Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-06-24

Braddock Heights may be observed an
other soul-satisfying view as the cultiva-
ted fields OF the rich farm lands OF Fred
erick county again reveal themselves, with
the fine old homes, ample barns and sleek
cattle in the knee deep grass. Soon "the
clustered spires of Frederick Town" ap-
pear, and we passed on through that
thrifty. wellkept city, though the temp
tation TO stop and see good friends in this
tine old place is very strong.
After leaving Frederick the beauty OF
the scenery is not so great, as the soil is
not nearly as rich and Tire country is more
broken and less highly cultivated. We
pass throughhilly Ellicott City and beauti-
full Gainesville, and are soon at the doors
OF Baltimore The sixty-three miles OF
State road over which we travelled is ab-
solutely perfect-though just now It IS
bit disagreeable because il has been fresh
ly oiled-and there was not atoll-gate on
il. The roadway is as smooth as a floor
all the way, with concrete bridges, and
not bumper anywhere. The nine miles
of road between Shepherdstown and
Boonsboro is also very goodwill three
toll-gates, however, and toll-bridge at
the beginning.
After a pleasant stop with friends in
Baltimore over night, and full enjoyment
of soft-shell crabs and other good things
from the famous markets OF that city, we
got underway next morning at twenty
minutes of eight, and at twenty minutes
after one O'Clock had finished hundred
miles and were in Philadelphia. This,
too, was delightful ride over more OF
Maryland's splendid State roads, which
have been reconstructed at great expense,
passing through Belair, Elkton and other
pleasant old towns. AT Havre de Grace
we crossed the Susquehanna river on
bridge mile in length, but so narrow
that two vehicles cannot pass. We were
not permitted to pass until the bridge
keeper had telephoned to the other end
to keep it clear until we had crossed. II
costs dollar 10 90 across this bridge,
but the keepers are so polite that one
simply could not grllmble at the toll.
Between Havre de Grace and Whining
ton, Del, there is the same good road, a
considerable part OF il solid concrete that
looks as If it ought to endure for ages
clean, smooth and duStleSS. Indeed, we
found no dust until we were almost IN
Philadelphia.
AT Wilmington there was an agreeable
surprise for us, and we took on an addl-
tional passenger who had come by train
to meet us there. We reached Chester
within three minutes of the time scheduled
days before, and found friends awaiting
us in another car, who piloted us on to
the journeys endin Overlook, that love-
ly suburb of Philadelphia, which we
reached ten minutes ahead of our appoint
ed time.
Space fails us to tell of the delightful
daySspent in Philadelphia and its suburbs
OF our visit to the great battleShips at
League Island, the trip to Valley Forge,
the beautiful drives through Fairmont
Park-the gracious hospitality OF kind and
generous friends who made our stay so
happy an event. 1t was only by the eX-
ercise OF the sternest discipline that we
could bring ourselves to the idea OF leav-
ing-but we could foresee the universal
distress should the Register tail to make
its appearance this week
Monday morning we reluctantly babe
our good friends adieu, and at five Min
utes past eight headed the car for home.
Through the shady ways OF Overlook,
past its lovely homes in their EMPOWERED
beauty, on to Lancaster avenue and its
palatial residences-by Bryn Mawr, Ard
more and other handsome suburbs OF the
city. Good roads, but not as good as
Maryland's best, were before us, and
how we enjoyed the ride in the fresh
morning air. AS we sped on toward
Lancaster we passed through a lovely
and fertile country, and after awhile we
were enjoying to the full the wonderful
beauty OF this magnificent section-Lan-
caster county - the richest agricultural
county in America, from whose soil is
grown each year products worth $l6,-
100000. Wheat, corn, oats, hay, to-
bacco, dairy products, vegetables, cattle,
horses-these have made the people
wealthy. The luxuriant crops nowgrow-
ing so profusely show the richness OF
the soil and the splendid system OF agri-
cultural operations. These magnificent
farming lands, so highly improved, stretch
in unbroken beauty for many miles on
either side, and it is scene that cannot
be forgotten. The city of Lancaster is
the focal point of this richness, and its
prosperity and thrift can readily be OBJ
served by even the casual visitor. One
would like to linger here, descriptively
and in reality, but Shepherdstown is
hundred miles to the south and we must
press on. AT Columbia we come to the
Susquehanna river, and here's another
great bridge, used by a railroad and by
vehicles in common, and run on the block
system. They charge us only 43 cents
here and give us the bridge all to our
selves, for if also is too narrow for two
conveyances to pass. Speeding on we
come TO York, and we wish that we had
time to stop and speak to the readers OF
the Register who live in this thrifty city,
At 80 we reach historicl Gettysburg,
with its monuments of the great battle
and its stillactive army OF battlefield guides.
Here we stop for lunch and to stretch