The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-07-17

eHI udTdCtt II 10 q huS
the foreground. 1t is as placid ana
delightful as that Is wild and tremen-
Gous. For the mountain being cloyen
asunder, she presents TO your eye
through the cleft, a small eaten OF
smooth blue horizon, at an infinite dis
lance in the plain country, inviting
YOU, as 1t we're, from the riot ana
tumult roaring around, TO pass through
the breach and participate of the calm
below. This is worth a voyage
across the Atlantic"
The peaks, bedeCked with a SOLID
richness Of green trees and foliage
have remained unchanged, and as OF
old the junction of two great rivers
rush together against the mountain
rend it asunder, and pass of to the
sea-" Across the bridges that span
the rivers, one comes in a few minutes
into the adjoining states Of Maryland,
Virginia and West Virginia-the geo.
graphical locations made by man since
Jefferson Rock was named. And |
had stood on the great rock that had
so inspired Jefferson by its outlook.
| looked out across the great spec
tacle of nature, and standing where
Thomas Jefferson nee addressed the
people Of his state, | heard the sweet
mellow tones OF a Nictrola, and | saw
the great hogsback locomotives pull.
ing their hundreds Of tons of West
Virginia coal through the railroad
yards; as 1 viewed old DOudoun and
Maryland Heights | felt the thrill OF
my country's history, for straight be-
fore me the blood OF patriotic soldiers
has consecrated in historic battle
these very spots; in the valley and
across the peaks, and down through
the Gap, the fanatical John Brown,
who has long lain 'mouldering in his
grave" terrified the region three years
before Lincoln called upon his coun-
try TO put down the rebellion. Even
the rock on which | stood had been
only a common boulder, until Jeffer-
son did that little stunt Of publicity,
which endeared him to Harpers Ferry.
Oh I had a lot on old Thomas jefferson
out at Harpers Ferry-he didn't get
half the value out of it that l did
There ale all kinds of citizens at
Harpers Ferry, the same as there are
everywhere else, but there is only one
~Riley-and Riley is the greatest citi-
zen, for he collects the tolls of the
two bridges. Harpers Ferry is in
West Virginia, and the very nose of
the state goes up to where the rivers
split Maryland and Virginia, so If one
stirs far from the front yard, they
have TO pay toll to Riley, for Riley
guard the bridges that join at the tip
Of West Virginia. These are the
stories in the ~"elecution books" of 81
Stood on the Bridge at Midnight" and
How Horatio held the bridge in the
brave days of old" but Riley keeps
two bridges for the corporations tina,
own these spans from West Virgins
into Virginia and Maryland, and the
aforesaid corporations have no cash
registers on Riley; he fills all his
pockets, then stores the extra none
in the office stove, and il anyone pro
tests against the outrage of tolls
Riley says: "Why don't you get some
stock in the company, then you would
like it." Whereupon Riley's manner
becoming contagious they go on theil
way joyfully.- Toll bridges may be our
OF date, but they seem quite in place al
Harpers Ferry, and in fitting sympathy
is the Potomac Canal on the Marylant
side, where mules are still the motive
power for barges of the toe path, doin.
a thriving business in drawing tn,
cargoes Of coal above Cumberland t.
Washington. This is the canal which
George Washington described as tn,
mighty artery connecting the east ant
the west thus proving that even tn,
Father Of our Country had a vagu,
notion as to where the west woul,
eventually bring up.
Now Harpers Ferry was at first
mans business before it became tn,
name of a town. After Harper wa
consigned to mother earth there il
time came Riley. and locally every on.
knows that 'Riley's Ferry" stands on
in history. The people Of the tow
never fail to call him Mister Riley
and he stands in front OF his littl
Office day after day, and year afte
year; across the street a giant weep
ing willow tree. one Of the fines
speciments in many a broad mile
spreads it's protecting shade owe
Riley's place, because one day Rile,
cut a small branch and today it i
repaying it's creator. Riley is a force
full living argument that whatever 1
ores calling. ii is a success IL tn,
tasks are well done. He fought TO
the confederacy, and he will tell 70,