Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-07-15

FRAxcoNIA NorcH, July 10, 1858 :


moderate per diem of two dollars, to the Pro6l
House, Eve miles distant from our present stop
ping place-the distance is called tweaty-fy
miles although travellers accustomed to GU
comparatively level roads may readily imagine
to be more, especially while considering the
speed at which New Hampshire drivers put them
over the roads, in connection with the time con
sumed in the journey.
Apropos of drivers-let me recommend the tour
list who commits himself to the care of those in
this section. utterly to Danish fear and care. Il
he be an imaginative man, it may be that a
times thought Of the probability Of the prompt
PAYMENT of his life insurance policy to his widow,
In the possible case Of his violent decease. may
obtrude itself upon his mind II Of speculative
turn, and ordinarily familiar with the laws of
Rravitation he may occasionally wonder whether
beioan be thrown any higher, and, in obedience to
those laws. BY any possibility reach again the
same seat The rules OF concussion and the
anatomy Of the human frame will busily occupy
his thought, and he will be convinced that all
men are sfearfully and wonderfully made" New
Hampshire drivers in particular but the air is
Injurious the pace fast, the wagon strong, and
the cushions soft moreover, the driver is steady
as he is sure. cool as as cucumber, and fused to
IT, albeit the passenger may wonder how he can
be Inc pest ledulS anu iuOSh NilhSto
within our knowledge are those of the White
Mountain region.
On the left Of the road leading from Brabrook's,
toward I,ittleton, at half mile distance, are the
famous "Falls Of the Ammonoosuc,' the leaping
and lovely mountain river, wilder and more rapid
than all other tributaries to the Connecticut.
Astounding in cascades, many of which are very
beautiful, it falls about mile between Mt Wash
ingtan and the Connecticut distance of thirty
miles, further ride of some half dozen miles
brings US to Bethlehem, an infantcity, "set upon
a hill.' whence glorious view Of the White
Mountain range is obainable A long descent
from Bethlehem brings the traveller into the gio-
rious valley Of the South branch Of the Ammo.
noosuc, which here winds its tortuous way. at the
foot OF the Franconia range. To us, the views
from this valley we're more impressvely beautiful
than any other seen.
From the river assembled in thousand fantas.
tic forms the slowly rising mist, its spiral columns
piercing upward to the SUBMITS in every con-
ceiEa5le shape. In the distance. aerial villages,
with their streets and houses, their churches and
towers, horsemen and chariots, long ranks of
warriors panoplied for war; huge beasts and
birds, and shapes and forms Of multiple sgnif-
canoe, cameand departed in theseIgrand dissolvin9
views, the white mist resting upon the glorious
purple back ground Of the hills, while their pin
nacles were hidden in the clouds above. Passing
out and upward from this truly magnificent val.
ley. the ascent to the Notch is slowly made over
most excellent road, everywhere EMPOWERED by
luxuriant foliage.
The traveller who contents himself with merely
"dong" Mount Washington, is himself "doue 70
A view of grandeur and subiim!ty he undoubted-
ly obtains, such as presented in but few locai-
ties but the aim and object Of his journey is lost
il he go not to Franconia the gem of the noun
tain land. Here, nature, retaining alb her majes-
ty, attires her loftiness with every owland grace
and decks her gorgeous emerald robe with count
less clusters Of living diamonds in the form Of
sparkling waters. Deep pools, whirling in the
huge basins which the foods of ages have worn
within the solid rock, receive their dancing tribu.
taiies in the laughing cascades, as down the lofty
mountain sides they come rollicking to the bases,
making eternal melody for the listening ear,
awakening thousand echoes, which fall like
sweetest music upon the wearied senses
The Infinite variety Of beauty in Francouia
more than atones for any fancied lack OF sublin-
ity. We say faDcied," because +" Lafayette .
the king of the Franconia range, lacks only
about five hundred feet of the altitude Of its ri
val. Washington while its summit views ar,
said by many TO be superior. Here, too, is Pro
file Mountain, presenting, at the Southern ex
tremity, what Henry Ward Bsecher denominate
"God's sign"-the huge stone profle-.'to shoy
that, in this region, He makes menu And
most significant sign has He here made. At tn
foot of this mountain is the famous :. Echo" o
profile Lake''-the q Old Mans Mirror''-a re
mantically situated sheet of water, surrounde
by the rolling forest. in the clear waters Of whic
the " Old Man Qf one so near to Heaven ca
retain any faint of vanity may see the reflection
of his vast facial proportions.
BY the side OF this lake. seats have been erect
ed, whence the best view of the wonderful face i
obtained. At the distance of some three mile
from the Profile House, is the Basin" int
which the waters of the Pemiqewasset. runnibs
OveE many beautiful cascade in their passage
make temporary halt, to waltz around its rocky
sides withithe attendant Maids, thence emerging
to delight the eye Of the wayfareT in many 4
smiling vale below.
The Plume" distant from the hotel so named
some half-mile, is chief among the great natural
wonders OF this region. Between two mura
precipices Of great height. separated some twenty
feet, the waters of the river descend about seven
hundred feet, now over some rugged and sudden
fall, and anon over the gentle descent of smooth
and polished rock. At the upper end. where the
gorge diminlshes its width to ten or twelve feet
hangs suspended a huge boulder. twenty feet
above the stream, apparently so slightly held by
the adjacent cliffs as 10 warrant the suspicion oil
its momentary fall, giving to the passer beneath
decidedly 'pokerish" sensation, which involun-
tarlly quickens his pace to a point beyond the
danger. The POOL about three quarters of a
mile distant from the Flume House, is another
of the curosities with which Nature has so Law
ishly adorned the Franconia region. Days may
be pleasurably spent in obtaining the various
beautiful views everywhere surrounding these
marvels, but we must omit further attempt at
description, in view eof the fact that, in the
various guide books extant (the best and most
recent OF which is that published during the pre-
sent year by MIR. Edison G. Eastman Of Concord
N. H. J, the task is much better and more elabor-
ately performed.
Fancy, then, If you please, Messrs. Editors, oul
delightful journey from (" Brabrook's" to tbs
splendid Profile House at an end; Mr.. Hiram
Bell, the attentive and experienced host, at the
door, welcoming the arrival Of the crowd of un
breakfasted travellers, and suppose them washed
aud munidcently fed. reissuing from the portal
standing momentarily gazing. in rapt attitude, a
the majesty Of Mount Cannon, rising almos
perpendicularly, as it does, some fifteen hundred
feet-a sight among the noblest seen. This no.
tel is undoubtedly the house among the noun
tains. VI immense extent, its accommodation
are OF the first class, and nearly perfect as MAJ
be. At o'clock the entire company sat down
to splendid dinner, to which full justice wal
rendered, after which came "the feast Of reason,
the flow Of SOUP having been continual from
the start. OF the quantity or quality Of th
double-bareled jokes which increasingly enlivenet
the hours throughout, il is needless to make fur
ther mention. Josiah Quincy, Esq, presided a
the table, most worthily supported by the grea
engineer OF the expedition, j. A. Gilmore, Esq.
ana Mr.. Lyon OF Boston, his most effective AM
gentlemanly coadjutor therein. After brief ant
pertinent addresses by these gentlemen
1.-THE mightiest Of the mighty means
Vn Wmeh sne arm Of Progress leansD--The Pressl
was called out BY the following appropriate sen
timentai 'neiange, offered by Will Richardson
Franccnia Company,
The Press of New ENgiand.-Rlch in its yourna,
Ism every ITaveuer Is hungry for the Netvs which
Helakds. An able ADVOCATE Tor every ,na ~.Sn
principle which needs Adperttser. rha av a,
Coulter Whch reaches every Post In time IN 1.e,.es
lie dOngs and leave correct Trdnssripf a. he ss.
II correctly Mirrors the Age which i Representa- Az
9eisgrapks The Hews, Independent Of All obstacle.