187 
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 •py l 
 
 Recreation 
 
 on tbe 
 %\{QO ♦ ♦ . 
 
RECREATION 
 
 O N 
 
 THE 
 
 SLIGO. 
 
 BY 
 
 LOUIS P. SHOEMAKER. 
 
 PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE BOARD OF 
 GOVERNORS OF THE TAKOMA CLUB AND LIBRARY. 
 
 August, 1900. 
 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
 
 JUDD 4 DETWEILEE, PEINTEBS. 
 
 1900. 
 
 Gift 
 Author 
 (Person) 
 
 30Ja } 07 
 
^Foreworb ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 
 }NE op the purposes of our club and 
 library is to advance the interests of 
 Takoma, Bright wood and vicinity, to make 
 known the advantages of this section, and 
 to remind home-seekers of its numerous 
 attractions. 
 
 Pictures of the varied landscapes will be 
 exhibited and papers will be prepared under 
 the auspices of and by members of the club 
 descriptive of the country. It is with these 
 objects in view and for the accomplishment 
 of such purpose that I submit this paper 
 entitled " Recrea*on on the Sligo," 
 which stream is within the corporate limits 
 of Takoma and forms a part of its yet un- 
 improved section. We regret to realize that 
 these natural beauties and rural attractions 
 must so soon yield to the improvement of 
 Takoma, caused by the development of 
 Washington city. The demand of the peo- 
 ple for suburban homes clearly illustrates 
 the fact that the day for greater density of 
 population in the city has passed. Our 
 recent census reports show a large increase 
 beyond the old city limits. 
 
 The impression will not be made that this 
 movement is designed to sell real estate. 
 There exists no organized or individual 
 
effort in this direction. The club is a social, 
 literary, and athletic association, with gen- 
 eral objects in view and not particular or 
 speculative purposes. 
 
 We desire, however, to direct the atten- 
 tion of the public, as stated, more particularly 
 to Takoma, Brightwood and vicinity — its 
 gradually-attained altitude of 350 feet above 
 Washington ; its pure water supply ; its 
 beautiful and well-kept roadways ; its rapid 
 and direct transit facilities, both by electric 
 and steam cars ; its summer hotel, which 
 attracts from one hundred to one hundred 
 and fifty people from Washington each 
 season ; its number of attractive houses and 
 well-kept grounds, occupied principally by 
 those who have purchased and built perma- 
 nent homes ; its telegraph, telephone, and 
 store facilities ; its social club and library, 
 with athletic features Attached, consisting of 
 a tennis court and croquet grounds, sup- 
 ported by the people at considerable monthly 
 expense, thus evidencing their interest in 
 home life and their surroundings. It is 
 believed that these advantages when made 
 known will be appreciated, and that those 
 desiring to establish permanent homes, with 
 due regard for health and all modern con- 
 veniences, will avail themselves of the 
 superiority of this section of the District of 
 Columbia and Maryland. 
 
IRecteation 
 on tbe Sltgo. 
 
 To BE able to throw aside our 
 business cares and responsibilities of 
 tbe hour, and even for a short time 
 indulge in some prescribed diversion, 
 will retain as well as advance our 
 physical condition, promote happi- 
 ness, strengthen our mental capacity, 
 and enlarge upon the education we 
 have acquired. It will also develop 
 our intuitive and empirical knowledge. 
 
 When involved in business cares 
 and responsibilities, and burdened 
 with the labor involved therein, we 
 realize the advantages to be derived 
 and the pleasures afforded by even a 
 day off. 
 
 We have started in the early morn- 
 ing, experienced delightful drives, 
 and it is pleasant to record some of 
 
 5 
 
our recollections of the beauties of the 
 seasons as they were presented, while 
 in search of some suitable place of 
 destination involving attractive rural 
 surroundings and possessing advan- 
 tages for quiet repose such as one 
 might picture to himself without in- 
 dulging in extravagant imagination. 
 Invariably when immersed in cogita- 
 tion we are reminded of these scenes 
 and experiences. 
 
 We think of the purity and fresh- 
 ness of the early morning air, of its 
 bracing and health-giving properties, 
 and of the beauties of the surround- 
 ing country, as we follow sinuous 
 roadways, observe varied landscapes, 
 and appreciate their undulating to- 
 pography. We leave the highland 
 and descend a precipitous roadway 
 leading to that beautiful stream, the 
 Sligo, so well known to those familiar 
 with Montgomery county, Maryland. 
 It is quite apparent beyond, and the 
 pellucid waters thereof can be seen 
 sparkling in the sunlight. It flows 
 
with great rapidity in places, and we 
 observe that eddies and cascades are 
 frequently formed by reason of the 
 deposit of great rocks imbedded in its 
 firm foundation. 
 
 Small trees of varied species fringe 
 its borders, and curve their limbs 
 over its banks with evident desire to 
 reach the water whose moisture fur- 
 nishes their roots with life and causes 
 their rich and vigorous growth. 
 
 The eye, like the mind of man, is 
 seldom satiated with indulgence. It 
 becomes admiringly appreciative of 
 existing beauty, yet it turns for some- 
 thing more attractive ; if not observed, 
 then it simply indulges in a variety 
 of things equally beautiful. As we 
 leave the stream, with its moss-covered 
 environments, its protecting trees, 
 and the numberless ferns to be found 
 interwoven therewith, we are induced 
 to admire the variety with which the 
 distant landscape is clothed. 
 
 Here and there are extensive slopes 
 terminating in valleys or small can- 
 
 7 
 
yons leading to sharp and extremely 
 precipitous places, with great rugged 
 rocks protruding, and the entire 
 country is covered with a magnificent 
 growth of oaks, chestnuts, and hick- 
 ories towering with majestic propor- 
 tions towards the heavens, while their 
 most elevated limbs are curved and 
 bowed toward the earth as man bows 
 with reverence to the great Creator, 
 no matter how powerful mentally or 
 physically he may be. 
 
 Here we find in nature the same 
 evidences of youth and age, as well 
 also many of those other dominant 
 characteristics that exist in human 
 nature. The same struggle for su- 
 premacy and life ; the same illustra- 
 tion of greatness and inferiority ; the 
 same evidence of beauty and symme- 
 try of form are associated with the 
 rugged, uneven, and unattractive ; all 
 of which can be observed in contrast by 
 those who indulge in the comparison 
 of nature with human nature to the 
 extent of ascertaining their similarity. 
 
Bach tree is, as we find man, in its 
 allotted sphere. Some are burdened 
 or hampered by proximity to others 
 more or less vigorous. All are con- 
 tending for existence, and they are 
 dependent upon the degree of fertility 
 to be found in the soil beneath, just 
 as man is dependent upon his mental 
 and physical strength. They resist 
 the wrath of storms and tornadoes, 
 just as man resists disease and his 
 innumerable misfortunes. 
 
 Here peace and quiet prevail. From 
 the turmoil and strife attending the 
 thousands of human beings residing 
 in the capital of this great nation, 
 only a few miles distant; from their 
 happiness as well as their unhappi- 
 ness ; from the joys as well as the 
 sorrows so often imposed upon frail 
 humanity, we are removed not alone 
 by distance, but by the twittering of 
 birds, and the sight of playful squir- 
 rels on the limbs of majestic oaks. 
 
 By the voice of rippling waters 
 and the murmur of gentle zephyrs 
 
through, the foliage of the forest we 
 are led with happy and contented 
 nature to a suitable place where we 
 indulge in a refreshing repast. We 
 subsequently add to our feeling of 
 tranquillity as we puff the smoke of 
 our cigar amid rural sentiment and 
 good fellowship. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 014 367 983 4