Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-12-09
Correspondence.
Washington wanderlusters.

washington Wanoeriusters.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. =, 1914
To the Editor Of The American.
Last April q movement was started to
get the people OF Washington who were
in Office during the week into the country
on Sundays for long walk in the open.
So popular have these so-called "hikesn
become that every Sunday since then
from 200 to 500 people Of all ages, from
eight to eighty, have gathered at an APP
pointed place announced in one OF the
ten miles through the wooded paths
around Washington.
A leader is selected, one who has previ-
ousiy been over the route, who knows
where there are springs and who can lead
the party to some suburban station before
dark. Last Sunday Frank C. Merritt, OF
Waterville, Me-, led the party. He and
his young wife hate been on most OF the
walks aud are very popular with the
young mixers.
The first Sunday in April nearly 500
people met as strangers, but no introduc-
tion was necessary, and all soon became
acquainted with each other. Every state
was represented, from Maine to California.
In one instance young man, after getting
acquainted with young lady whom be
had never seen before, found that they
lived on the same street within three
doors of each other.
The camera man goes along; in fact,
theresre SO many With cameras that every
time we stop for a short rest, part OF the
crowd poses for picture. "Little Nell
lie" the eight year-oid baby, is nearly
always in the front row in every picture.
Her father and mother accompany her.
They claim that while she doesn't have to
be rocked to sleep when she gets home,
she is ready to run a race with any
tinker" after a ten-mile tramp. One
glance at our little "warderluster'' would
convince any one that long walks do her
no harm.
The bug and plant man, eighty years
old, walks ten miles and never thinks of
getting tired. He is too busy looking for
rare plants. Most any old plant seems
rare TO him; at any rate he gives them
rare names,
A few weeks ago our roate lay along the
eastern branch OF the Potomac near the
historic old town OF Bladensbury, Md.
During the Civil war thousands of Union
soldiers camped in that vicinity. I kept
watch for signs Of the soldiers, and WAS
rewarded by finding several beech trees
with names, companies and regiments
carved thereon, showing as plainly as
when written fifty years ago. One
soldier, Bob Tolson, must have been quite
an artist-he had cut his profile In the
smooth bark. Soldiers cap, mustache,
eyebrows, epaulets on shoulders, all re-
main to-day engraved more perfect with
the aid OF the hand OF time than when
first cut in the smooth bark OF the tree.
Another time, while walking through
the woods nearly . half mile from any
public road, we came to q small cemetery,
about thirty feet square, enclosed by q
picket fence. The gate being open, We
walked in and examined the headstones
and read the inscriptions. There were quite
number OF expensive polished marble
slabs with engraved words telling of the
faithfulness Of "Fido" and "Bose". The
dog undertaken takes no pains to bury tine
dogs in q row, but the stones are set at all
angles. 1t is evident that he buries one on
top of another, as some OF the-olde head
stones were thrown aside in the corner OF
the yard. Two new graves were decorated
with cut fiowers-and roses are not very
plentiful in November, either. Maybe
the bereaved family, seeing how some OF
the graves were neglected, had concluded
to invest all of their money for this pur-
pose in flowers. The chances are that
"Fido" would have preferred bone il his
taste could have been consulted.
Many things OF interest are seen every
Sunday. The scenery along the Potomac
at Great Falls is especially beautiful.
Some people who jump at wrong con-
illusions have an idea that the people who
take those long walks are Coxie's army
crowd. OF course they are mistaken.
We are not the over-rich, or tie very poor;
some own automobiles and could ride il
they wanted to. There are two or three
congressman, few professional men,
number OF business men, but the great
majority are government clerks (more
women than men among them) who were
born in the country and who are tired of
brick walls, and who believe that God
made the country to be enjoyed IN the
Sabbath just as well as on week days.
N. v. TIBBETrs.