Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-15

away AT the pantner, striking him right between
those cruel eyes and putting an end to the
beast. Il fancy there was no scolding at home
that evening from his Deborah on account Of
the missing buttonD
SHOW different is nocturnal walk through
our woods now from what it was in those
days! Many stories are related, some quite
humorous and others very frightful of adven-
lures with wolves bears and panthers The fol-
lowing may be depended upon, coming down as
it does through such channels. A carpenter
who had been at work through the day at the
first attempt to build house in the village of
Brookeville, making his way to his own hut
on dark night through the dense forest.
Suddenly he was startled at the sight of two
shining eyes in the path before him. He had
no gum but the ak was in his hand. Lifting it.
he flung it with all his force at the horrid
object, and then ran with all his might. On
the following morning the ak was found stuck
fast in the cloven skull of young panther.
Tracks in the snow were inspected in those
days with painful interest by the children, thus
learning the value of an art now too much
neglected-the grand art of observation
Then the most valuable Of all animals, with
out exception, was the sagaciouS and faithful
dog. without his efficient services it would
have been almost impossible to subdue and
held In such esteem, especially by the descend
ants of the old pioneers, If only for the good
he has done. Yet it does seem, in the progress
of civilization, that some of the very things
most essential at the beginning became wholly
unnecessary, and to be regarded as an orna-
ment or nuisance. Strange, but true! Well,
they say every dog has his day. May not the
same be said of the gun, at least of the pistol?
An instrument invented in evil ingenuity, used
only in oarbarism, and now in wckedness-
properly to be banshed from the face of the
earth.
AT length the wild beasts disappeared before
the hunter with his dog and gun The last
bear shot in this neighborhood was brought
down from the forks of chestnut tree little
way north OF Sharon; this was in 1880. The
wolf and deer we're exterminated short time
afterward"
WE who are so far remote from the con-
ditions met with by the pioneer of this
and other parts of the United States can have
but vague idea of this country when it was
wrested from the Indian by the white man. In
this connection the annals" tell us of large
tree that was still standing in 1884 along what
is now called the Laurel road, leading then as
now, from the lower counties where settlement
began. The chestnut tree standing nearly in
front of Cherry Grove, largest tree in this part
of the country, being 80 feet in girth at the
ground and 22h feet at five feet higher up
the trunk, probably did not attract the atten-
ton of the adventurous travellers nearly two
centuries ago, unless, indeed, a panther was
hanging to upper bough, or a bear was
hugging the trunk with arms which might
then readily inclose it."
In a recent visit to this section the writer
saw dead chestnut tree the old Gathers
burg road that must have been several hundred
years old, it would seem, and from its size it
must have been one of the giants of the forest
How wonderful it would be if these old trees
could just tell their LIES story to us-how inter-
eSting 1t would surely be!
Charley Forest, right in the heart of Sandy
Spring, is naturally very interesting place
having included 1000 acres when it was granted
to Maj. John Bradford on August TO- 17I6, and
1t was here that James Brooke built the first
house in this locality in 1928, and here two
years later, that he brought his bride, Deborah
SnoWden, and 1t was also here that his son
James and other members of the family lived
as did In more recent years William Schof1eld
followed by Frank j. Downey, the farm being
now owned by Charles w. Ray, president of the
Brightwood Citizens Association and here he
and Mrs. Ray make their home
tradition tells us that the original house
which stood about where the new one now
stands, was at the time of its erection the onlv
Haine u"elAl1B along the meridian between
Maryland and Canada very broad state
ment indeed, TO make
OF course, this old house no longer exists
having been taken down some time ago. There
can be no doubt about this, for in the annals"
recently printed we find that on August O. 1913,
"a Brooke family reunion and neighborhood
picnic was held at Charley Forest Nearly 200
persons gathered under the stately trees and
after general survey of the interesting old
house, with its quaint rooms, closets and stair
ways, and an examination of numerous ancient
papers, we ranged through house, lawn and
fhInild inuc N