The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-11
SKETCHES OF NEW EHGLAdD.
Our Amherst Corrsspondence.


Our Amherst Correspondence.
AMHERST, Mass, Tuesday. Aug. 8, 1854.
a Masssehusens r ermmst,r--C en~sctieMt Far
rers Hopes Working of the Maine LaW--Ad-
rtc< 10 Nso Yorkers-A Yankee in Dialogue
1He Totcn Of Anherst--Ls Population and Col
kss Commencement Society, Pleasures, and
Pu5H Buildings.
Since my exodus from the scorching walls and
paves Of your city, have enjoyed the blessing Of
o cool, pure atmosphere to q degree such as only
those can appreciate who once in year, perhaps,
Gre permitted TO substitute few days recreation
among the mountains aod forests, for the regular
droning routine OF busin4 50 in the city. The air
y at floats over these green mountain is delight
xul, braosng, cool and s,lubrious Last night bed
Clothing rose so per CENT. and remained at q pre-.
Jium during the ui lrt aud this morning the ther-
xrometer indicated So leg. At 6 o'clock. Think OF
tat, ye New Yorkers-tvo thick blankets last
right, aud morning nde wrapped in an oyercoat!
Travellers viii Apr. cate these comforts, though
a. Gust is insoetable. 1t is dusty In the hyper
superlative degree. sud ss farmer Lumkins used to
Fay, "hot, hotter, hottest-very I'd hot"
However, this change has not been Of very long
duration, and but few days ego all were complain
j. of the extreme heat Of the weather.
AZ passed up through the State of Connecticut,
yesterday, found the people, (the 9 natives
speciality complaining bitterly Of the dry season..
This month oil August has effected a marked
g. change In the affairs OF men," and many indi
tiduals, anticipating the death. are now running
around charged up to tue muzzle, and ready TO Ego
IF" at the first indication OF q commencement Of
hostties. In copseqen {, this dry season must
have some influence upon the provision markets
and decline in salt meats aod oily substances, and
every other article b wing tendency to run down.
r EXPECTED. Hitherto the citizens OF the larger
citiee and towns have had some difficulty in eectng
an saent for the sale Of liquors, the appontee in
every instance being obnoxious to both the reform
ers and conformers. The measure does not seem
gerry popular, and the Seiectmen Of the various
towns DO not appear disposed TO act efficiently In
ehe matter but merely to reiterate the mandates OF
kheir superior officers. The all wise Legislature
have done their worst and expended their force,
all they can do now is to cry "Steboy." and pat
their CerberuSheaded wachmen on the back, and
let them bark Large sales Of liquors were effected
On the week previous to the pass age OF he law the
Wholesale stores doing an immense business New
Workers in the habit of Smiling" and who contem-
plate trip through the contiguous States OF Massa
cdusetts and Connecticut, should take tho precau-
ion TO provide themselves with the article before
Ieayirg the city; though people in this vicinity say
there is liquor here at present than there was
previous to tie passage Of the act.
In cur pere yrinatiOns through this section OF Ne
Erglaud, one occasionally meets with specimen Of
O genuice Tvs Yankee, whose character the celebrat
ed Yankee Hill alone could delinea'e to perfection.
remarkable for their garfutity and native precO-
ciousness. Such an one sccosted a gentleman in
Che cars yesterday, With
Where you trav.lln tew? White Mountains,
Our friend, who did not seem disposed TO be
cemmunicative, answered the query with an EN-
Only 70 northampton, pevhaps' Come from
YORK,
Yee, cir.
Mighty bag town, that ere. Was down % York
myseli last week. Bun reouad the diggins--bin to
York-.ai over the lots. Kinder cute folks down
there, reckon.
How 10,
Wal, reckon. You see, met some friends thar.
didn't 'zactly remember them fellers, but they
6aid thsy knew me. So you zee we went to Mr..
1rvings tavern you know, down thar by the Park,
and treated 'em To the drinks, (cost me q good
bali dollar, easy nuf) anu what do you think, but
Che suckers geouged me out of fifty doars-every
daxned cent he'd, except quarter Blast EN-,
I'd like to rip their g'zzards oui, should.
But just then the stopped at Chicopce, and
our victimzed friend geouged himself out Of the
cars instanter.
Ae have remarked, the ", sther has been unusu-
ally dry here. and cr'ps have suffered mucl; sill
there viii be average ,cld. Corr, in part olar.
promises vel, and he hay crop in the valley has
been good.
i must not omit, in my iourncying. to give you a
short sketch Of the town CT Amherst at which plce
i shall remain through the exercises Of Commence
ment week. This town now numbers some 900 to
900 inhabitants, an increase Of some 1000 since
the cenaHs oil 1910. Like most OF our inland New
England towns that have no extensive water priy
beges for manufacturing purposes, the increase in
population has been comparatively slow. Still, for
beauty Of scenery, purity Of air, and salbrity OF
ritmAfN- Amhcrat hardiv find ita puual in
rho State. 1t IL situated in Hampshire county,
about seven miles from Northam oton. aud
some four or five miles from the Connecticut river
The town was settled about the year 1920 and m
corporated In 1853. TWAS originally pat of the
fown of HRdley, and was called Hadley, third pro
cinct, or latteriy, Old Hadiey swamp. II alter
which IL at present retains. Notwithstanding the
inelegant appelaton of"swamp" il by no INC ms
Indicates that the ground II st present low or
msrshy. The central part OF the village is located
ON rising ground, from which ttege i q gradual
descent in every direction. The marsh which for
merry sur1ounc ed this elevation nas, by alluval
deposits or geological formafions, been converted
into the fertile and productive m sdows Of the
Cobns ctcut valley. and here uay be found the NEST
luxWiant crops and waving fields that grace the
New England States. Tobacco is cultivated in large
luantitI es along the valley, aud tese are "drying
houses, almost as extensive es many that are met
With in the Southero States. Bcoom-corn aud Iu-
dian corn are also raied IN great abundance.
Amherst may be considered strictly an sgricaI.
burial town, although there arc s1nc small fecto
ries in operation. 4 small streaIn ruts through
che village, watch affords fair water privilege and
being welimprovsd, ia turned t. good account. In
the northeastern section of the village are two
cotton factories, one woolien flctoy, aud one o.
two psper mills; there IL also quite an extensive
tool mandatory Ia the southern part. Still the
business Ii small The establishment Of tho col
iege here, come thirty years ago, added fresh i'm
pulse TO business, and III. aDd visus 10 the whole
town. II may be said thar one could no, live VITA
put the other or this -hali spe ,k anon.
mi inn f.I fra. and sina.. hasa lao
hlack until within = short time, when the eat1-
prise Of few individuals and the shrili whistle OF
the locomotive about year since aroused IL from
rs dormant apathy. and u has already Appeared {,
have taken fresh start. This railroad COZ
meets Amherst with Palaec, thus affotdilg
30 its citizens direct communication Nth the clty ~