Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1910-10-13
Read September g. 1910. at the Home Coming ex-
ercises in Shepherdstown, W. Va
The First Colony on the Upper Po-
tOmac.
BY S. GORDON SMYTHE.

lnOnldS Je11eISOn W1Ole Ills dppicCid
tion of this lovely country, in reply to
queries addressed to him by distin-
guished Frenchman, and said, in referring
to the physical characteristics OF the Blue
Ridge region:
at is placid and delightful, as wild and
tremendous = looking through the gap
you get small catch of smooth blue ho-
rizon, and at an infinite distance itinviteS
you, as il were, from the riot and tumult
roaring round to pass through the breach
and participate in the calm, : = y yet
there are those who have passed their
lives within hall dozen miles and have
never been to see these monuments OF a
war between rivers and mountains, which
must have shaken the earth itself to its
centre. This scene is worth voyage
across the Atlantic.
When in 1877, the oracular statesman
expressed these sentiments, journey
across the Atlantic was very different
undertaking from what it is now, and
meant something more in the way oi
preparation and experience than is nee
essary for the simple ocean excursions so
commonplace in our everyday news.
Yet here the seed thought was sown, in
the very year of the philosophers famous
utterance which made that wonderful
transformation possible; for among these
beautifully clothed hills and the richly en-
dowed valleys where the forces OF nature
play or war, appeared Rumsey, the ge-
MUS who was to effect this great and sig
nificant change. Here, too, beside the
same pleasant waters which bore his
craft onward and upward to its achieve
ment as one of the glorieS of the past
century-you were reared in the nursery
of your fathers, and by the very agency
which put the spell of wonderment upon
those ancient sires. many OF you have
come to do fitting honor TO the scene OF
that first triumph-the old home The
same that fostered him and cradled you ::
the one precious place in the heart OF
man which he loves to laud and glority
under all circumstances.
From hence sons and daughters, for
nigh unto 200 years, have carried a living
memory ofthis dearspotto the farthermost
parts OF earth and then, after life's fitful
endeavor has compassed its end, turning
hither the froSt-crowned wanderers
steps, ard his thoughts, it may be, to the
dreams, or, TO those halcyon mo-
ments of inspiration, as when, in the
morning of his youth, his hopes filled the
eastern sky with the glow of his enthu-
siasm and the ambition of his impatient
desire.
Today the conquering banners are
homeward borne to be planted round as
you pour your tribute upon the home
altar, while offering homage and fealty
anew TO the honor and fame OF Shep-
herdstoWn This town then, for the mo-
.ment, is the centre of the universe in
your hearts! You are here to renew
home ties to seek and find your kindred'
to bask in the sunny associations OF youth
again, and to rekindle those fires that
were once so bright and warm with the
friendship and affection of former days,
but have now, perhaps, burned low, since
then, as cares and responsibilities have
crept in, or thrust themselves upon you
in the whirling tide OF busy affairs.
You are back at the fiTeside now, to re-
call, with early friends, the legends and
traditions, and the thrill of the blood, as
you listened to, or were awed by the
tales garnered at the knees OF your for
bears. Here one remembers the year
nings to initiate the valor OF patriotic
sires of dramatic period, in an historic
time, so that from the lessons OF the
storied past you may teach your posterl-
ty to build afrest, in deeper love and
veneration, a grander fabric from the
richer glory OF homes undying fame.
II is the vogue in these days to have
celebrations such as this; and in this hiS-
ting age one may find a motive out OF a
thousand and one memorable events upon
which to found a holiday, to mark and
give pause to the passing moments in our
dynamic life. am asked to help explain
why we are rejoicing in this glad and
practical way, and TO assist in determin-
ing why it is difficult here from what is
found in thousand towns, such as this,
that stand in every commonwealth OF our
peerless country.
Shepherdstown rising distinguished to-
day, is receiving your special and pecu-
liar homage for the same reason, should
say, that we accord distinction among
men; for as each man differs in person.
ality. attributes and achievement from his
fellows, so may the community be set
apart from its contemporaries, because
of its characteristics, its history, and the
progress OF its people.
Shepherdstown, then, like many another
such, had its beginnings in the travail OF
a semi-barbaric birth, when the conditions
of the times and his environment, made
every man stole who braved the perils
of the wilderness TO wrest from II home.
Why wonder, then, we of an era OF peace
and plenteousness-at the result? -? The
inexorable call of self-preservation was
the passion among men in those
days; its influence was paramount, and
in dominating every other law, made man
subject to its supreme necessity until
every frontier menace vanished before
his progress, and he was, at last, safely
privileged TO live where he had maln-
tanned his right TO dwell. And so from
groups of pioneers with qualities such
as these, and themselves the seed OF