Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1837-04-18
VIRGINIA scENERY-THE HAWKS NEST.

VIRGINIA sCENRRY--TIIE HAWKS NEST.
II, wa. IN the summer OF 1891 tina, took the
gres, western road, from fredericksburg to Guysn-
dos,e. Having, in this noble and exciting route,
passed the enchanting region Of the celebrated
springs Of Virginia. and the vast ridges of the Al
loghsay Mountains, conceived myselfloo familiar
with objects Of beauty and grandeur, to be overcome
by spy new sight OF subl:mity. But sasr ,oiling
slowIy and sieepily up a gradual ascen, Of miles.
the coach stopped at the summit Of a mountain,
and the cry of---'thc Hawks Ncstr burst from
several passengers at once. | looked out, expect
ing 10 zee what had been dreaming about for
three days. looming above me IN awful majesty
for bsd been under delusion in supposing that
cur road would pass under the clG called by that
angular name. ] saw nothing but wood on either
ride. There WAS little TO mark this spot from a
hundred others we had passed. Little did think
We were within m,ao,es walk ofthe objec, Of nv
ssrncst anxiety
Whh The feelings Of child who is about to wit
ness show. and wondering what is coming when
the mysterious curtain rises, ! Jumped with the
rest from tho coach and followed the little foot.
path Which invited US, ] thought, into the depths
Of the forest. Suddenly The trees parted, like
veil. before US. and 10 my sstonishmcnt, | found
wc were on the top, instead Of the bottom Of the
Hawks Nest
! WAS standing on the very verge Of precipce
. thousand and ten feet in perpendicular height
scene lay beyond, whose vartucss end grandeur
!, would be impossible TO describe. The Kunaw hs
river was dsshng, unhcard, beneath. and the ALE
ghany Mountains Icy IN ranges beyond. diminished
into hills by tho distance. For moment, enchan-
ted by the fair and lovely prospect, | was uncon.
seious Of my fearful position. The mex, was one
Of ierror--for. as LOOKED below, the blood flowed
back 10 my veins, and chung to a Dough for sup
port. Beneath me, the air was blue with depth
The voiture was wheeling high circles over his
sceat, bot could look down on his back, as it pls.
tened in the sun.
No scene IN the world breaks upon the view SO
unexpectedly A. the Hawks Nest. None therefore,
so overwhelms the mind with the trembling tetro.
OF extreme height. IT you ascend mountain the
prospect e'aduslIy wieens. II YOU shoot up in
balloon, !, expands little more rapidly But here.
without preparation, the curtain parts ffo.a your
eyes, and you End yourself standing fsthoms above
the eagle. with bot foot Of land between you and
the depth below 1; foot farther, and you would
iaii quarter Of mile ere you touched the earth
Al soch moment who csn eollec, bis thoughts,
Neither Byron's. shakspesre's. nor any other des-
en2tion OF enormous cliffs occurred TO me. The
Impression vas one. original and exclusive, shut
Jung oot from the mind every thing but iiself.--
What renders the Hawks Nest so pre-. emiten, in
grandeur 10 not its height sone but the ma cn6cent
prospect which expands beneath il. The eve 10 !
eodsssonne to accommodate itself to the new sen.
ssuon--the remo,eness Of extreme height, is sub |
eef 10 singular deception. To believe that the |
nvef, which apparently a, the foot Of the pre-
e'P'ee. 10 really at considerable distance from il.
Is impossible. There is an oppression Of the brain
IA madness in such height. Moe, person, e,.
perience headache sfter the frs, look. Absndon
yourself TO the impression, and j, instantly redoub.s
with dreadful fascination. You feel a inomenar, |
IMPULSE TO cas-, yourself downward. | aucmpted
70 sssnd where ~ss with my back 20 the cliff but |
my a'xxiness increased. closed my eyes. but The |
setss was even then mo;e fesffully before me = |
what mingled sensations Of grandeur delight and
terror. were crowded around that moment
nave attempted no particular topogra phical des-
efiPuon OF the HAWKS Nest like Nisgars. il de- !
nes description. The vasiness Of every 6e,,u,e
connected with IL, the audiences with which tho
whole impression bursts upon the aslonished .iyb,
'hs eo1ndes' prospect the terrific and lonely spo,
where you stand. the absence Of the less, .,on NJ
human cultivation The awful silence which reign. |
over The vast panorama. give the Hawk, Mes, an
sneei more impressive and memorable than tina, NJ
Hngsn nsef There. the sound ard eaec, ~,
s',e" recall and eivide the attention. Her. an
''ssehs would be relief from the o,erpower-
s s"enoe sno sss,ness. Tie effect is no, a,y,dad
eo' angie. The brain 10 not distracted or e,c,,sS
~ ssis'eh' points Of sie~. or daerep, slsnsn,.
ee.'on' u has to sustain i,.eIf. un.ided ,,,;a., (
sss eoneea'fsied exhibition Of soblni,,. 40 ,adS.a
ss sse'Posef'ng. that its fsoul,e. reel and -
city. 0e'ead ihe'f esPa'
N. We zen the HAWKS Nss, in eve minute. from
80 .m NC reached Il. In that one lool are crow.
49,, INC "'le recOlieeliOns have a Il, rIor,ou.
~, ,s.'nsd s~sy with me an iss. Of swsoI
,se ~. 49,, , &c ae, perfectly comprehend a,
- - ~ .' ~''ea yesrs 40 travel hsye COMM.
's' a' 10 'esAs ca ss'A can ,srp..s.