the visitor is looking to
the southeast and the descending sun Is
at his back No part OF the American
continent is fairer 10 look upon. and in
the foreground Of the picture IS MERGERS
turg, with its orderly arrangement OF
streets. its great elns swinging in the
breeze. and its academy. where the IN
tanned spirit or youth fingers awhile IN
classic shades 10 learn the history Of his
race before going forth to the battle OF
lie.
valley Beams with Prosperity.
Riding through the Cumberland Valley
! for two hours by ran and half hour by
horse and carriage, one is struck by sew
erai picturesque features OF the country.
The fertility OF the farms. with their corn
and wheat. with their peach and apple
orchards. attest careful and profitable az
riculture. One does not need 10 be told
that the farmers are well to do and that
they have bank accounts. and that tha
Cumberland Valley people are not worry
Ing about mortgages or debts that cannot
be paid
Prosperity beams everywhere-in the
farm houses besides the way. as well az
/ N The confident walk and dignifed air OF
the strangers one sees in the streets OF
AiercersburE They are a weIl-fed. we'll
dressed people. and the light OF the eve
and the glow OF the countenance tells OF
! contentment and peace Of mind that can
: come only with plenty and success in the
/ vacations or life.
! Seen from the mountain, Nercersburg
( is Impressive. II looks fine IN the dis
/ lance At close range IL IS a sort Of dis
i
I be there when you arrive. Il IS distinct
! IS country town. and seems made I'D Of
I gardens. one business street, small dwe..-
ings. half hidden by stately trees. spired
churches. and chicken-hOCses. wholesome.
I but not very impressive Evidently the
Growing OF chandeliers does not disturb
I the morning sleep Of the inhabitants Of
Mercersburg, rs the most diligent inquiry
could not evoke one gTUnt OF diSapproval
/ OF ~. Growing OF cocks in the morning.
and when tGiG OF the ordinance IN Wash
/ iDgton fOrbidding the rooster IN the
thickiy settled district. the early risers in
Mercersburg seemed 10 think it a good
/ joke.
Academy Pride OF Che Town.
one cannot be long in AIercersburg
1 without hearing much about the acad-
envy. the chief feature OF the place. The
visitor passes the alluring gardens. the
! spired churches. the quiet homes. and
/ walks uD sloping Hill 10 the campus.
! On the left as the visitor comes nearer
/ is a broad acre Of flowers. redolent in
I tie last days Of July with beauty and
/ bloom. despite the dry weather and the
/ scorching sun. II must have been some
I thing Ike the Garden Of Eden in spring,
Z
cinth. and GanodillS
Passing on 10 the gate OF the caupus
/ from which a wall goes either way. de-
/ ining the limits OF the campus on the
! front Within are lofty elms. fner and
more sweeping than those seen before
about the houses in the town. Among
them are big pines through which the
breezes murmur. and the visitor is told
that many Of the elms and some Of the
pines have been doing duty on that
campus Tor century and more.
On the left, upon the gentle slope Of a
hill. amid shrubs and flowers. stands the
home OF William Mann Irvine headmas-
| ter OF MeCcerSburg Immediately in front
! IS Main Hail. an immense building. con-
tanning the academy Offices. the class
rooms. and dormitories for a hundred
| boys Farther Up the campus stands
South Cottage and Keil Hall. with its
beautiful dining-room; Eighty-eight Dor
mltory. which was given 10 DE- Irvine BY
his old Princeton classmates, and Lacks
Hail. the most-recently erected building.
Fine View Presented.
If the visitor continues hts walk to the
crest Of the hill. beyond a magnificent
view awaits him.
To the southwark dark mountains fade
away to the Maryland Valley OF the Po-
tomac. Flanking ranges. heavily wooded
sweep the western and northern boun-
darics OF the Cumberland Valley The
eastern view shows a rich and level
plateau. 100 hundred miles long and twen-
ty-five miles vide. stretching away 20 the
dim peaks and ranges OF the Blue Ridge.
Beneath. on the slope. les the academy
with its l2o-acre campus, with the athletic
fields in the distance, with happy groups
OF boys at play. and with color and
movement visible everywhere, II one is
there In school time
Down on the oval 600 boys are watch
ing the first tryOuJ OF the football and
track candidates. Throngs crowd the ten
mis- courts, and the distant fields show
walking parties out for their rambles over
the great valley.
Looking down on the academy and
thinking OF the thousands of boys who
have gone through Il and Of the hun
dreds who attend Il each year. the re-
sponslbllty and the importance and the
sweep OF so great an undertaking are
brought home acutely.
About this time we hear bells in the
various buildings. and we follow what ap-
pears 10 be a general impulse-a move
m 1T into the dining-rCOm IN Keil Hall
Al first sight the room impresses one
as being too splendid and artistic for a