Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-10-30


goat might travel but by no means a horse
carrying his rider. So totally impossible
this must have appeared to most men, thai
it is doubtful whether the idea of it practi
cability would ever have found lodgemen
In the mind of any other than the enterpri-
sing Yankee. But its practicability has
been demonstrated, and thousands are an
nually ascending on horseback.
Renewing our ascent, and moving up
ward at the tedious pace of mile and a
quarter per hour, we, in short time reach
ed the cloudy region. The day being rath-
er favorable for this part of the scenery, a
short period elapsing whilst rounding an
angle of the mountain and we were brought
in only a few hundred feet below cloud
Ascending slowly. and each enjoying his
own reflections, as he thinks, perhaps, of
the cloud that crested on the mountain" at
the giving of the law, or Of the "pillar of
cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by
night, that led Israel out of Egypt, when
suddenly our vapory covering descends,
and we are all wrapped within, even as
though "caught away in the cloud
Looking about for our companions, and
being unable to distinguish objects at dis
tence beyond fifteen feet, we felt with re-
alizing force, as never before, tie declara-
ton of the Apostle: that "all were bapiised
unjo Moses in the cloud" Moving on
slowly, rather by faith than by sight, few
moments elapsing, and we emerge wiki the
soft blue sky over our heads, whilst the
clouds are drifting in gorgeous eddies al
our feet. The emotions and refectio s.
under such circumstances, are certainly
stirring and peculiar; portrayal of which
| may nol feeby attempt. A short period
the cragginess of our path increasing, and
the horizon widening, and we stand upon
| the summit of Mount Washington, six
thousand two hundred and eighty five feet
point above the clouds-an observatory of
natures grandest, cast in the molds of
changeless sublimity, and wrought out of
the imperishable materials of Deities own
choosingl
! From nober eminence than which, sell
dom has the Chaldean astronomer, or the
star eazei from the pyramids, looked out
upon the heavens. Here the setting sun,
in ever varying hues. pays the parting
tribute to day, here the moon with her star
ry host, filings down floods of meIlowed
light, kindling into silver radiance, a
hundred streams, lakelets, and waterfalls,
and here, too, the storm-spirit walks, arm
ed with winds and thunder, lingering anon
over peak and gorge, ominous as the gath
ering shadows of destroying giants. And
now turning to the scenery below, if the at
mosphere be clear, the eye sweeps pano-
ramic view Of such variety, extent and
grandeur, as is seen but from few, if any
other points within the United States.
To the North lies Lake Umbagog, spark
ling as sheet Of glass impaied in grecn-
to the West, winds the river Connecticut,
as thread of silver round a neck of beau
ty,--to the South lies Lake Winnipiseogee,
beauteous counterpart of Umbagog, on
fl,o II al.
distance of eightyfve miles lies Cascoe
Bay, whitened with numerous sail, and
dotted with three hundred and sixty-fve
Islands, Many hundred feet beneath, at
intervals is seen the wing Of cloud resting
against the side of the mountain, or drifting
into gorge, where crushed to pieces. it
silently and beautifully mells in air.
Villages, cities, hills, rivers and lakes.
dot and variegate the landscape. which
stretches away out of view, like picture
set in frame work of the horizon.
distance lending enchantment to the view,
And rObing the mountain in an azure hue
Around us tower numerous peaks. AS
Mount Jefferson, Adams Madison, Monroe
and many others, (whilst in deep gully
below, fancy descres Mount Pierce all
garnisheu in Cerula' sofcs blue, and pre-
senting an assemblage ofairy hei ishls suili-
cient fol the seating of an entire senate Of
Jupier's neurological worthless. Mount
Washington is the monarch of these noun
talns, "They crowned him long ago" The
summit Of this mountain consist of two or
two and half acres Of rather flat surface of
broken rock. These rocks are as angular
and destitute Of both soil and vegetation
with the exception of one small plot few
square feet, as pile Of building stone just
out of a quarry On this summit for the
accommodation of visitors, have boen erec-
ted Two stone houses, the foundation of
which, as a security against the winds, are
cemented and bolted TO the solid rock of
the mountain. At the close Of one visiting