Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-07-05
wuenr.Trn, june a4ih, 1855.
Literary Notices.


Literary Notices.
niss-By W. c. LARRAsEx. For sale by CcSSISeHAN
& CoREy, Greeneasfle, Indiana
We see no reason why the style Of compo-
sition, of which the Spectator is the inimita-
BILE model, should not be as popular now as
in the days OF Queen AK. 1t would indeed
be presumptuous to attempt to rival ADDISON,
of whom MELMoTH said that the graces, hav
ing long sought for temple wherein to
dwell forever, at length settled in the mind
of ADDISON.
And it IS no disparagement TO our own ac-
couplished LARRABEE, to say that these Es-
says and Miscellanies fall short of the Spec
tator. But the Spectator Is old and these are
nav; the Spectator treats of things in Eng
lanl hundred and fifty years ago, these
treat Of things in America, and especially in
the West The subjects of this collection
come home 10 mems business and bosoms-
The following are some Of the titles The
Emiqrant, The White Mountains, The Forest
Sanctuary, The Poets Of he Vest, Niagara,
Greenwood, Tie Back1OOods Expedition, A Sab
bath ia Go Wilderness, DC, dc.
Professor LARRABEE is known to be one OF
the finest scholars in the West; his name is
intimately blended with the cause of popular
education, and by lifetime of devotion to
this heavenly calling he has erected for him.
self monument more lasting than brass.
Anything from his pen would be received
with interest by the public. The present
work is worthy of his fame and we anticipate
for It large sale We republish three OF
the sketches, which are not by any means the
best, but being short are adapted to our
pages:
THE WHITE MOUNTAINS.
The White Mountains of New Hampshire
form conspicuous and interesting point in
the scenery of New England. From earliest
childhood had gazed on their aerial sum-
mits with admiration and wonder From the
hill near which I frs. opened my eyes on
this beautiful world, might see, far above
and beyond the towers and steeples of the
distant city that arose in that direction, the
snow-colored peaks of those magnificent hills.
When I left the place Of my birth, and went
many miles east, to spend the maturer days
of childhood, there still lowered up before
me those noble piles. From the hills that
skirted the evergreen plains, on which was
located the venerable institution where
spent the maturer days of youth, these noun
tains might still be seen. And when had
become a man, and settled in my own humble
cottage, on hill far from the ocean-dashed
cliff where I had listened to the incessant
roaring of the waves, there still rose up in
solitary grandeur, far above all intervening
peaks, the granite summit of Mount Wash
ington- Nor could travel in any direction
without encountering, often as / assembled an
eminence, the distant view Of these everlast-
ing mountains. They had become associated
with the dreams of childhood, the reveries of
youth, and the sober thoughts of manhood.
/ had often looked, at evening, on those lofty
peaks looming up into the clear sky, illum-
mated by the rays Of the setting sun, and
wondered what might be concealed among
their dark Tavines and gloomy dells-what
scenes Of picturesque beauty might be enjoyed
from their bright summits-what "better
land" what fairy region might lie beyond.
In the summer of 1886, having a few weeks
Of leisure resolved 20 visit these mountains.
In company with several friends / started on
the excursion. We proceeded through de-
hghtful country of varied scenery-lofty hills,
deep valleys, broad rivers, and mountain tor
rents-till on the second day we arrived at
Fryeburg, on the Saco river, thirty miles
from the White Mountains, although it ap-
pears at their very base. Fryeburg is one of
the most lovely spots on earth. 1t is village
of about one hundred houses, in beautiful
valley, through which the Saco winds with
a course so meandering as to make q distance
of more than thirty miles within sight of the
village. This valley is encircled by lofty
hills, rising one above another, with the
White Mountains towering above the whole.
Lovely, quiet, aud peaceful as this place now
appears, it was once the theater Of one of the
most desperate and bloody battles that history
or tradition has ever recorded A century
ago this was the home of the Saco Indians.
the most wsrlike and powerful of all the
tribes of the North. 1t was also the grand
rendezvous Of all the hostile tribes in this
region, and was the principal link in the
chain OF communication between the tribes of
New England and those Of Canada From
this point thew issued out in hostile incur
sions, carrying death to the settlements for a
hunired miles in every direction. Many a
mother fell bleeding under the tomahawk-
many an infant was dashed again the stones.
A company was formed at Boston, under one
OF the most intrepid leaders of those brave
times, for the purpose Of breaking up this
haunt OF merciless savages. They went pre-
pared to effect their purpose, or perish in the
attempt. They made their way through an
unbroken wilderness, more than fifty miles
beyond the frontiers; found their enemies in
thsir native recess; posted themselves by
small lake that admitted Of no retreat; and
there fought, some of them in single combat
by deliberate challenge, till scarcely one on
either side was left to tell the story. The
trunks of the trees, yet standing on the bor-
ders Of the lake, attest, after the lapse of q
century, the desperate conflict, Of which they
are the only surviving witnesses. Countless
marks are yet seen where the ball lodged in
their trunks, and has been since extracted by
the curious or the idle.
After viewing this memorable battle-ground,
and resting for a night in the hospitable man.
sion of venerable friend, we proceeded on
our way, up the valley of the Saco, winding
among precipitous hills, exhibiting at every
turn the most varied scenery. When near
the cele brated notch, where the hills approach
90 near the rivers brink as TO leave scarcely
room for carriage, we suddenly met a