Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-09-13
For Tbs oxiord Democrat
Excursion TO Mt. Washington.

".
England is no novel affair; bot In this re.
gion, a, this season Of the year. . White
Mcun,aia party 10 an e,erv day occurrence.
Strange thu, all tho world has passion for
elevation. On, on. on M, up. up. Am
bi,ion restless. grasping.--a desire Tor pre-
ferment. for distinction. for wealth, Tor
fame, are the strong levers that move tho
soul, and impsl eIertion. Mark this In oil
the stages Of progressive humanity. Is 1t
augh, bu, . selfish ambition. and desire for
merit, modified by wha, we call principles
OF christian love and charity; ,ha, prompts
to +" heroic deeds in common liisI"
A, an carly hour on the morning Of the
18th inst. u small party were on their way
to Mt Washington. The day W. fine, the
cloud. propi,iOus. and We were oil in excel
lent spirits. Eish, miles ride took us to the
cu,erpri.ing village Of Gorham. ere the up
per tendon had broken their morning 'lum.
b.r,. Even " mine host" seemed sadly dis
turbei a, our unexpected appearance.
From Gorham our road lay in the direc.
ton Of the Peabody river. which seldom
greeted u. face to face, in its meanderinc-
along the que, valley. This road has been
often described to me as perfectly bcau'i.
full" On either side rice the stately bills
that are now shaded from our view by the
dense forests. through which lay cur path.
way. 70 persons who have bu, just escaped
from the dusty streets and stiled air Of city
life, such woodland ride Is enjoyed TO a
degree tha, bcsgar. description. For nature
ha. a smile and a charm for oil, but mos.
for the impre.slblo.
Eight miles from O., brousb, u. to that
beautiful orening we'll knows as "the glen"
Here was town and country richly blended.
The seekers Of health and lovers Of pleasure
were grouped about, the former luIuriaiing
in the rich, braeins mountain air ; while
coaehe. were in waiting 90 convey the latter,
who otherwise might toll ZOE stand pOin,
tina, may crafty the .cu.es by looking down
upon humanity below.
Only pauslng to DO tribute at the gate
OF the toll gaihercr. we commenced 10 as
ecnd what seemed hill, such n. IL no I'M
common variety in New England rJads.
When told ths, IL was only hill OF eight
consecutive miles. We nigh, strongly have
been reminded Of the {" hill dIfheult," but
for tho we'll graded carriage road over which
We were now passing with comparative ease.
The fr-t par, Of the ascent was through q
heavy growth OF woodland, the mountain
ob.curci from vision. even our winding way
visible but few rods before us. Now aud
then we could look down upon the iop- OF
stately tree. below u.. and through an open.
ing catch view OF the valley beneath.
The Glen " from this heigh, had more the
appearance OF lovely picture, a. nestled at
the foo, Of these everlasting hills in such
contrast. II seemed q touch Of fairy land, ~
painted in tale, Of the olden time.
"a we wound on. and up. ~e watched
tho rsn. Of the times, (the change..) Oh
sr1Od the change in foliage aud tres. and
missed tho hanging NOES, that !. seen 50
gracefully pendan, from the tall old forest
trees. We lo.o the presence Of the culver
ibs aspen. the compas.lonae beech. and
significant, birch. The pines Of colder clIme'
now prevail. and their s,upioi appearance
speaks plainly Of chilly winds and winiry
blasts.
! In doe time the " bali way house " is
reached. and We begin TO realize something
OF the ascent, o. We are now above ihs pri.
meval forest. and the clustering hils. From
this pom, our road wind. h,her and yon,
but continually up the bleak, bare noun
tain side. Our road still continued smooth
and wide. and wsll.pro,ested by a wall on
either side. (thOugh that above by Natures
hand.) Ye, FOR oil this, We cannot refrain
shudder as ws look down from thi, dizzy
height. Now we begin 20 observe the
formation and tho singular appearance OF
the large bould,rs tia, lie grouped together
with patches Of q greenlsh hue, between
which arc bat rock, below, now covered
with the accumulated mos, Of ages. This
DESCRIPTION answers for the summit Of the
mountain. No tree. shrub, or blade Of
grass can here iiud soil to sustain life. But
A close observer OF the wonders Of tho ,egc-
table kingdom here gathers more than two
hundred different varieties. including va
rous lichens and MOSES that are found IN
no other portion OF our country.
AZ half pas, twelve We reached the sum-
nit. and were glad 10 avail ourselves Of all
extra shawls and cloaks, to guard arains,
the cold north wind, although tho day was
said to DO unusually calm.
The world spread out before US seemed
dotted with hills. and pool. Of water. and
,ariou.ly .prinkled with Villages. We could
easily distinguish Bryant'', Long and Seba'
60 pond as we'll as villages in tina, direction
so familiar along the Grand Trunk Railway.
Tho Sc, beyond. Is distinctly visible with
the naked eye; and Portland harbor. with
il. shipping. quite plain with glass.
Turning to the right, New Hampshire
open. to our view. Apparent quiet spreads
charm over its farming towns and villages.
Even the crooked Saco, gives one sense OF
still life.
must confess the world as hero spread
ou, TO our view. from the highest elevation
in New England, far exceeds oil my an,iei-
Al climb