The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-10-17

| rose, clematis, violet, golden rod, astcr,
mmortele, arbutu-, herebell, orchis,
nne borealis, mitchella, dalibarda, win
torgreen, ferns innumerable, and four
species of running pine, allin due season,
deck the waysides and forest depths.
The climate is intensely cold in winter,
and in the summer cool upon the heights,
but in the narrow sandy valleys the long
days of June, July, and August are some-
times uncomfortably hot The nights
however, are ordinarily cool. Gnng
west through the middle Of the region,
from Westport TO Saranac, a difference
of several weeks IN the progress of vega
tation Is perceptblc. Long after the
linnna had ceased TO bloom at Elizabeth
town, found its tender, fragrant, pink
bells flushing a wooded bank near Lake
Placid. Good grass grows upon the hill
sides, and in the vallejs are found excel
lent potatoes, oats, peas, beans, and buck
wheat. The corn is small, but seems
prolific, and occasional fields of fax. rye,
barley, and even wheat, present flour.
shing appearance. Lumber, charcoal,
and iron ore OF an excellent quality are,
however, the present staples of this noun
tam region Bears and panthers are
found in some secluded localities, and
the farmer still breads the latter for lis
sheep. The wolves are said TO kill more
deer than the hunters. The otter and
beaver are found among the watercOurses
and the mink or sable is stlll the prey of
the trapper The horses are ordinarily of
Il small breed, but very strong and endur-
ing.
The men are chiefly OF the Vermont
type, most of the original settlers having
come from the neig.,boring State. The
school house, court house, church, and
town hall are hence regarded az among
the necessary elements OF life to the well
ordered citizen. Honest dealing. thrift,
and cleanliness arc the rule, and the farm
houses are comfortable and well cared for
The men look intelligent, and the women
are handsome, although, indeed, too
many pale or sallow compilations give
evidence of s9drntary habits, and of the
almost universal use OF Sdie1utUS and hot
bread. The families of many farmers
TAR in among the mountains rarely taste
fresh meat. but sub-ist chiefly upon salt
pork. fish, fresh or saltcd, as the season
will permit, potatoes, wheat, rye, and In
dian meal, with herries, dTed apple.,
perhaps few garden veg-t ,bles, plenty
ofgood milk, and excellent butter. Egg,
chickens, and veal are luxurics OCCASION
ally to be enjoyed, and, should one of the
family be II good shot. ycni>on and par
trId91 may appear upon the bill OF fare.
Bright flowers ornament the garlen~, and
gay creepprs embower dno"s and windows.
Along the more secluded road, are the
log cabins of the charcoal burners, SAID
c,bils containing, if apparently nothing
else, two or three healthy, chubby, pretty
children, AMI substantial cooking stove
Of elaborate pattern, recently patented by
some enterpri>jng compltriot.
| Among the most remarkable features
of these mpuntiinS are the "l'asses,"
answering to Gaps, Notches, and Cloves
in other parts Of the Union. They afford
means for excellent roads from end to
end of the mountain region, and are, in
addition, cminenlly picturesque. The
Two most noteworthy are the Indian and
Wilmington Passes the first too rugged
for the present TO admit Of road; and
the latter containing the beautiful vii
mington Fall. Many Of the mountains
have been burned over, and the bare,
gaunt limbed timber, and contorted folds
of gray, glittering rock, afford II sp ctral
contrast to the gentler contours OF hills
still clad in their natural vcrdure, bri ghl
or dark as deciduous or evergreen trees
preponderate. The variety of form i,
Hess; long ridges, high peaks, sharp
or blunt, sudden clefls, great bare slide,
flowing curves, convex or concave, ser
rated slopes crowned with dark spruce or
Jagged as the naked vcrtebr;e of some
enormous antediluvian monster, stimulate
the curiosity anl excite the Imagination
Of the beholdcr. There is an essential
difference in ths character OF the views
obtained, whether looking from the south
or th east. In the former case, the eye,
following the axes OF the ranges, sees the
mountains IA II cross ridge of elevated
peaks; and in the latter, where the sight
strikes the ranges perpcnlicularly 10 their
axes, one, or, at most, two ri ISes are all
that can be seen from any single point.
This region may be approached from
Lake Champlain by way Of liconderoga,
Crown Point, Port Henry, Westport, and
Port Kent, the two latter places being the
nearer 10 the higher peaks; or from the
lake country in llamiton County, by way
of nacket and Long Lakes.
The night boat for Albany, June 9th,
1864, was crowded with passengers flee
ing from pavementS, summer heats, and
sitting city air, to green fields, cool shaa-
ows of wooded glens, or life giving breezes
from mountain heights. True there were
some who, like Aunt Sarah Grundy, bit
terly lamented the ample rooms and
choice fare of their own establishments,
and whose idea Of "summer in the
country was limited to couple of months
at Saratoga or Newport, with fresh
tnilatta fnr aoch succaaI,nU 1av. hnt