The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-08-26
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MISCELLANY.
FOR the Gazette
A RAMBLE-(COntinued)

anu lohi ways, says Olu 0rufLllO IN the play, a.
am sure he would not have had less reason to have
made the exclamation if he had been travelling
over the " foul ways" Of Durand and this modern
Kilkenny. The road from Leary's in SheIburne
for Is or 20 miles to Jefferson, through Durand
and nr@nny is extremely bad, and much Of Il
falls Under that description too well known in
this eastern country by the name of" gridiron. .
] have seldom hadmy patience so severely exer-
cised as on this melancholy occasion.
found here mode of expression peculiar TO
this part Of the country, which quite amused4ne !;
the people Of every description Invariably pre-
fix to their answers the word swell" iii ask
ed the working in bis field the name ofyon-
der mountain, or the faxen headed boy, who
was sticking as much of his head as he could pet
out of the broken pane, what the neighboring
brook was called; it was always {" well don't
know what they call il" or " well, believe the
people about here call them the White hills. :"
Ii enquired Of the good woman at her churn,
how far it was to the next tavern, was answer
ed 8 well declare l don't Justly know, but
guess they can tell you at the next house. don't
you know Mira" This style continued after
crossed the N. III. line until reached Hano-
yer.
My attention was attracted BY the great num-
Der of children In these back woods the mo-
ment the rafting of wheels caught their ears,
out would rush from the door of eyery howell or
log hat flock of children of all ages, half dress
ed, with dirty faces and hair, to which exposure
to all sorts OF weather had given the colour and
appearance of half bleaken flax and they would
gaze until the chaise was lost IN a turn Of the
road or the wood. Nor was this curiosity con-
hned to the children, for all the grown up females
OF the shed, though they were more shy than the
C1linIV rUar to L. Il
there was hole Granny, which indeed were
not rare in these uncomfortable dwellings
Durand has nothing to recommend it, but the
hDe views it affords you of the mountains, which
are truly admirable and redeem all the vile places
of its barrenness and horrible roads, There is
but one path way through this country from
Bethel to Jefferson, and that winds along upon
entirely level ground and passes directly at the
base Of the heaven kissing hills" On this
road in Durand you have an uninterrupted view
OF these stupeudous mountains, as they spring
from the valley and ascend into the region Of the
clouds The highest Peak, Mount Washington,
rises to the height of 1884 feet above the level of
the sea, and the lowest of the five principal points,
Mount Munroe, is 5,ll6 feet above the same lev
ell. In this part of the country the peaks are
distinguished by the names Of the FIVE Presidents
This cluster forms the highest land 10 the Unit
ed States, and although it appears in degree
insulated, yet 1t is probably connecting link
OF the chain, which extends from the valley of
the Mississippi to the gulf of St. Lawrence
South OF that extensive valley the land rises to
much greater height and the city of Mexico
stands nearly thousand feet higher than the
summit OF Mount Washington
took late breakfast at Bowman's in Dur
and ; the house is situated close by the foot of
Mount Adams, of which you have an unbroken
view the passing clouds occasionally conceal
ed It's summit and the ragged rocks which hung
upon its side, but without diminishing the interest
of the scene. The mountains are covered with
growth of pines about two thirds of their height,
they are then entirely naked, and the grey gran
lie IS bursting through the thin covering with
which they had been invested. Occasionally
deep ravine presents ITSELF its dark shades betray-
ing It's depth and the force Of the torrent which
had produced it. The ascent on this side is diff
tcult at present, but it is designed to construct
road very soon, to the top of Mount Adams,
from which the tourist can pass without difficulty
to the other peaks. II is desirable that this pro-
ject be accomplished, as the heights can then be
scaled with more ease than they now are from
Crawford's in the Notch. The whole groupe is
in unncorporated land in New Hampshire and
has but few inhabitants upon it. Those few how
ever, seem to be contented and happy:
I" Dear is the shed to which their souls conform
find dear the hill that lifts them to the storm"
Bowman's house stands in the solitude of the
mountains which bound his southern prospect !;
on that side is all the beauty OF the situation, for
in the rear the view is rude, without grandeur
and artless without the charms of neatness and
simplicity. 1t is not Improbable to be alone in
such scenes; amidst alpine solitudes like these,
the thoughts are driven home with intensity and
if ever ones feelings are elevated above the va
pours which dwell on all earthly things, to the
great Architect, who heaped up the mountains,
it must be amidst such scenery. There is an
absence among the people here of refinement
and delicacy,
find all the genter morals such as play
Thro LIES cultured walks and charm the way,
but here thrive the nobler virtues, generosity
and courage, and there is among them in an un-
expected degree ciyility and intelligence they
are principally emigrants from the lowlands
After riding eight miles from Bowrnan's re-
Joiced to find myself entirely off the gridiron
with sound limbs. In Jefferson had an excel
lent view of all the peaks Of the White noun
tains which stretched along from South west to
North east in bold outline on the horizon. This
appeared TO me to be one of the finest points of
view. as it embraced all the peaks s. gives one
good idea of the height and extent of the clus-
ter. So great was my JOY on having escaped
from the villainous roads Of Durand, Kilkenny
aud Jefferson, that determined to indulge my
self with a glass of brandy and water from my
own stores, partly for my individual comfort,
partly to drink reform to all vile ways and part
ly to refresh the stomachs Of two honest looking
peasants whom overlook on the road SO stop