The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1944-11-02


tlmlSm, the American dream-thest
were the things they sensed anew
/ These were the feelings that they had
had when first they ventured forth
from the old world-only to suffer
disillusion. But now the lost pulse
/ stlls their hearts once more. They
were no longer white trash-but ele-
waited to their former sense of dignity
They were men once again. With knit
brow hand clasped to the rifle, the
other to his family, Jacob Schucker
with shoulders erect, scanned the
Western hOriZon-Where he believed
he would find a free mans home
/ There is no record of the dreams, as
-pirations, struggles, and hopes that
were astr in these Wayfarers across
our glades and mountains. But the
outward magnificcnce, the sense OF
epic events were so real that all felt
it in common.
Those who participated in the traf-
fic are 10th to admit that there were
ever before such landlords, such tav-
ems, such dinners, such whiskey, such
hustle of such endless cavalcades of
coaches and wagons as could be seen
between Wheeling and Frederick in
the palmy days of the old National
Pike. The wagons were so numerous
that the leaders Of one team had their
noses in the trough at the end Of the
wagon ahead, and the coaches drawn
| by four or six horses, dashed along at
4 speed Of which few could have any
conception at the time. Besides the
coaches and wagons there were gentle
men travelling smgIy in the saddle,
with all the accoutrements of the jour
ney stuffed in their saddle bags. There
were numerous droves Of sheep and
herds of cattle, which at times blocked
the road for miles to the great con-
sternation and disapproval Of the
travellers.
The rival lines Of coaches brought
rival taverns into existence. As the
two opposition coaches drove into a
village for supper, they pulled up be-
fore separate taverns. The survivors
Of the old days are united in giving
credit for the uniform excellence of
all the taverns. They were clean, spa
cious, generously conducted, and in
some instances so durably built that
they are still in good condition. The
gilded and glittering sign swung out
from pole or staff, and moss grown
trough overflowed and trickled me-
lodiously before the porch, at one end
of which an aIchway led into the
stable-yard. The interior was substan-
TALLY furnished The floors We're
sanded, and the beams in the ceiling
were uncovered. An hour before the
coach was due the landlord would be
found in little alcove Of the tap-room
transferring his liquors from demi-
johns to bottles, setting his glasses in
single file, and bidding his servants
to make haste with supper. The viii
layers appeared at their doors; for
the arrival of the coach, although a
very familiar event, acquired a fresh
interest from day to day, and as they
glanced towards the curve at the foot
Of the hill, their anticipations were
soon fulfilled. Here it came ahead
Of time, swaying and pitching peri
lousy, the horses at full gallop, and
the driver swinging his whip with a
pistol-like snap over their heads. No
sooner did mine host at the table hear
it than, with parting admonition to
the kitchen, he FASTENED to the porch,
and stood there with a smiling face,
the picture of welcome, as the coach
rounded up under the oaks and chest
nuts, and the driver threw his reins to
the waiting hostlers.
According to John E. Reside, of
Washington, four kinds of coaches
were used on the pike at different
periods. The first was built at Cum
berland by Abraham Russell, the Cum
berland. The next was the Trenton,
third the Troy, and the last model to
be built was the Concord. The names
towns where they were built.
The traffic seemed like frieze with
an endless procession Of figures. There
we've sometimes sixteen painted
coaches each way daily; the cattle and
sheep were never out of sight; the
Connestoga wagons (made in York