Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-11-23
From the Brattleboro Record.l
Burlington.
How 1T STRIKES A STRANGER

How IT STRIKES A STRANGER
burlington, like almost all towns, presents to
the traveller BY boat or rail its most unfavOrable
aspect. The great front door by which all must
enter 1t who come by any Of the great lines OF
public Conveyance, is unfortunately, on the
back side of the house Arriving in the city by
its three principal avenues Of approach, the rail
way from Rutland, iron 81 Adams, or the boat
finn Whitehall, the traveller Is usheTed into
et etts reeking with Irish nth, and h0gling
with Celtic noise With exception Of the Lake
HOUSE. which somewhat redeems this quarter Of
tn" town. he sees no where other than a spare
asemblage of mean houses, surrOGniei by brok-
en- grounds, unadOrLed AID poorly improved
Tie buildings, the gardens. the yards. the trees
AID the streets glare with evidence Of "a THRIFT
AMI disorder.
Leaving this however, and wandering up the
hill quarter Of a mile we come 10 more pop
ulous district, and better Show Of houses
Here too is a PARK small, but well shaded with
trees agIeeably traversed by Well-trod walks,
but disfgurtd by an inactive fountain IN the
CENTER, whose basin is filed with muddy, stag
nant water South Of this is the American Hotel
the largest in tae place, homely structure,
tcing two streets, without balconies. but said
Il be well kept. Near il is the Howard House,
eA4al4s hNA4-Af A4aAtA lANtNl- LAaAEAA1 - "A
plan for III enlargement have been executed, and
tie work viii he commenced next season The
design Of the proprietor is to put up the largest
and most elegal1 hotel in the city. Burlington
has six hotels, besides Homes and Retreats
but not enough to accommodate her guests al GER
tsIn seas rs of the year.
North Of the Park is Bank Block %. huge pro-
portions, without ornament, but filed vith stores
tbops, Offices and private dwellings probably
The largest commercial block in Burlington On
the west Is the City Hall building Of great
strength and small beauty, and near TO il the
thijtenden County Court-H0use, . structure
eseIy way unworthy Of 50 opulent people.
arlington has many public and commercial
structures Of great strength and durability, but
which exhibit, when compared with the public
buildings Of other cities Of its size and means,
much crudeness of architectural design, and sac
,ihce Of beauty and we commend the wisdom
which where all there qualities cannot be secured
iives precedence to the former. 1t is certainly
letter to build for use than FOX show. The Gus
ton House and Post Office is agreeably located
near by, a modest brick Cdiice, Well-arl angel
and comparatively new.
The Old Baptist church has been remodeled
and reftted by the Bigelows of the Times and is
perhaps the most commOdiOus and handsOmts,
publishing house in the State
Near by the Roman Catholics are building
new Cathedral Of rough marble, Of huge proper
lions, with massive walls. rambling projections
and protusion Of ornaments and crosses after
the rude but solid style Of similar structures in
the old world. The foreign material of the Rom
nh church in America is everywhere apparent.
This in Burlington is a good example. Here,
in Vermont greatest town, is to be her greatest
and most splendid church, where the greatest
number will attend but built with foreign Ia
Dor, in foreign style, rectored by foreign
priests, officered by foreign servants, filed with
foreign worshppers celebrating high mass in
foreign tongue 1t has not much American ma
terial nor American sympathy.
The First Congregational Church is Of brick,
strong, plain without, but neat and tasteful
within. Here We listened to a sermon by Mr..
Mix, the pastor, elegant but not energetic pol
ished but not poweriul.-We were impressed
with the modesty Of this church in the way Of
minarets and towers. \ belfry only, Of moder-
ate dimension and the simplest style, surm0unts
the roof
In contrast to this is the Unitarian, built Of
red marble, with caps and cornices If lighter
stone; with steep Gothic roof fanked by towers
and spires a costly church elegantly furnished.
but surrounded by grounds uuadOrned, lumber
ed with wood and stone.
Above this, to the east, is the most beautiful
part Of the city. The streets are smooth and
shady, the grounds adorned and cultivated, the
residences often fine, sometimes elegant. The
display If wealth Is generous in many localities
Here reside Burlng,ou's merchant princes
her successful men, her Datrician families, and
though less rich and grand than the sea port
cities Of Massachusetts, yet such rs Vermont
may well be proud Of.
Beyond all these, on tie out skirts Of the
town, EMPOWERED in trees and retired from the
public streets stands the University Of the State.
In relation to the town, its location resembles
Brown University, and Bangor Seminary Its
surroundings are pleasanter than Haryari's,
and its buildings not much inferior. Long may
it live the pride and glory Of the State.
From its oupols 's seen a landscape not easily
surpassed in loneliness. At its feet the city,
shrouded IN trees, with much Of Its beauty ex-
posed and its deformitY obseured. Along the
western edge and far to the north and south the
clear waters Of Lake Champlain, studded with
islands and dotted with sails. Beyond, the
ragged slopes Of the Adrondacs, with the plains
along the lake, agreably nterspersed with for
esis, villages and cultivated farms. 1t Is a
view seldom enjoyed by the traveller, and not
soon to be forgotten. 1t compensates for miles
Of dust, for days of heat and weary hours Of
noise. CATO.