The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-09-10

1
rocks, from twenty 10 eighty feet high. In
low wst'r, visitors can walk up the bed o.
the stream through the whole distance Of the
Flumc, and from the appearance of the
rocks above, a person in picking his way
through the difficulties in his path feels very
much iihc running gauntlet so narrow and
rcrilicus looking is the road through which
he passes. in one part Of the Flunc, there
is hanging rock of granite, Of twelve or
fourteen tons weight, suspended midway be.
tween the banks above and the bed of the
stream. Probably by some convulsion oi
nature it was thrown into the Flumc, and be-
ing wider than the distance between its sides
It was fastened w0dge-like IN its present po-
sition.
As the stream issues from the Flume, it
passes over the Cascade, distance of per-
haps FIVE hundred feet, and descent of one
hundred. The action of the water has form
ed many basins IN the rocks, and the whrl-
ing OF the water a, it descend, gives the place
quite picturesque appearance.
There are, besides these, the Basin and
the Pool on the Pelnigewasset, after il issue.
from the Echo lake, arounl which the Curl
Gus love to lingcr.
But the greatest curiosity oil all at the
Notch, 10 my mind, is the OLD Man of the
Mountain. The rest are but mere accesso-
ries. This is tho chief attraction and would
well repay one for visit, were it the only
curiosity. 1t is best seen from the road, a.
bout hundred rods beyond the Notch
House. where friendly guide post points
its finger to this far-famcd profile. 1t is A.
bout fifteen hundred feet above the level ol
the road, and at the very top Of the nouns
tain. The forehead, nose. mouth and chin,
arc formed Of projecting rocks situated at
some distance apart. Yet this does not des-
troy its effect, for it exhibits very accurately
well formed profile of an oil man. perfect
in all its paris. 1t i. not n fanced resem-
blance, nor does it require the aid of poetca
license, or vivid imagination. to discover
the likeness, but it is plain and distinct to
al! at the first glance. 1t is an old man and
nothing else. There it stands, and has stood
for centuries perpetual sentlne Of the pass.
painting from the hand Of the Almighty,
magnificent, grand and sublime, which no
artist can approach or initiate. Distinct in
its own individuality, and maintaining its
own personal ideutity through ages, like
Niagara Falls it cannot be mistaken nor lik-
ened to anything else. 1t is that, and that
alone. 1t is the poetry Of the mountains,
and all there that i, really poetical When
it was first discovered is not known, but il
was probably known to the Indians, as they
passed and repnssed through the Notch. We
can imagine with what feelings of wonder
,nh reverence they looked mp and saw that
sturdy guardian, maintaining his position,
and his eye ever upon them, and ever lis
tening o their shrll war whocp as it echoed
and died AWAY among the mountains. In
journcyiag by, they no doubt would make
offerings, as to the Great Spirit, for the sue.
cessiu' issIic of some enterprise against their
enemies, or to propitiste his wrath when ,le-
ftated. But unlike them il will remains look
ing down upon other scenes and other men.
But While we gaze, time hurrie' on and
admonishcs us that we must take a .asl look
aud dcpart, and as we turn away The eye
uicon sciousy wanders back, as in me parts
ing of friends, to catch one last glimpse Of
his reverend face. The trces hide it from
or v;cS, and feeling in our hearts hat the
loudes' speech is silence, We journey on,
leaving this inner court Of the iemr'e Of the
Nost> Il sh for the outer courts OF he wide
world beyond. Sl'iMA.
Notch House, Aug. 1851.