Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-09-30
WEST Po1NT, August 90, 1912.
" E5I Vr.'I =
To the Editor of the W. PhGnir:


has been source of much pleasure and delight
I send YOU the following description, faint and im-
pcrfcot as it may be, hoping that it may be both
acceptable TO yourself, and perhaps also somewhat
n,erestng not only TO such of your readers as
dwell on the green hills Of Vermont ana the peas
mt bnnks of the Connccticut--places Of which, in
respect TO natural beauty, sublmiy and scenery,
would hesitate TO call even the fhr-iamcd Highlands
and the Hudson of New York, prototypc--but
specially to such as love 10 contemplate the works
of Nature in some of her most striking exhibitions
of variety and perfection; the works OF Art, IN
some Of its most antiquacd aud hallowcd aspects;
or the puges Of History, in her records both of foul
treason, and especially of unAinchng justice valor
or patriotism.
Follow u.s. then, in Imagination, We leave
New Haven, "the City of ElIns" and bells and
busy life of quiet walks and sequcstered avenues
and, what to many is more interesting and sacred
/ the site of many and valuable institutions OF
learning, in whose consecrated halls and classic
shades, the student loves TO linger long. This we
leave at night take boat and berth for N. York,
where arrive early next morning, scarcely con-
scous of the time or distance passed. But in this
spacious, hot, crowded, dirty, noisy, busting city,
we will stay only while the cab carries us 10 the
North River landing. Here we take the Boat Troy,
the largest and most elegant that plies on the river;
having Captain polite and kind, servants attentive,
and accommodations agreeable. But we will com
nit our baggage TO the care Of the porter, lest we
share the fate of our two companions, one of whom
had his valse stolen, and the other his carpet bag
cut open and riied of all its contents.
The bell rings, and off, animated with
cool and refreshing breezes, while gazc at the
almost countless spires of the apparently receding
city. Moderate hills covered with verdant lawn
waving groves, and crowned with some humble
cottage elegant mansion fertile vnllies diyersi-
fed with various crops and adorned with here and
there pleasant villoge--dark and deep rayines-
majestic, preciptous aud towering rocks-thesc are
the objects that keep the eye and mind Of the ira
weller on the stretch with unconscious rapidity
he glidcs along up the Hudson. We pass
ing the beautiful little village of Tarytown stu
nted on the East side Of the river about % miles
from the city Of n. York. At the north of this is
"Sleepy Hollow" the foundation of an interesting
legend of the same name by Washington Irving.
About half a mile north Of this village, is also an
other spot, famous in the Annals OF American his
tory, the place of the capture of Major Andre,
the British Spy, by Paulding Van Vert and Will
iams, OH the 23d Of September, 1880. Having pro-
ceeded six miles farther to the north we pass the
delightful village of Sing Sing, so called from the
Indian name Ossn Sing, signiiying "the place of
stone" The marble quarries at this place are very
valuable, and are wrought principally by the con.
victs Of the State Prison.
But of all the natural objects o. interest on this
route, the Palisades arc the most remarkable and
magnificent They are range Of contiguous, elc-
vat,d and almost perpendicular rocks, extending
along the West bank of the river some go miles
and varying from 300 10 800 feet in height The
length, regularity and slender form of these rocks
has well merited for them the name of Palisades,
which signifies 'iortifcalion consisting OF a row
of stakes or posts set firmly in the ground" Such
are these rocks, ever saying 10 the waters of the
Hudson, I" Hitherto shalt thou and no farther
We have now arrived at West Point; and the
sentinel on guard at the dock, aud recorder TO
take names OF all who go on board the boat, aud all
who land together with the presence of some twenty
cadets remind us that this is Il military post that
here is the United s. Nj. Academy, and all its nee
essary concomi,ants and appendages. But more of
this hereafter.
| We land and by hard and rather precpitous
yet beautiful winding footpath, we ascend the
bank, and find ourselves al the hotel, an elegant
and excellent house, kept by -, situated tow
ards the N L. corner Of large plain containing
about 100 acres of land and elevated about lGO feet
above the level of the river Directly in front of
us and on The south side of this plain is the IT, S
NJ Academy, large, elegant and spacious stone
building, most of the base of which is used in win.
ter place of drill and riding. llorc are some of
the relics of things used in the Revolutionary War,
a XVhic lipL. ofo
was extended across the Hudson TO intercept the
passage the enrmys vessels 1t contains also
valuable library of about u 600 volumes belong
ing to the Academy. To the LEFT and east of this
you see the neat and elegant stone church, whose
pulpit is supplied by the able services of Rev. Prof
Park OF the Episcopal denomination. Still farther
TO the left and contiguous to this the new Philo.
sophcal building, just now being completed, built
OF stone dug in Mount Independence Gothic in
style, elegant in structure rich and beautiful in ap
pearancei as well as useful and important in the
purposes for which it erected being in this ma.
tnie both literary and scientific The Observatory
is OF superior order. The Philosophical and
Chemical apparatus, rich and valuable. Partly in
'front.' oht To The right or north of these you see the
cadets barracks, and Mess Hall; while still farther
on to the north the dwellings of the Professors
in the Academy, and Officers in the Army, most
OF which are of neat and elegant stone structure
few rods 10 the left of us, that is, at the N. L.
corner of this plain, you the site of Fort Gin
ton, now well nigh levelled, and upon portion of
which, large monument has been erected by the
cadets at an expense Of about $5OO0 sacred to the
memory of"Polands Hero"
"Kosciusko, the lion hearted"
OF whom, and his Garden, as well as many other
OBJECTS OF interest," we must defer speaking until