The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-07-18
Editorial Notes ED Route.
A Trip Down the HudsOn-The Mag
nificence of Nature - Historic
Scenes.
New YORK, July II.

4NI" LYNN NY
One of the most delightful trips
which the tourist can take, is a ride
on the day boat down the Hudson
River, from Albany or Athens: the
latter being the lowest point on the
river where passengers by the New
York Central Road from the West
take the boat. If travellers, even those
who are coming to New York pure
ly on business, should so arrange
their connections as to reach either of
these points in the morni ng, the time
in reaching the city will be very little
delayed, and they will find themselves
richly repaid, to say nothing of the
comfort of the manner of travel. No
man has seen" America until he
has passed up or down the Hudson,
and viewed its charming scenery.
Descending the river there is little
of striking attraction below Albany
for about thirty miles. though the
whole landscape of river and neigh
boring banks present constantly a
beautiful landscape of quiet lowell
ness; on the land Of stirring towns
and villages, and on the water the
multitude of steamers, sail vessels.
and canal boats, and the railroad
winding it's %serpentine course close
along the rivers edge, evidence a
busy commerce.. But the Catskill
Mountains, celebrated in legendary
annals, and so full of wild scenery,
soon appear in sight and attract the
attention of travellers till they are
hidden by the Highlands. The Noun
taihs stretch away inland from the
river, on the right descending bank,
and though hardly rising to the tech
nical altitude of mountains, are Justly
celebrated for the wild and magnif-
cent views which they present. Tour
lists, who desire to see them to the
best advantage, land at Catskill, a
quiet Dutch town on the bank of the
Hudson, and thence pass up the as
cent to the Mountain House, a dis
lance of twelve miles. The journey
is a tedious and difficult one, but
when once at the elevation, which is
twenty-seven hundred feet above the
river, the traveller is amply repaid for
his exertion. The panorama spread
out before him is one of the most
magnificent which nature anywhere
affords. These mountains will be
remembered as the seen of Rip Van
Wrinkles sleep, a place so charmingly
described by IRVING.
One of the most attractive features
of the Hudson is the multitude of
villages, towns and cities which are
almost interminably scattered along
its banks. Among the most promi-
nent of these is Poughkeepsie, a well
built, wealthy and beautiful city. Here
is situated, besides other literary in
situations, the new female seminary.
Vassar College, which aspires to be
the head of the female educational
system of the nation. 1t has one of
the largest and best appointed build
ings in the country, and is richly en-
lowed; all by the p%rincely liberality
of one man alone, he having ex-
pended fully a half a million of dol
lars. Near the wharf is conspicu-
ously seen, on a massive stone build
ing, the sign, N. Vassar & Co.'S
Brewery, which indicates the employ
ment and source of the wealth of the
munifcent founder of this grand
female college. However questionable
in the minds of some may be the man
ner in which the money was obtained,
few will doubt the worthy manner of
its use.
Passing beyond the attractions of
the Catskill Mountains, we come at
nee upon the Highlands, the grand
est of all the scenery of the Hudson.
And though these are especially the
most attractive, it is one of the feat
ures of the scenery of the Hudson.
that at no time does it become tame
or monotonous; while some parts are
more grand, there is a continual sue.
cession of fine landscape views, which
make the whole journey one of
charming beauty. just before enter
ing the narrow pass of the Highlands.