The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1869-09-01
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.


| LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
New York Correspondence o the BANNERI
EDITOR PLANTERS BANNER-If the BANNER
would like an account of a days ramble up,
down and across this wild, romantic little
river Ausable, plunging from its sources in
the AdirOndacks, through dingle and dell,
meadow, rock and cave, singing always its
own mountain song, till it drop swith trick
ling note into the broad fountain of Lake
Champlain, our pen is ut his service for this
leisure hour and the not onerOus employ. 1t
was day of pastime along our favOrite
stream, and we should like it to be recorded
AN excursion combining as many fresh de-
lights, as many wonders as Alpine scenery in
detail, or Niagara in miniature, could he sup
posed to supply. The morning promised well
for such a holiday tramp; that is, to say, the
sun benignly veiled his face in cloud, and the
mir ss.s bland, that distances wen. -l-..',-
modified aud objects stood up to view undis-
tarbed by glare or the trcmulous glitter mid
summer heat. The dew was scarcely off the clO
yer on the lawn, when we crossed it to enter the
vehicle devoted to our party use-a convent
ent well assorted quartette-Fanny, Louise,
Charley and papa. So there you have us named
aud voyaging merrily down the hill en- route
for the chasm-the chasm par ercellence-the
chasm of the Ausable, wonder of geologists at
home and abroad. The pretty village through
which we drive is wide awake with furnaces
| factories, mills and merchant ware; musical
bells are tinkling of the hours of labor, and
the church clock sounds resonant, Ginning in to
the river 3 rush, over distinctions both artifi-
cial and natural. 1t is busy place, picturesque
and neat; at this season clothed with verdure
streets and buildings deliciously set, as in an
English picture, "under green leaves" in fact
the English aspect of the town is aptly re-
freshing, being both quaint and dignifed.
Nothing broken down or dilapidated distorts
the view throughout; the pavements are firm
hotels, stores, public offices, private dwell
lings-all are substantial, and of that thrifty
elegance bespeaking old time respectability;
not hint Of shoddy or recent speculation to
| disfgure its honestly got features. One looks
around in vain for a ruinous bank, tumble
down wall; no signs of caving in anywhere.
| And now we have crossed the bridge, SPAN
ming the precipitous bank from side to side,
the river foaming, battling, lashing, some
sixty or eighty feet below. We never cross
that fine, high, heavily arched bridge, by the
foot-path without shudder and often its
fascinating horror haunts our dreams far
| away.
The bridge is behind us again, and our party
emerges from town along the course of the
prattling stream, here grown placid, smooth
and full-brimmed. The view, looking back
ward, is remarkably beautiful; our road slopes
to the hank Oyerhanging the water, steep
hillside rising above us on one hand, preci-
pice falling below ON tho other. We drive
securely between the two declivities, our car
riage wheels slowly revolving at no inconsid-
ss.s-~.g~->s-sv~s sssa--s.r--u<s
ascent, we came upon a margin Of green grass
and into woody shade. A thicket of cetlars
cuts OF the river from sight, but the pleasant
dash Of water tells the secret of its course,
and the murmur Of falls, rolls plaintive-
ly near. Yet who would guess what gem of
the wilderness lay concealed within that cop
pice Of short, thick underground. Let us
turn aside to see, guided by the murmurous
uprOar. We alight, slip through the branches,
| and down the shore of turf grown rocks.
Wet with spray are the bushes around, and
within foot's surface of the fall, we fluid a
foaming cataract-a leap of thirty feet OF
more, boiling in snowy whiteness-a fairy
gleam of rainbow hangs incessant over the
beautiful curve of falling waters, which the
river in its descent here pours down the rocks
that guards the lovely vision of purity, mirth,
and music. The hare bells nod in profusion
and the brake leaf clings to the dripping
walls Of the stained rock, forever trick
ling with the dews of river spray-solitary
and unseen bloom the weeds and wild flowers
and the hemlock bristlcs grimly upon the op-
posite impossible shore. The visitor is chained
to the sight; mute struck, he bends over the
slippery brink, yielding to the thr;,ldom of
one of Natures most ravishing and reserved
displays.
Reluctantly we turned away, rcsuming our
carriage drive through the fertile farm lands,
varied all the while with glimpscs of sharply
blue peaks in the distance, contrasting with
nearer highlands close at hand. Now o quiet
hamlet, sort of deserted village, and again
bridge with new view of the still turbu-
lent river, at this place twirling over rocks
twice the height of the first cascade. A tor
rent in full burst flashing, splashing, seetlling,
tumbling, whirling, bubbling, roaring with
mimic thunder, and garnished with cloud
Of towering mist, and attendant rainbows as
good As Niagsra-not 80 huge, but fully as
impressive-in certain traits, perhaps, even
SURPRISING that worldwide wonder.
Not too long may we linger over these
other points claim attention, and thence
mp another stony, steep as cent, are
we partially carried, and pointed out
other most noble views-forcst land, whose
treetops present an extended surface,
tufted like q carpet to walk over-tlistant
woods mOssy and wavy-undulatinS summits