New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-10-16
TRAVELS AT HOME.


.,.st nv GermAn friend took tie midnight train
vsstwsrd, intending to visit Minnesota, Missouri
nd Kentucky, aud on the following morniog,
accompanying the ladies as Far as Utica whence
Neg continued their homewnrd journey, turned
aside for q solitary excursion to Treutoo Falls.
The New.York Central, ate, having the Mo-
hawk Valley, seems to avoid all the beat scenery
have frequently noticed how completely the
landscapes change, when you have gone but 10"
miles either to the north OF the south OF the road.
The immediate neigbbOrhOOd of Utica is rather
name, but or taking the Black River train, 1t
prssptly assumes q charming pastoral character,
which verges into the picturesque as you approach
Trenton. Ia an bOur was put down at the sta
sop. where omnibuses were in waiting to carry us
kM ores Hotel, a mile iistaDt SIS the hotel
fun 7" asked of the driver. "0b, no" said he
. there is plenty Of rOGm"-bst, on arriving,
found it OVERLOOKING with guests, and no place TO
be hsd. / wss fortunate enough, however, to find
quarters at joys, near at band, and, after admir-
ing the secuson and beauty of the valley for half
IN hour, set cut io search of my friend Hicks.
It was the night of the full moon, aud the guests
n Moore's had sent to the Wide-Awake Club of
Utica TO borrow torches for nocturnal visit to the
allen. Mr.. Moore, whose acquaintance had made
In Hickss studio, the artist and his wife, aud
merry company Of at least a hundred ladies' and
gentlemen we're preparing TO go, and l congra'u'
hated m, self on srrIviug in season to join them.
We started little after o'clock, taking the path
which leads through the forest to the top OF tue
High Fall. The struggling procession, AT least @oO
hundred yards long, with its line OF brilliant rights
winding toropgh the dense shadows of the wood,
PRODUCED q msgcal effect Gray trunks and hang
mo bouehs flashed out for moment in golden
tnster against the da kness, AMI then as suddeoly
vanished; red shawls glmmered splendidiy
through the du,ky or, en-; white dresses danced in
ana out of the gaps Of mo- might with an elfSh
motion and confusion of shouts snd laughter
rang tn oDgh the echoing bellows.
The moon stood over the gorge, which, as we
approached it seemed filed with a silvery mist,
beyond which rose the shadOwy outline of the
opp, site bank The crest Of the cataract shone
with sparkles of white fire, aud dim, shooting
xleams lowered over the gulf into which it fell.
TIE leaves of the overhapging bOugbs were cut as
slearly as bronze against this wonderful picture.
II WIS lovely enough TO have been grot in the
gardens of Calypso or Armida. Many of the COM
pAny went down the rocks to the foot of the fail,
and saw il through the rainbows of the moon; but
Ipreferred reseryiDg my first view until sunrise.
The next morning accompanied the artist in
gamble over his farm, which lies on the eastern
sie CT Canada Greek, about half mile below the
UP ,. We compared agricultural notes, and set
Of the advantages of our respective farms, one
hx.a 4 the other. / was willipg 70 concsde the
E5psriority of his elms and hsmlocks, but balanced
t3em with my oaks and tulip-trees. His potatoes
snd pumpkins looked promising, but had very
6ne squashes and tomatoes at home. had, more
ever, the climate of the passiOn-aOwer and the
magnolia of the Himslaysn deodar, the Cedar Of
Lebanon, and the cypress. So although | admired
TIE fine curves of the surrounding hills, the excel
Ience of the tree FORMS and most Of ALL the amber
beauty of the river, was well satisfied with my
Swn piece of earth. So was he with his, and with
good reason.
We then made the round OF the Falls, entering
Che glen from bslow and ascending it for distance
Of nearly two miles, to point marked danger
sGs, ;" beyond which there is no path. ltw,s the
Ioyeiest possible dsy-one of those bright, laugh
ing days which give an additional color aud sparkle
10 the earth. The sun was high enough to illu-
inmate the deep glen from end to ebd, leaving
shadows only where the rocks Overhuog their
bases, or the trees reached their arms from oppo-
site sides, if vainly strviog to clasp hands. The
water, also, was at its most favorable stage-low
enough to leave the path bare, yet high enough to
cover the whole breadth of the rocky lodges where
it fsls. With guide who had studied the glen
with an artists eye for ten years, and knew it in
all its aspects, was justified in considering that
saw Trenton under the most favorable circum-
stsrces.
Whist particularly struck me was the originality
the uniquity of the place. The glen or rather
crack through which thestream runs, is three miles
long, and not more than two hundred feet deep, at
any point 1t mas been cut, by the ASTON of water
during Thousands Of years, through bed of mica
slate, disposed in nearly horizontal strata. The
sides, therefore, while they are perpendicular for
nearly the WhOe distance, present great number
of narrow shelves OF lodges, which furnish root
hold to ferns wild flowers, shrubs or even trees
according to their size, while an un5r0ken wood
n charming mixture of evergreen and deciduous
trees-crowns the sunmits Add that the glen is
hl of corners, turning this way and that, leading
You now into black cauldrOns, wet with eternal
spray, now into long, sunny avenues, where tae
water dsnces as if possessed with the spirit Of joy
and you may judge what gallery Of wild and love
h p.ctuIe. is here concealed.
TIE color Of the water, again, is an UNUSUAL