Evening star., 1917-10-14
NATURE is AT ITS BEST

low, crimson and purple. And the air.
| frequently sultry and often uncom-
fortably hot during July and August,
is delightfully."- cool, the sun not blazing
and binding but welcomed for his
genial warmth. clear and bracinE
atmosphere replacing the frequent
showers of midsummer.
And nowhere in the land is October
weather more salubrious and the coun-
tryside more appealing than in the ter
ritory surrounding the National CAPT
tai. And nowhere in all the land to-
day are gathered more motor car own
ers who need brief respites from try
ing labors than in this same National
Capital.
Therefore at the suggestion of Judge
Martin Knapp. president of the A. A A
District of Columbia Club, who re
Gently made the tour about to be out
lined. the touring bureau of the local
motoring organization sent its path-
finding car TO ascertain the best snort
tour out OF Washington-one shor.
~enough to be undertaken o! an an
motorists long enough to be real
tour, and combining in its length tnat
rare combination of good roads, noun
Tain. valley. stream and historic country
Trip Totals 213 Miles.
The trip recommended. and herewith
mapped, by Touring Director Seiier OF
the District club, totals 2l3 miles, with
less than Ave miles of poor road. 1t is
an around the circle" trip from assn
ington, visits Virginia. West Virginia
and Maryland. and includes Leesoure'
Winchester, Martinsburg, HaserstoWh H.
the Antietam battlefield. Harpers Fer
vile.
The trip may be made in one day by
starting early. driving hard. catching
only fieeting glimpses OF the many m
teresting places and fascinating scenes
along its course, and returning IN the
uncomfortable chilliness of the even
ing.
leave Washington about 10 am.
get luncheon at Leesburg, and
spend the night at either Mar
tinsburg or Hagerstown. depend
ing upon which point is reached at or
before pm. This brings the tourist TO
n good hotel in the evening, and elm
mates night driving, to which many
motorists object when touring noun
tainous country and also because Oc-
tober nights are frequently too cool
for comfort.
Perhaps the most agreeable feature
of the entire trip IS approximately -
toll, and the occasional stop TO cross
with silver the extended palm of the
away through the country, now cross
ing a pretty stream, next climbing a
mountain, and then dropping into a
charming valley, and ever taking deep
drauEhts of pure, blood-making ozone,
the Irritating incident at the toilgate
is soon forgotten-only to be renewed
later.
Leaving Washington, Pennsylvania
avenue is followed through George
town Then the Canal road is traversed
to the Chain bridge, which - crossed
and the tourist begins the Rfst lap OF
his trip in the Old Dominion.
Pass Through Hill Country.
The road leads on through typical
Virginia hill country until, thirteen
miles from the starting point, Tysons
Cross Roads is reached From this
point to Dranesville the road is Of dirt
with very few bad places to mar the
pleasure of the trip.
From Dranesville an excellent macad-
am highway leads on to Leesburg,
where a good luncheon may be OBJ
tained. after which half hour may be
well spent visiting historic landmarks
Entering and leaving Leesburg- the
tourist will see numerous beautiful
country estates. many of which are
owned by prominent WashingtonianE.
It Is climb from Leesburg to Snick-
ers Gap. where the highway crosses
the Blue Ridge mountains. 1t wat
here that Gen J. E. B. Stuart, in 1852
; lay concealed for two days watching
the Federal Army march by. He dared
L not strike. for he was hopelessly out
numbered. and there was but one way
out. and the northerners held that
Passing through the gap, the descent
Of the mountain begins and continue.
until. at the foot. the Shena ndoah river
is reached After a short run along
this river IL is crossed at Castlemans
bridge. Once across the river. the pic.
turesque country, the fertile farms
stately mansions and substantial out
buildings nestled between the tive
ranges Of the Blue Ridge. betoken en-
trance into the far-famed Shenandoah
valley Of Virginia.
1t Is but a short run over the best Of
. roads to Winchester, the historic littl,
town in which Washington gained hi:
early military training while serving
under the English flag. His headquar T.
ters still stand, do those of Stone.
wall" Jackson There is much Of inter
est to see here. including the United
States national military cemetery and
the Confederate StonewalI cemetery
Just before entering Winchester the
tourist passes the old Hillman tollgate
where. during the civil war, Charlott,
Hfllman held up the Federal Army
made the officers pay toll, counted tn.
men and sent a bill to Uncle Sam, which
was later paid.
Road LINED With Orchards.
: winchester Is the heart of the vir-
41nia apple country, and. particularly
At this season of the year. as one spin.
over the fne highway leading to Mar.
tinsburg. twenty-five miles away, It 1,
. hard to resist the temptation to stor
and ~swipe" some of the fine, big, RED
apples that nod alluringly from the