Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-08-23

SCENERY ON TIE JUNIATA.-Dr. "a
hill, of Ireland, in letter dated at Pitts
burgh, after noting the indications of ap-
preaching some high mountain ranges, pre-
vious to his arrival at Patterson, says:
"And here, indeed, the travelsSSEas sur
prised to see, during twelve miles, Ito Lewis
town every scheme of figure, device, height,
width, depth, into which the fancy of Nature
could, in one of her most poetical humors
cast and mould her innumerable hills. They
were all of the conical or sugar-loaf family.
Atone time they would appear in rows OF three,
four, six, or ten, AN of the same height; at
another time they would appear IN trlangles,
or squares or parallelograms OF different
heights. Again, their ravines ran east, west,
north, and south and, above all, their natu-
ral beautiful, romantic glens, all planted in
rich, beautiful trees by the old, experienced
hand of graceful Nature. Then, again. hill
upon hill, hill behind hill; circles Of hills
around circles of hills; hen one tall hill,
above all the surrounding hills; all, all form
ed groups, families, and chains, and ravlnes,
and gfens, and q practical hill romance, such
as | do believe neither is or could be excelled
on the entire earth. What rendered this hill
poetry SO very enhancing was that the Juni
Il
the whole route through this mountain phan.
tasy was on an ever varying curve. In fact.
we were describing the figure Of eight (8) on
every two miles Of the road, with the river
performing the same fgare with the steam
engine. | might, with much propriety of
rhetorical imagery, say that the engine and
Juniata danced in an exquisite curved figure
for twelve miles, through Sc eral admiring
families of enchanting bile. This scene of
beauty in Nature shall never be effaced from
my msmOry or be forgotten by my Irish heart
as long us | live. On arriving at Altoona,
and couyerSing with fellow travellers, | learn
ed from them that the universal impression
made upon all travellers of all nations is
namely, that there is nothing of Mis kind Of
landscape more beautiful ia the whole world
We have been over these hills and ridges
and mountains, and through these glcns
and ravines, many time-sometimeS " sol
itary and alone"-all for the mere fun Of
the thing, one moment looking into Juni-
alta county through Licking valley, the
next taking in beautiful view up or down
the river, or following it westward caught
a glimpse of Lewistown, the beautiful
ridge beyond it, with Jacks and Stone
Mountain in the distance The geology
and botany Of this region are also interest
ing, and afford fine field for those who
take an interest in those pages which the
Creator has laid before Us for our contem-
plation But to understand it thoroughly, |
it is necessary to examine it on foot, |
severe task for those unaccustomed to !
climbing over rocks, over fallen timber, !
through brushwood of various kinds, /
among which locust and green thorn are !
most annoying, but the fatigue is amply re-
paid by eyer-changing views and scenery, !
than which, as DR.. Cahill says, there is |
nothing of that kind Of landscape more .
beautiful in the whole world" Ia truth. /
the scenery at and near Lcwistown, is Of !
that pleasing character wh;ch never tires
the eye, even if viewed thousand times.
II was but recently that gentleman just
returned from European tour, remarked
that Of all that was wild, picturesque and
grand, which came under his observation
in France, Italy, Germany and Switzerland,
he saw none that exceeded the views in
and near Lewistown.