. History of Mount Union, Shirleysburg and Shirley Township. .We have spoken previously in thisarticle relative to the old methodsof traveling. The stage-coach and thecovered wagon had their day, andthey were superseded by the canalboat which, when it dawned uponcivilization, was considered a marvel-ous achievement, but what are theseprimitive methods of transportation incomparison with the Steel Girt Wayof the twentieth century? Wherefifty and more years ago it took daysand weeks to travel from one point toanother, in this age, the same spaceis covered in a time. Thereare men living
. History of Mount Union, Shirleysburg and Shirley Township. .We have spoken previously in thisarticle relative to the old methodsof traveling. The stage-coach and thecovered wagon had their day, andthey were superseded by the canalboat which, when it dawned uponcivilization, was considered a marvel-ous achievement, but what are theseprimitive methods of transportation incomparison with the Steel Girt Wayof the twentieth century? Wherefifty and more years ago it took daysand weeks to travel from one point toanother, in this age, the same spaceis covered in a time. Thereare men living today in Mount Tnionwho remember vividly the first loco-motive that passed this way, also have a clear conception of the?prim-jt^ve passenger coach. To com--pare these early productions withitho§f wrought out by the genius ofiM twentieth century, we are almostinclined to laugh them into insignifi-cance. Chas. Dickens, when he came tliisway in the forties on board a canalboat before the shrill whistle of thelocomotive was heard in the country,. 1 ^X •? 210 had this to say relative of his trip:Despite oddities—and even theyhad, for me at least a humor of theirown—there was much in this mode oftraveling which 1 heartily enjoyed atthe time, and look back upon withgreat pleasure. Even the running upbare-necked, at 5 oclock in the morn-ing, from the tainted cabin to thedirty deck scooping up the icy water>plunging ones head into it. and draw-ing it out. all fresh and glowing withthe cold, was a good thing. The fast,brisk walk upon the towing-path, be-tween that time and breakfast, when .every vein and artery seemed to tinglewith health, exquisite beauty ot theopening day, when light came gleam-ing off from everjthing; when one layidly on ths deck looking through,,rather than at tha deep blue sky; thegliding on at night, so noiselessly, pastfrowning hills, sullen with dark sometimes angry in one red,burning spot up, where unseen menlay crouching around a
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