The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-15
Our Vermont Correspondents.

Haze yor Mount .dscutner!-Some Ac-
co,sut Of WIadsor--The Residence of the G0per-
nM-1he Plc-Nic EreEsion to The Mowat-
Magnificent p,sw from the Top.
Have you ever been the top of Mount AS |
quincy? If you have not, just throw down your
editorial pen, order your trunk and carriage to be
ready instsnter, and ticket yourself through for
the delightful region immediately
Mount Ascutney rises just behind this beautiful
little village Of Windsor and seems TO watch over
and guard it, the mighty genius of the place /
/ have been stopping here few days, admirng
the many beauties that cluster around this spot.
The village itself is gem The streets are
planted with long rows of shade trees, h lf con-
cealng, half revealing, the nea. white dwellings,
with their pretty partenes, now sweet with the
fragrance Of the and woodbine. Among so
many delightful residences, il seems almost nvi-
dious to paruculaiize, yet will venture to men
ton the beautiful residence Of the Governor OF
this State, the Hon. Carlos Coolidge. IL is half
bid so coquetishy among the shade of maple and
mock orange, and has such inviting AIR OF
luxurious cooness that the eye Of the stranger is
at once fastened upon it. There 10 one other
beautiful residence just on the banks of the Con,
nectcut, some what more rural and romantic Its
smooth, grassy lawns, running in terraces to the
IL
where the Maids of the stream might be seen
tripping lightly in the moonlight to the sound of
the eve ming zepbyrs. And further northward, just
in the skirts OF the village, is lovely spot, barely
discerDible IN that pretty grove OF naples It's,
indeed, charming retreat, commanding hne
view of the valley above, and which the taste Of
the present proprietor is making paradise of fruits
and flowers.
There are several public buildings in the village,
one Of which is now the residence of the famous
Bristol Bill; but will not stop to describe them,
for find have already forgotten to tell you about
the mountain.
Last Saturday, a party of young ladies and gen.
temen Of the place, started picnic excursion for
the top Of Ascutney. was fortunate enough TO
receive invitation to join them; why, | can
hardly tell perhaps they thought me some dis
tinguished stranger, and might be great acquisi-
ton, but guess they don't think so now. How
ever. thank them most cordially for their kind
ness; never did enjoy thing of the sort more
exquisitely, or make the acquaintance of more in
telgtDt and entertaining company. Ii was COM
pesed Of the flower of the youth and beauty Of this
beautiful place, and did | feel at liberty to iAdi
vidnalize, could give galaxy as bright as you may
gather in Gotham.
But ] was telling you of the excursion. Our
headquarters was the Windsor House, where we
gathered preparatory to starting. MIR. Smonds,
the gentlemanly proprietor, kindly consented TO
accompany the party TO the foot of the mo lntain,
ard see that we were fully equipped and rightly
started on our ascent. And here let me whisper
word in your private ear; you will find your host
most pleasant, gentlemanly man, doing the honors
of his far famed house, and better deserved fame
was .never earned, with the greatest delicacy and
taste, making you feel as though you were loung-
ing on your own sofas, in your own drawing room,
while he supplies your inner man with all that is
choice and delicious
A six horse coach drew up at the door, and Mr..
SimoDds began TO arrange the company. DO you
know how many New England coach will hold!
/ never did before. There were tweptye eight in
our party to say nothing of Pat and the three boys
However, we did not all ride in the coach, for a
carriage, drawn by span of magnificent bays, took
six of us.
The day was lovely. cool northwesterly
breeze rustled the leaves and rppled the water
giving elasticity and vigor to every motion. The
shy was pure and Of fathomless blue, with here
and there a.wbite feecy cloud floating in the
bour dless azure.
After a short drive of three miles, we stopped at
Aunt Betsey's. Who doesn't know Aunt Betsey
Or, rather, who is there that Aunt Betsy doesn't
knowl BE sure you stop there on your
way up the mountain, and I'll surrender nv
hat, if she doesn't seize you by the hand,
and alter scntlnziDg your visage, exclaim,
"Well, really this pleasant face is very familiar,
but strange cannot call your name now" Here
our party unloaded, and after shaking hands with
Aunt Betsey, and robbng her garden OF its beautiful
rosebuds, Zone OF which, well remember, bright
eyed, laughter.loving young lady most bewiich-
iDply adjusted IN my button hole We commenced
our march up the mountain. In the van went Pat
ana the three boys carrying supplies while the
rest came Struggling after.
Our course lay through meadow well filled
gressed slowly. This passed, we arrived at the
woods which cover the side of the mountain, and
formed pleasant shade throughout the whole of
our way. Here we provided ourselves with canes,
for some thoughtful mind nad, doubr, calculated
they would be needed, ana brought hatchet-no
matter how sharT-with which we (dd) cut them.
Here began our climbing in good earnest But now
you needn't Imagine you see troop OF painting,
GREATNESS beings, with faces like red roses full
blown, pulse up to fever heat, and the perspiration
pouring of ia streams. No, indeed (; nothing of
The sort We were cool and comfortable, not
withslanding the exercises for, after walking
lille ways, we seated ourselves on some moss
covered rock, and enjoyed tete a-tete or listened
to The rus'ling OF the tree tops, as they swayed to
and fro in the breeze. As we assembled, we could
note our puogress IN the change Of vegetation the
beech giving place to the mountain birch, the birch
to the spruce, and then the eyergreens growing
dwalfish and stunted as we climbed. Two thirds
Of the way up, we reached spring that comes
gushing out of the living rock, spring Of such
pure, cool, sweet water asyou can ind only among
these green hills OF New England. Here we found
Fat had pitched his camp. and as soon as we were
fairly seated, he began To assure Of the tolsome
passage before US, and how much we needed
little refrisincnf before going further. Being
green, persuaded by the lilsbman's eloquence,
and mounted a stone to second his motion, but IL
happened 10 be baseless, and upset both me and
my speech. The knowing ones limited that Pat was
sch, ming 10 tighten his load.
~ length We reached the top Of the mountain
three thousand feet above the level of the sea-and
here language, with faltering tongue, will vainly
try 10 paint the prospect. Come with me to this
rock. and look down at the village of Windsor
just beneath. Does il not seem as though YOU
could almost step down and crush il under your
FOOT Now, lock norihward, and tell me if you
ever saw lovelier valley guarded by lovelier hillsl
Those distant peaks, just visible on the horizon,
are the tops of the White Mountains. That vii
lage away yonder, this side the river, is Nor
wicb, and that on the right is Hanover. Look
through this spygass THAI yellow-looking build
ing with The cupoa is one Of the BUILDINGS Of Dart
mouth College-the alma mater of the god. like
Daniel That place the river below, Is the
mouth Of the White river, and that white line is
again. DO you see the locomotive marching
across u lie may have come tbis morning frurs
the capital Of Massachusetts, taken his dinner of
wood and water Ut the capital Of New HAMPSHIRE
and Is now on his way to sleep night at the ca.
riisl OF Vermont. Now, look westward, over the
Granite State. Those liitle mounds are the Cor