The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1948-06-10
HORSE AND
BUGGY DAYS
by
Ida 10 Martin

Long before the horseless carriage
came into this valley-before even
the days of the horse and buggy and
the noise of civilization-the In
dian reigned here in a great and
beautiful garden The Indian has
gone: but he has left his mark in
many places; relics of his way of
life are priced in many of our
homes; streams and other places of
historic interest bear, and always
will bear, the names he gave them;
and bits of his philosophy and moral
code will forever remain in the
ideals of the youth of civilization.
| will never forget walking across
a ploughed field one day, when my
father stopped and picked up tiny
piece of white stone. Instantly our
minds began to ask the un-ansWer-
able questions had this bit of stone
perhaps once pierced the heart of a
noble Brave, and deprived an In
dian maiden of her lover? Or had
it perhaps brought the death of one
of our own ancestors? If the stone
arrowhead could speak and tell all,
it would be a tale worth hearing.
But the stone in its muteness still
tells something: here were hours and
hours of patient labor; here was
brought into play skill and crafts
manship long since forgotten; but
beyond this, here was a man or
woman, relatives of ours, who lived
a simple life. No Cadiliacs; no Bob
Hopes; no Silver-plated tableware.
Simple indeed was the life they lived.
But we can catch a glimpse of hap
piness and contentment, of health
and zest for living that is the thing
so many seek for today but never
find l believe most of us would be
far happier if we could live just a
little simpler life today.
Many of the homes in Washington
County can boast of a few articles
left by the Indians, Most numerous
is probably the stone tips for their
arrows. Then there are stone hat
chefs, and war clubs, and a great
number of more peaceful articles.
It has been said that the most en-
during memorial to the Indian in
our County is the word "Antietam"
Many of our streams bear Indian
names; and there are countless spots
along these streams and at springs
where the abundance of Indian
articles indicate that here once
stood an Indian village. This is
particularly true of the banks of the
Potomac and Conococheague, where
these two streams join.
Another place of special interest
has been described in publications
by local writers-historian Herbert
c. Bell and Ira Hill, of Funkstown.
This place is not far from the banks
of the Antietam, in the Leitersburg
district. Here near a spring have
been found hundreds of arrow heads,
axes, scrapers, celts, pestles, and
other articles. The following is
quoted from the book, Antiquities
of American Explained written by
Ira Hill and published in 1881:
"There are numerous arrows of
different sizes here Cat Leitersburg) +,
many remains of burned bones, large
pieces of purest flint of various
shapes, and many other kinds of
stone curiously carved as if designed
for some important use.
"There are innumerable pieces of
a kind of ware which was undoubt-
eddy manufactured at this place
This ware is about as thick as that
generally made in our potteries, and
though it may have remained for
thousands of years under the earth,
or exposed on its surface to wind
and weather, yet it is harder than
any I have ever seen manufactured
in any part of the country. The out
side is rough, as though fashioned
into innumerable figures; the inside
is as smooth as glass. The rim is
likewise adorned with many cut
figures. The greatest degree of heat
that / have been able to apply to
this ware seems to have no effect,
as well as other methods I have
tried-The gentleman on whose
farm most of these remains are
found observed that when he first
ploughed up this field it seemed that