St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

Page 188 text:

a I , Qthe chutesj, as our Math. and German Professors will bear witness. VV e cannot forbear recalling a remfiniscence of our school days. This was the attempt of myself and a fellow student to inaugurate the shirt taill' parade at Charlotte Hall. It was upon a beautiful night in the month of May that we sauntered forth, clad in our robes-de-mzit. The full moon was sailing proudly through the heavens, the gentle zephyrs softly whispered in the treetops, and the frogs were kicking up an unearthly racket in the swamp below. We flunked -and great was the Hunk thereof. For upon trying to evade a group of young ladies, we ran into the waiting arms of two professors, taking a quiet evening siesta beside the Fountains of Healing VVater.', So the tale endeth, except that the faculty, in solemn conclave, saw ht to impose fifteen demerits and three thousand words upon us. Why couldn't they have followed the precept of their illustrious superior, St. Iohnis, and soaked us for seventyfive demerits do-wn, without any unnecessary encumbrance? The next station south of Charlotte Hall is New Market. During my sojourn at the Academy, ' ' How well do I remember V 'Twas in the bleak Decemberf' There was a period of live hours one morning when not a drop of whiskey was to be had in New Market. Everybody held his breath and awaited the Mil- lennium. About half-past twelve the train, with five barrels of the joyful, came in sight, the houses settled back on their foundations and business was resumed. V The night shall be filled with music, And the sounds that infest the day, Shall fold their tents like the Arabs, And as silently steal away. Dear reader, can you imagine the appalling possibility, had a snowstorm blown up the' previous night and delayed the train for a week. . Mechanicsville, the terminus of the line, is reached without any mishaps. From thence we take the stage to Leonardtown. The stage is a dilapidated two- seated conveyance, drawn by an excuse for a horse. One seat is occupied 'by baggage, merchandise, Sze., and you share the other with the driver. If there is more than one passenger, they have to take turns walking and riding. All Southern Maryland scenery looks alike to me, but the soil of St. Mary's county appears especially adapted to raising tobacco and niggers. Fifteen stops for re- freshments are made by the driver before we arrive at Leonardtown. At one of i 174

Page 187 text:

a short description of this Southern Maryland Hdinkeyi' which is soon to transport us at lightning speed across the face of the globe. The road extends from Brandywine south to Mechanicsville, a distance of twenty miles. Two trains, one down and one up, are run per day, except during the three summer months, when traffic becomes so heavy that an early train up and a late', train down are added. All trains are necessarily pulled by the same engine, as it is the only one owned by the company. The entire management of the corporation is vested in one man. He is conductor, baggage master, mail mes- senger, general passenger agent, general ticket agent, general freight agent and general manager. In the words of the immortal Daniel Vlfebster, HHe is the only pebble on the beach. In his duties as baggage master and mail messenger he is assisted by a red-headed brakeman, neatly uniformed in blue jean and a slouch hat. T After a half hour's delay, caused by the loading of one trunk, twenty-five cases of beer and three barrels of whiskey, the brakeman waves his hand and the train, consisting of one freight ,car and a combination smoker, passenger, baggage and mail car, starts out. Everything moves along smoothly for a while, when suddenly there is a halt. Upon looking out the window we see the engineer in front of his engine throwing stones at a red and white spotted cow which has a manifest disposition to graze upon the track. At length we get by the cow in safety and proceed upon our way. Gallant Green! hAh, here we are in old Charles county, God bless her! that land flowing with milk, honey and Muddy, Several other stops are made at intervals of half a mile, presumably at stations, but we fail to perceive them. At Hughesville, for the Hrst time since we left Brandywine, we see a white native. Here is the only and necessarily the largest department store in Southern Maryland. VVe have not written this little epic in a spirit of criticism, but cannot refrain here from stating that Rohrersville has four such establishments, and we do not call them department stores, much less boast that they are the largest in Vlfestern Maryland. But we have neglected to mention the scenery. Suffice to say, it is the same picturesque, undulating, suc- cession of pine woods and swamps that we observed in Prince George county, only on a less grand scale. About a mile beyond Hughesville there is another halt. What in the world is the matter? Upon investigation we find the Hreman chasing from the track the same red and white spotted cow we were compelled to stop for, three hours ago, ten miles back. Finally we are again moving. Charlotte Hall! Ah! Sweet Auburnf' loveliest village of the plain. How dear to my heart are these familiar scenes. Upon yon spacious campus rises our beloved Alma Mater, Qld Charlotte Hall Academy, within whose classic halls for two years our young idea was taught how to shoot-and that bright young idea is still shooting T73

Page 189 text:

these stops I was asked to settle a dispute between two antediluvian relics, sitting on the fence. Une- asserted that Aristotle was a Roman gladiator, who could lick blazes out of anything on wheels. The other said he was a Dutchman who invented sauer kraut. We informed them that Aristotle was a Greek general who captured Troy, and then continued our journey. After a tiresome ride Leonard- town is reached. As we drive through the town the thought enters our mind, how Leonard Calvert' can possibly lie quiet in his grave. Supper is served at the so-called hotel, and a very good supper at that. While lounging around after supper we are approached bya melancholy native who suggests a little game of poker. Having a little surplus cash in our clothes, we readily agree. The game was not opened until there were thirty cents in the pot, and we won on three jacks. He won the next on two pairs and the third on a straight. The fourth came' his way on a dead bluff, he having only queen high. There were fifty cents in the next pot when he announced that he had openers, and drew three cards. Luck was with us, and we held a straight. There was betting until three dollars lay on the table. My money, said he. You see, I have two pairs. But a straight beats two pairs. Who says so. Hoyle does. My boy,' said he, this is a world of changes. When we sat down to the game a straight beat two pairs, but ,now it is the other way. Deal again, and I will decide whether a full house should beat a royal flush. VVe retired from the game a sadder but a wiser man. So endeth' our journey as well as our story. The next morning we left by the Wash- ington boat. Dear reader, unless you are tired of life, or wish to get away from your mother-in-law, let me prevail on you to stay away from Southern Mary- land. Probably you may wish to contribute some interesting facts to natural history, or to substantiate Darwin's Theory of Evolution. Qnly under such con- ditions wouldithe exploration of Southern Maryland be justified. There are, doubtless, some who are so stiff-necked that they will not give ear to my words or be governed by my counsel. For such there is no remedy but the experiment itself. Some persons have to sit down on the hornet before they can fully appreciate the true nature of the animal. . ' A-sk ,lit N0 lisa? 175