Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-09-13

iris-hued and skiey ultimatum, we could not
deem that the bard Of 'Thanatopsis' had
well applied TO the Catskill those happy
lines wherein he apostrophize the famous
heights of Europe
Your peaks arc beautiful, ye Apprentices,
In the soft light of your ssrenest skies
From the broad highland region, dark with pines,
Fairas tho hills of Paradise, ye rise
Be not too eager, as you take the first
stage of the mountain to look about you (;
especially be not anxious TO look afr.-
Now and then, it is true, as the coach turns,
you cannot choose but see landscape 10
the south and eastjs5srtier off than you
ever saw one before, broken up into thou
sand vistas; but look you at them with q
sleepy, sldelong eye, to the end that you
may finally receive from the Platform the
full glory of the final view. In the mean.
time, there is enough directly about you to
employ all your eyes, if you had the ocular
endowments Of an Argus. Huge rocks,
that might have been sent from warning
Titans, decked with moss, overhung with
rugged shrubbery, and cooling the springs
that trckle from beneath them, gloom be.
side the way; vast chasms, which your
coach shall sometimes seem to over.hang,
yawn on the left; the pine and cedar cent
ed air comes freely and sweelly from the
brown bosom of the woods; until, one high
assent attained, a level for while succeeds,
and the smoking horses rest, while, with
expanding noslril, you drink in the rarer
and yet rarer air a stiffness like the peace
of Eden, (broken only by the whisper Of
leaves, the faint chant of embowered birds,
or the distant notes that come 'mellowed
and mingng from the vale below') hangs
at the portal Of your ear. 1t is time to
be still--to be contemplatve-to hear no
voice but your own CALCULATIONS, or those
Of one who will share and heighten your
enjoyment, by partaking it in peace, and as
one with you, yet alone.
Passing the ravine where the immortal
Rip Van Wrinkle played his game of nine
pins with the wizards Of that neighborhood,
and quafled huge draughts of those bewil-
dering fagons, which made him sleep SO
long, we flung ourselves impatienty from
the quarter deck of the postillion, whose
place we had shared and pushed gaily on,
determined to pause not, until our weary
feet stood on the Platform. The road was
smooth and good the air refreshing and
pure, beyong description. The lungs play
there without an effort; it is luxury to
breathe. How holy was the stillness.-
Not sound invaded the solemn air; it
was like inhaling the sanctity of the empy-
rean. The forest tops soon began to stir
with mighty wind. We Looked, and on
both sides Of the road there were trees
whose branches had been broken. as if by
the wings of some rushing tempest. 1t was
the havoc of winter SHOWS.
There is a wonderful deception in the
approach to the Mountain louise, which,
when discovered, will strike the traveller
with amusement. AT one point of the road,
where the mansion which is to terminate
your pilgrimage heaves its white form in
view, (you have seen it from the river for
nearly half day. It seems not farther than
a hundred rods, and hangs apparently on
the verge of stupendous crag over your
head the road turns again, it is out Of
sight, and the SUBMITS, near its locus an
quo, are nearly three miles off. The effect
is wonderful. The mountain is grooing
upon you.
We continue to ascend slowly, but with
patient steps, and with glow of spirit
which we cannot describe. Looking oc.
casionally to the east, we saw line oil
such parti.colored clouds, las then we
deemed them) yellow, green and purple
sver.laced and violet bordered, that il
seemed we never viewed the like kaieide.
scope presentments. All this time We
wondered that we had seen no distant LAND
for many weary mile.
Hills after hills, mere ridges the noun
tain, were attained-summit after SUNNI
surmounted and yet it seemed that the
house was as far off as ever. Finally j
appeared, and a-night, the 'earth's on
sanctuary We reached il, and were reg
istered the queries of the publican, as t.
how many coach loads were behind, (symp
toms of a yearning for the almighty dollar
even in this holy of natures boiiest) wer,
answered and we stood on the platform.
Good reader--expect US not to descrlb
the indescrlbable. We feel now, whi
memory is busy, much as when we reste
before that omnipotent picture, and looke
: abroad upon its God.written magnitude
1t was vast and changeiul, a majestic, a
interminable landscape, fairy, grand, an
delicate coored scene, with rivers for il
lines of reflection, with highlands and tn
: Wales of states for its shadowings, and faro
|, mountains for its frame. Those parti-co
: oled and varying clouds we fancied W
: had seen as we assembled, were but POI
tons of the scene. All colors Of the rain
bow--all softness of harvest field, and fol
= est, and distant cities, and the towns thu
simply dotted the Hudson--and far beyon
q where that noble river diminished TO
brooklet, rolled its waters, there opene
= mountain after mountain, vale after val'
y state after state, heayed against the horizon
= to the north east aud south, in impressIv
: and sublime confusion; while SUI 6cyoa'
in undulating edges, filed with all hues
light and shade, coqueting with the clout
! rose, the rock. ribbed and ancient frame I
y this dim dorania. As the sun went dow
o the houses and cities diminished to dots
q the evening guns Of the national annive
: sary came booming up from the valley
. the Hudson the bonlircs blazed along Il
y peaks of the distant mountains, and fro
= the suburbs Of countless villages along d
" river; while in The dim twilight,