Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-09-15
How the Rock. Came Down at Jay
Peak,

a certain mysterious, black looking
demiiohn and | started, in the early |
morning, for the scene of action
Start not my Good Tomplar, the dem
iiohn contained nothing but cooling
drink, ordered especially for the &C.
casion, by my friend. the doctor, who
was one Of the party.
A dozen miles through a lowly
country brought US to the foot of the
mountain. Up, up, up, horses toiling.
painting, to the dog house" where
the faithful animals were rewarded
with a bountiful supply Of oats, while
their human brethren sat down to
substantial dinner, furnished by mine
host, Cutting. Sharpened appetite
needs no sauce. Roast beef and
wholesome bread need no praise on
such an occasion. Pork and beans
always command high premiums,
while nick nacl5 and deHcacie5 are
at an alarming discount in mountain
climbing. After dinner we pursued
our way to the summit. The path
was. most Of the way, wet and slip
perry. always tedious, and for the last
part Of the way very difficult 1t
took nearly all the strength Of a ro-
bust man to drag him5eIfup the steep
rocks Judge Of our surprise when
We found, on reaching the summit, a
crowd Of two hundred, Of all ages
and conditions; old men OF eighty,
children who should have been admit
ted at half price; delicate ladies, who,
one week ago were PROSTATE with a
fever; men with wooden legs, and
men without legs. This may seem
like o large statement but it is liter
ally true. and only show the ire
prcssiblc tendency OF the Yankees tc
climb. [ doubt if Jacobs ladder OF
the Tower of Babel would satisfy
their tendency heavenward.
But here we are, four thousand feet
above the level of the sea with an un
ooscwed prospect OF hundreds o
miles in every direction. West is the
valley OF the Champlain, extending
from Rouse's Point to Whitehall, dis
lance Of one hundred and tive Mt,
miles. Beyond and to the north /,
the valley ofthe St. Lawrence, stretch
ing away as far as the eye can reach
Nearer is the beautiful Mssi5co, wind
ing like a thread of silver around the
base Of the mountain. Farther to tn
cast is Memphremagog, with its sen
tiucl, Owls Head, which looks like
sand hill in the distance.
Still farther cast is the valley of tn
Connecticut with the White Mour
tain5 beyond, trownng Like hug
watch-towers in the distance. To tn
South we see nothing but mountai
piled upon mountain, reviving the oil
fable Of Ossa upon Pelion. The
look like the huge pillows Of tn
mighty sea solidifed and covere
with rocks and trees. After takin
a hasty view Of this mighty panorama
our attention was called to the rocl
which was to be the principal attrac
ton of the celebration.
Imagine to yourself rock as Iarg
as a good sized room torn from an az
accent ledge by some mighty convu
sion Of nature, and left resting, poi
ed upon the brow Of a precipice on
hundred and fifty feet high, so nea
the edge that it seemed as though
child could push it of. There it ha
sat, dclying the storms and tempest
of age upon age, and now it SCENE
am easy task for it to resist the pun
efforts OF man to compel it to NAH
the leap into the abyss below. b
the men were already at work an
every turn Of the screw brought tn
huge rock gradually, but almost impe
ceptibly nearer the edge Of the eli
Presently one Of the screws gave OF
and there was no help for it but
dispatch a messenger to the log hou.
for another The interval was file
by an able address from Rev. NJ
Goodhuo Of Wes,feld, and by sig
seeing which. alone, well repaid IL
toll OF the ascent. The sun shoI
beautiful and bright and the air WI
cool and Oracing, and every one
the height Of enjoyment.
In a short time the screw W
brought, placed in position, and t
work resumed. Slowly the rock me
ed, gradually the sun went down, a
the patience of the spectators began
be exhausted. Wise ones shook the
heads aud declared that the rock W
no 90; speculative ones bet tn
4 money on the result; discomfort
ones began their journey homewa
Lower and lower sank the sun, neai
and nearer crept the rock, thinner a