John Milton Binckley, June 1859 Travel Diary, Page 11

[John Milton Binckley, June 1859 Travel Diary, page 11. Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing scans of the original document, and in turn many thanks to Peter Johnston Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source.]

give a boatsman a chance to get her out & the soldier to congratulate her on her escape.

More whiteheaded children, a sure sign to the blind that mills[?] are near.

Harpers’ ferry – the case is now a sunsol, but not long sol. The scene was of course museen[?], for avoided this complication of bridges, buildings, dogs & other inhabitants, all but a few glimpses are lost. Inquired of brakesman how long we would stop? “Not long” replied that astute officer. That might mean half a minute or half a day, of course.

Lady is vociferously and enthusiastically demonstrative of her vainglorious admiration. Doubtful now, but she made a mistake, for I am sure she could not see a crag where she stood, nor a stone of any sort but the [?] which, as natural phenomena, [?] confounding astonishment.

Meantime, Mother & her company were indulging the freedom of speech. 

Fell into conversation with a passenger – my mode of travel is communicate – if the stranger does too, go on, if he don’t, don’t – that’s all. 

[John Milton Binckley (1831-1878).

Mother = Charlotte Stocker Binckley (1788-1877).
Harpers Ferry illustration from A Young People's History of Virginia and Virginians (1896), Wiki Commons.]