The republic., 1851-08-06
New Publication.
HARPER's New YoRK AND ERIE RAILROAD GuIDI
by VIM. Macleod. New York. 1851.

HARPER's New YoRK AND ERIE RAILROAD GUIDE,
by VIM. Macleod. New York. 1861.
The New York and Erie Railroad, that stupen-
dous achievement of American enterprise, trav-
region smiling with the bounteous gifts
which the creative hand of industry so freely law
ishes upon its votaries Nor has nature forborne
strew this gifted region
"a Rich in content,
In herbs and fruits whatever greens the spring
When Heaven descends in showers; bend the
bough
When summer reddens and when autumn beams, .
with her works of matchless grandeur and beauty,
the portraiture of which is the paramount aim OF
this unpretending volume, and its constituent
charm.
The first faint glimmer of that startling project
to unite the Lakes and Atlantic seal board in the
iron embrace of commercial fellowship dawned
with feeble lustre the year Of 1882; but the year
1851 contemplates with admiring delight the final
contamination Of this once thought visionary
scheme, together with its multfarious results, in
their MONDAY splendor. 1t has outlived the chill
ing rebukes of scepticism; and we now witness the
realization Of that which, in contemporary Ian
guage, was regarded "chimerical, impracti-
cable, and useless" Truly we live in an age
whose annals "discourse wonders"
The scenery along this road is grand and highly
picturesque, affording fruitful theme to the
tist, as well as n delicious relief to the traveller
from the dragging ennu of for here ones
attention is eagerly the alert to catch even
a Romentary glance of those enchanting views so
prodigally scattered throughout the region in
which this iron highway wends its sinuous course,
'fSinging through the forests,
Rafting over ridges,
Shooting under arches,
Rumblng over bridges,
Whizzing through the mountains,
Buzzng o'er the vale;
Bless me, this is pleasant,
Riding on the railp'
The " Handbook of the New York and Eric Rail-
road " is bijou of artistic beauty and literary
merit, emanating it does from one of America's g
most promising and deserving artists, who for
many years was prominent member of his pro.
fession in this metropolis; where he has left sgnay
meritorious productions, among the choicest
teur collections of which Washington can boast.
Nor is this book exclusively confined to the tour
lists use but may be read in the secluded retreat of
home with infinite pleasure and delight.
To us, indeed, the sketches with which this vol
ume teens are an exhaustless fund of heartfelt
pleasure; and, with the able pencil of Macleod to
guide us, we quite content to enjoy, in our
venerable chair, quiet excursion along this
giant railway. Yet we must confess there Is a
nascent longing in breasts TO contemplate for
ourselves these regions, where nature dwels in so
majestic beauty
This is book of pleasure as we'll as utility, and
we cherish the pleasing hope that it is the precur
sor of series OF handbooks from the pen of the
same author, than whom it would be difficult to
find one more competent to the task more deeply
read in Natures infinite book of wisdom. In
Washington surely the name of Macleod will be
amply sufficient to usher the Handbook OF the
New York and Erie Railroad into the most ex-
tended circulation, and we sanguine that its
charming pages will elicit from every reader a
strain of appreciation consonant with the senti-
ments to which we now give expression.
w. A. M.