XXIV 
RECREATION. 


SIGNALS FROM A SLEEPER: 
W. H. NELSON. 
To one in robust health the journey 
from the nation’s capital to the Rocky 
mountains is necessarily wearisome. To 
an invalid, however, it is much more fa- 
tiguing. All the luxuries which mod- 
ern invention stimulated by American 
enterprise, has gathered to wrap about 
the traveler can not heal disease, nor rob 
the saddened heart of the pain of separa- 
tion. 
From the B. & O. station in Washing- 
ton to my destination in this mountain 
valley, the “Sunny San Luis,’ I found 
my journey made watchfully soft and 
easy. The Pullman spread its velvet seats 
and roomy berth for my repose. The 
observation compartment lent the wide 
crystal of its windows, and its roomy 
rear platform for my use. The buffet 
spread its snowy tables and glittering fur- 
nishings—laden with a menu to. sutisfy 
the hungry gourmand or tempt the ca- 
pricious invalid. And best of all, the of- 
ficers of the train, Capt. Samue’ Gill, train 
conductor, and J. A. Barker, Pullman 
conductor, made it a point of duty and 
pleasure to add in every possible way to 
the comfort of those wo, te..porarily, 
found a home in their swiftly rolling vil- 
lage. I tender them my thanks. 
The B. & O. was the first of the great 
iron highways to cross the Appalachian 
barrier, and, while the feats of engineer- 
ing performed in that event have since 
been far surpassed, it is still a matter of 
surprise to the gazing tourist how the 
work was accomplished so well; and most 
of all how such long trains can whip 
around such sharp curves at such high 
speed and with such perfect safety. 
It may not be amiss to say that the new 
management is straightening many of 
those curves and reducing the heavy 
grades. 
I left the Washington station of the B. 
& O. at 3:40 p. m., on Dewey Day, with 
the May ReEcREATION fresh from the 
press in my hand, and was whirled rap- 
idly through the freshly crowned forests 
and verdant fields of Maryland, making 
no stop till we reached Harper’s Ferry. 
Here the pilgrim feels the presence of 
Fate, for here that strange character, 
John Brown, met the doom so often be- 
stowed on enthusiastic fanatics—martyr- 
dom. He was insane, the world says, and 
even his enemies believe it, but he had 
suffered much and long, and it was no 
wonder if his stalwart though narrow 
mind became at last unbalanced. Mis- 
taken or not, he was the John Baptist of 
Freedom, and 
“His soul is marching on.” 
From the train one may see, on the 
one hand, the frowning heights of Mary- 
land once bristling with cannon and 
thronged with the boys in blue, and on 
the other the bleak face and bald summit 
of Bolivar Heights from which the Con- 
federates so often threw shells and con- 
sternation amongthe garrison of the little 
nie between, so sleepy now, so bustling 
then. 
Here that grizzly Confederate phantom, 
Stonewall Jackson, who was so mysteri- 
ous in all his movements—who threatened 
Winchester in the morning and struck at 
Harper’s Ferry in the evening,—made his - 
appearance in ’62 and received the surren- 
der of Col. Miles and 13,000 men, with 
their arms and provisions and then faded 
away like a silent ghost to appear next 
day on the field of Antietam. 
From the Ferry the railroad winds in 
and out along the banks of the Potomac 
whose waters glint and sparkle in their 
sinuous windings with suggestions of bass 
and perch, which makes the fisherman 
aboard the train itch to go down to them 
with rod and fly. Here and there, too, 
tumbling under our feet, flashing down 
into the blue bosom of the river, comes 
a mountain brook, babbling and laughing, 
as it tells of the trout that hide and dart 
among its slumbering pools under the 
pines, far up in the mountains. 
Who can sweep through such a region 
as this, even on the rushing wings of 
steam, and not feel the poet-wish to quit 
the scramble andjostleof the selfish world 
for a while; creep, like a tired child into 
kind old Mother Nature’s lap, and laying 
his aching head on her gentle bosom 
so fall asleep? 

For Sale: .40-82 Winchester rifle, 
with loading tools, bullet mold, 50 loaded 
cartridges, canvas case with shoulder 

strap. All in fine order. A bargain at 
$12. Also N. Y. Club rifle, .22 cal. with 
Lyman ivory bead sight. A new gun, 
price $5. 
Frank Stuart, Lincoln St., Spokane. 
Wash. 
For Sale or Exchange: Fine oil 
and water color paintings, framed and un- 
framed, and rare old violin. Would ex- | 
change for .30-30 Winchester, 12 gauge, 
hammerless, Stereo binocular field glass, 
or Gram-o-phone. Address Lock Box 
26, Stoughton, Mass. 

For Sale.—Useful and ornamental noy- 
elties, used in every home. Sell at sight. 
Send $2.50 and get a complete sample 
line. Agents wanted everywhere. Big 
discounts. Big Profits. Plymouth Novy- 
elty Co., L. B. 91, Plymouth, Wis. 

For Sale or Exchange.—A thorough- 
bred setter dog 3 years old, partly broken; 
stands nicely and ranges beautifully. For 
particulars apply to H. L. Hayes, Bealton, 
Virginia, 

