Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-07-30
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE JOURNAL.

L
DEAR Row when L badc you adieu, in
tended to note the incidents of my trip, and
give them to you by way of variety but they
came so thick and fast that l lost the partcu-
lars, and can, therefore, only give generaities.
Bright anticipations of a joyous trip filed
the hearts of our party rolled away from
your quiet little town in the mountains; and
L may say that all expectations of our trip to
this place have been fully realized. With
fine weather, good roads and pleasant compa-
ny, found ourselves in Quakerdom we
had time to become much wearied. a half
days rest among those piles of brick and NOR
tar, and we are on our way to New \ ork, via
Camden & Amboy Railroad. Five O'Clock
finds us safely over that DAD of accidents and
snugiy ensconced on board 4 splendid steamer
which leaves trail of snow white foam as she
plows her way chro' the briny waters towards
the London of America, where we arrived
safely about seven O'Clock. We tarried here
over night, preferrng to take the day boat,
that we might be enabled to behold the oit-
sung, oft-descrbed and far-famed beauties that
are said to adorn the North River. The brain
of the poet has been racked to describe with
sufficient sublimity, and the artist sorely task
ed to produce colors vivid enough to paint
the glory and beauty of the highlands, barren
rock and headland that girt the mighty Hud-
t son. Perhaps one whose eye is familiar with
| towering rocks and jutting cragS, whose ear is
accustomed to the sound of the rushing water
| fall, who has been reared among the lofty
| pines, and who has reveled daily in the beauty
and sublimity of our mountain scenery, is not
a proper judge of the grandeur of this slug
| gish river; for certainly / could not see that
its majesty and beauty transccnded those of
| our own land.
From the old Dutch city of Albany We pro-
| ceeded by rail to the pretty village of Sarato-
ga Springs. This place l shall not attempt to
describe suffice it to say, that it is the pret-
tiest ever visited-the most neat and COM
modiouSly arranged hotels, unsurpassed, if
they should be equalled by any among which
| 1 would mention the Congress Hall. 1t is a
great resort for the pleasure seeking, time
| killing people of the eastern cities. Foreign
notables seem to think they have not been to
America, if they don't visit Saratoga Springs
| and Niagara Falls. People of all kinds visit
here for all purposes: the debilitated to get
strong, and the strong to get stronger-the
| lean to get fat, and the obese to get lank-the
old to get young, and the young to get old
| anxious mammas to display their pretty daugh-
ters, and the latter to display their neat skirts
and beautiful ankles-Tno lady is considered
fashionable who does not carry her dresS-skirt
| 20 inches off the ground in front, while the
back part sweeps the street, No doubt the
waters of these sparkling springs rich in
| medicinal properties, else few could riot in
| such luxury and fashion as is here, and main
tain their health unimpaired.
After remaining two weeks at Saratoga, we
| concluded to try the Sulphur Springs at Sha-
ron, which we reached, by rail and stage, in
about five hours 90 miles.) i said our ex-
pectations of pleasant trip 10 this place had
been fully realized but here-ahl that's the
rub! 'Tis lovely spot, with hills and dales
and cliffs, and lofty trees whose witty boughs
have withstood the winds of centuries past
It's spouting springs, too, are beautiful; but,
oh! what stencil fills the air Mayhap, in
your boyish days, when summer months were
waning, you have careessIy set your foot in
nest of eggs that had been left too long in
wind and weather. If SO, you can form feint
idea of the effluvia which pervades the air for
some distance around these springs, and which
one inhalcs at every breath. There is, how
ever, no doubt about the healing properties of
these waters, or they never could have acquir-
ed the reputation and patronage they now en-
| joy. There are about 1000 visitors here now,
and of all the afflicted sons of Adam 1 ever
saw congregated in one vicinity, this crowns
the climax. Among those most noted are
Com. Perry and Family, and the Russian Min
| lister to this Government.
1t is really amusing to sit at the spring from
to II in the morning, and see these deyotees
| to birthstone coming to pay their homage to
| the bath-tub and this vllainous compound of
sulphur and water-some on one stick, others
on two here poor fellow on crutches there
another with kind friend at each arm some