Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-10-02
Interesting Letter From Prof. Unseld.

Dear SNYDER was greatly interest
ed in your write-up OF the old mill.
enjoyed the article immensely. ! was
carried back in memory to my boy
hood days when, as wildly remember,
the mill was in full operation. To
watch a boat loaded with -four as II
was poled to the lift-lock was hair
raising experience for the small boy.
And what day of thrilling exaltation
| il was when he was allowed TO go TO the
"Big Milf fishingI Then to be granted
the further coveted privilege OF going
out on the wall of the head-race, up in
the corner near the dam, was joy su-
preme. There was where the sportive
and succulent suckers and sunfish were
plentiful and easily hooked.
A boys piscatorial education, them
DAVIS" was varied, extensive and prac-
teal. II began with a pinhook and
sewing thread line, and he was highly
pleased when We yanked out minnow
now and then. Later his tackle was
improve with a sure-'nough 6sh-hook,
which had a provoking propensity for
getting hooked in his pants-and other
things-and a hand-tvisted line. A
generous string of chubbs, sunnies and
catfish was often his reward for his
patience and skill-not to mention his
hungry stomach. In due time he
caught his first big sucker, and his
Joy rose to the ecstatic degree. He did
not aspire to the fallhsh, whose sill
very sides glistened in the sunlight as
they leaped in the air in the middle OF
Al. - tharl
he left to the young men, the sports"
Of the day-the Barnharts, Faymans,
Marmadukes, Eb Shaner, Jim Towner,
Jim Rickard and other "Jim Dandies."
There were fish in the river at that
time, too-plenty OF 'em. One Of the
pleasures of fishing was the delightful
uncertainty Of what was on the hook
when you had bite. 1t might be. a
h-prized white sucker, or yellow
sucker, or sunfsh, mullet-head, cat
fish, stoneroller, chubb, eel, mud
sucker, or a despised skillpot. Go to!
We didn't know anything about you1
blooming big mouthed bass or can
nabalistic carp. which for beauty and
sportive qualities could not approach
the high-leaping fallfsh. Go way,
boys!
Then the fishing tackle-home-grown.
A boy was proud of his straisht Tor
nearly sol hickory sprout cut in
thicket, but the dandy rod of the ex-
pert was the handiwork Of some OF
Sam Barnhart's skillful carpenters.
Some Of them were twenty feet long
(more or less), with tapering section
of flexible hickory-the rods, not the
makers. We knew nothing about your
fancy factory rods and reels. The
pride of possession of modern tackle
cannot be compared with that OF the
old-time fishermen in their homemade
fishing fixings.
But what has all this to do with the |
write-up Of the old mill? Everything
You started train of "reminiscences |
that had to run its course.
The Register, filled with news OF
homefolks and their doings, has been
welcome visitor for fifty years. Its |
pages are as interesting and enjoyable |
as ever, Notwithstanding there are |
many names that are unfamiliar to me,
enclose money order for Sl.50 to
renew my subscription. Wishing the |
Register and its editor continued use
fulness and prosperity, in which senti-
ment Mrs. u. cordially joins me,
continue, as of old,
Yours sincerely,
B. C. UNSELD.