Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-09-29
From the Newark Sentinel.
Delaware Water Gap.
DELAWARE WATER GAP, Aug. lS4l

DELAWARE WATER GAP, Aug. 1871
Seeing is believing and here confess my
self convert 10 the sentiment Of that accom-
pIished Lady who declared that "the man who
could speak while passing this gorge would
commit sacrilege or rob his fathers grave!"-
He could al any raie have no reverence In his
soul In winding our way through The road
that hangs along the bank of ihe Delaware,
chatting cheerily, and delighted with The deep
shadows and picturesque images oil the over
hanging foliage and rocks. a first glimpse OF the
sublime spectacle brought US 10 a stand we
involuniarily paused and prosiraied ourselves IN
profound awe before The work of Nature. 1t
seemed like looking into the very presence
chaapher of the Creator. This was an impress
sioafSI give il TO you jus. it occurred,
Delaware Wafer Gap you know, Is
one 8ls4le FIVE famous fssures or breaks in tho
Blue Range, or Kiiiaiinny Mountain which ex-
tends many hundred miles from \. Z. 10 5. W.
All Of them appear TO have been made by some
mighty convulsion of nature for the passage Of
the large streams running 10 The Atlantic, viz
the passage OF the Hudson at West Point, the
Delaware at this place, the Lehigh at Mauch
Chunk, the Susquchanna near Harrisburg, and
the Potomac at Harpers Ferry. have now
of magnitude and grandeur the Delaware Wa
Rer Gap exceeds ihem all.
The Gap is visible as YOU approach on the
Pennsylvania side Of the river (which we cross
ed, from Warren county, a; Auter's Ferry Ten
or dozen miles distan,;) as far as the noun
tain itself But there is nothing. particularly
grand in the distant prospect There all seemed
soft, quiet and unobslrusiyc. The slopng hills
Il,
streams wears The aspect OF profound and beau
iiful lrepose-occasionally resting on lis course
in moioness pools, two or three hundred yards
wide. as if 10 reflect The picturesque scenery
which orerhahgs and beauties it. As you near
The Gap the scene suddenly changes: the
ground rises rapidly, almost preciptuously be-
fore you, and at the entrance the mountain
seems 10 have been suddenly riyen asundcr
The rugged walls rise in huge grandeur 1000
feet, partially covered with lofty pines, and
overhang the road with immense masses Of
rock which nearly obscure the day and threat
en- destruction 10 the traveller beneath. But
the passage widens as you proceed and the
scenery becomes less imposing and assumes a
more cheerful aspect.
In pursuing the right anged sinuosities Of
the ravine you lose sglt Of the entrance, and
look back In vain for The fearful chasm. II
seems 20 have closed behind you. A semi-cir-
cular mountain wall, fresh with dense forests,
sweeps gracefully around The retrospect and
bounds the vision. The stream apparently ter
inmates in deep, silent lake, dark, and gloomy
as the fabled Acheron, and the coup d all forms
an amphitheaire of indescrbahle grandeur
Quite The reverse is the prospect as you ad-
vance Several emerald isles in the bosom Of
the stream contrast beautifully with the rocky,
wood-clad eminences, which now have more
rounded form.
The distance through The pass is about two
miles At about two Thirds of the way from
the entrance Of the road ascendS the side of The
ridge, and perChed on a commanding spot, j 30
feet above the river, stands the forest House
which affords every luxury and comfort 4or
man and beast few rods beyond, the road
winds over The brow of the mountain and passes
on 10 the west, il being the regular mail route
from Easlon 10 Owego.
The view from the house is romantic enough
for the most ardent worshipper of the piciur-
esque. Ii presents a perfect panorama OF
mountains, enclosing the deep basin through
which the river flows in placid beauty, reflect
ing the blue sky above and The green forest
around 1t; for nothing else is visible, save sol
itary white tavern in the bosom Of the forest
far down towards the south, which gives fine
relief TO the scene The view by moonlight.
when the orerhanging canopy is besPanged
with stars, is itself worth all the toll and ex-
pense of the journey. OF all retreats IN the
world, this is the place for young married
couple during The honeymoon.
A water fall, formed by mountain stream
which dashes in full volume over rocky pre-.
cipice, some 90 or 100 feet, into the deep bed
of the IiYer,is one of tho most exciting fea-
lures in this basin scene. No description can
surpass the magniicence Of the view as you