Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-09-13
A Trip From Washington To Gettys-
burg At Easy Stages.

ON UP holl NcttySDuIS, an lQea SuR-
eested itself that brief description of our
visit to that historic place might be of in
terest to some of your readers.
In brief, as we have not as yet caught
the automobile fever, we decided that our
motive power would be "Dobbin," hitched
TO that proverbial one-horse shay. Our
Dobbln however. was not the old animal
SO often dispensed by the organ grinder,
but the very reverse, he being a thorough
bred 4-year-old. carefully raised at Forest
Glen by the late Clarence Moore. On ac-
count of his youth and the warm weather
we planned to take the journey by easy
stages, driving in the early forenoons only
not more than three hours each day.
The trip from here to Rockville needs no
comment, as the first days installment
friends took up our time that evening, but
bright and early the next morning our start
from your town was to us city folks one of
deep interest. The ever-changing scene of
your county's beautiful farms as we watched
them by the curves of the turnpike was
most fascinating
Our objective point for this day was the
Automobile Inn. two miles west of Clarks-
burg. where the family of William Soper
made us most welcome. There we stopped
a week, though we had intended to stay
but day. By the way, what contrast
your town now is with what it was when
| first saw it forty years ago That was
on primary convention day. regret to
recall the chief point of interest then was
the bar-room, where centered the politi-
clans who so eagerly framed the public
states. merely to be approved later by
the open convention Then no oiled street,
no nice court house. nor high school existed
Leaving the Soper inn at 6 A. M a lei
surely drive of three hours (here you need
to be extra kind to your young horse, for
the highway is very hilly) brings you to
Frederick. Upon crossing the county line
at Hyattstown the scenes are decidedly
different from Montgomery County. For
instance, more stately eateways and more
old-time mansions. with beautiful lawns
and flowers. and very well-kept farms,
with large herds of cattle grazing upon them
One cannot help but pause at the two
monuments to fallen soldiers that rise up
before you as you approach the Monocacy
River, where Gen. Lew Wallace resisted
the advance of the Confederate General
Early in July 1864
Still having pity for our English descended
pet horse as the weather continued warm,
we thought why not give him a rest at
Frederick for few days and take the
trolley for Braddock Heights and Hagers-
town OF all the trolley rides one can take
( within easy reach Of the National Capital,
this, with its windings over several groups
Of mountains, is the most picturesque and
invigorating that know of. The stay at
BraddOck Heights was most enjoyable,
something going on in the way of amuse-
ment nearly every evening. The scenery
looking toward either valley. at its fine
farms, was simply perfect.
Returning to Frederick, our pet colt,
evidently shifting the mountain air, was
fresh for the further pilgrimage and wanted
to 90 right along over the smooth macadam
turnpike to Thurmont. Some portions Of
this road was actually oiled and nearly leve
| the entire sixteen miles. Again we haC
beautiful farms to look at, but added t.
these scenes the fine eastern slope of the
CatOctin and Blue Ridge mountains accom-
panies you. And the air coming from the
same Was it this, or what was it tina
made us have urgent desire for a gooC
dinner when we arrived at Thurmont Tha
quaint little village was founded more thar
one hundred years ago. 1t was formerly
known as Mechanicstown. Later its namt
was changed to one of more significance
as there were so few mechanics there. Il
was decided at town meeting, held somt
years ago. TO change its name to Thurmont
denoting lat the gate of the mountain,
for here the ascent to the Blue Ridge begins
The roofs of the houses of this town nearly
all face the street sideways Still there
is the house where the first friction matches
in America were made. -Four miles south
of here you pass through the ruins Of
buildings which were once furnace that
cast cannon for the Revolutionary War.
After our customary halt of twenty-one
hours at Thurmont. we push on eight miles
to the next town. Emmitsburg. so historic
for its two Catholic colleges, which are on
our road and well worth a visit.
After leaving Emmtsbure one needs to
be careful to take the left fork Of the road
about a mile out, for at this place no sign
board exists. Soon you come to Moritz
Cross Roads, famous as a tavern for over
rs years. Here General Reynolds stayed
the night before he was killed. Look tow
ard the north on the right side of the road
and you notice the observatory on Big
Round Top. four and half miles distant.
A few more miles travelling and you reach
Confederate Avenue. the beginning of the
battlefield. with its hundreds of tablets. and
follow il in long three fifths of circle. or
rather ellipse. for seven miles. How like
Napoleon. at Waterloo General Lee picked
out town in the enemy's country. with
ten great turnpikes convergng toward il.
and nearly surrounded II with his troops
leaving just one road unguarded. that from
Baltimore. for the enemy to march into and
be trapped When conquered. Of course he
was to march on to Washington and seize
the Federal Capital The State Of Virginia
is now erecting superb monument. at a
cost Of $4,000. at the spot from which
Pickett began his famous charge. This
seems to be the only one the South is now
erecting. except there exists one for Mary
land regiment A description Of the beau
tiful % miles Of roads nicely graded and
Of the several hundred monuments and
battle areas inspected during our two-day
stay at the battlefield would be going into
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