Franklin County: Edward McPherson to John B.
McPherson, July 27, 1854
Summary:
Edward McPherson writes to his father of being caught in a rain storm and of the
accomodations of the inn.
Friday, July 27th 1854
Buena Vista Springs,
My Dear Father:
As we had a storm yesterday I feared you might be anxious to know how I managed
to get through it. And I did get through very well. When at the Church it first
came upon me.-- There being no house near I had to trip on for some time in a
very heavy rain at a pace no faster than a walk. After some time I came near a
house. I observed a barn leading up to the house from the road. Into this I
intended driving: but was prepared on riding to the beginning of the lane to
find a barn there which prohibited entrance.-- The choice was left me either to
press my journey or get out & take down the barn. I of course chose the
former & continued on through the storm which abated when I reached a
house on the road with a "little better" barn a mile from Millerstown, as the
man told me.-- The storm was very heavy as I suppose you in G--g can testify. I put up the apron as high as I
could, but [unclear: could] not succeed in keeping off the rain entirely
from my face & head.-- I arrived here, after tarrying almost 3/4s of an
hour in Millerstown, about six o'clock. By way of compliment to my writing I may
tell you that a boy who with very bad manners was looking at me when writing the
above gave up in despair, & retired, remarking that I write a very fine hand.-- I have taken two meals & a sleep
last night & am able to form some idea of the house.-- And my opinion is
that it is the best house
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I ever stopped at on the Mountain.- The
table is very good. Things are nice well cooked & palatable.-- The borders have a table to themselves & are not
made to eat with the hostler or not at all.-- They
are waited on attentively.-- W. F.s family [illeg.]
[illeg.] sit at table with the boarders. The beds are very nice. Mine
last night had on two as nice sheets as I ever slept on or
could ever -- a nice coverlet and a blanket alongside to be used if
necessary.-- I am much surprised at the accomodations.-- Please give my
compliments to Geo. MClellan & tell him for
me that if "Frank is not a decent man he keeps a very good house, his table [added: & beds], being about as much superior
to Goodyear's or Buchman's his own, I believe is to Griswolds." The reason for
sending this message is he was trying to ridicule Frank & his house
yesterday, I thought, in which he was assisted by others who tried their hand at
ridicule me [added: for offering to go there] too
until I gave them a cut or two which made them silent.-- The bathing
establishment - the building is not so good as Goodyear's but it is just enough
for all useful purposes. The warm baths fixture is something like this:--
Suppose this a little building:-- [hand drawn illustration of a bath fixture]
that inside fixture the bath tub, greatly larger, the outside mark a boiler
connecting with the tub by two tubes running though the side of the house into
the tub.-- The water in the cylinder when heated boils over & flows
through the upper tube into the tub & makes the crater in the tub of the
requisite temperature.-- The regular borders here
are people Aikers, of Mt. St. Mary College & Maryland University
& his family in all seven. A party of about ten came today from
Muttontown.-- About 12 couples are expected from there tomorrow, so these
report. The town is near Hagerstown.-- His terms are not more than $4.-- I
expect not so much from what he told me last evening.-- W. F. & I went
up to the spring he [illeg.] last summer about half a mile from this up
the mountain.-- It is indeed very large, the largest I ever saw.- It is larger
than our
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pantry - and beautiful.- The house he erected last season
-- is unoccupied now. He expects to move it up to the road next spring &
keep both going.-- Buchmans' is not making any progress. The foundation is up.
They are now burning the brick for it.-- I expect to be home some time next week
as I mentioned before I left.-- I may go from Hagerstown through Waynesboro' over to the [unclear: fham G.
Road] -- & to the Springs near Fayetteville -- about two miles
from the place we come out on the road.-- I don't know that I will but I may. I
understood that the other day 120 for dinner there-- Quite a crowd.-- I have a
bad pen & worse ink.-- Love to all.--I don't precisely when I go to
Hagerstown
Your [illeg.]
Edward
