New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-17
M SUMMERING IN OTSEGO COUNTT.
A LIFE IN THE CoUNrRY-THE PEOPLE OF OF
sEGo coUNrY-THEIR RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS
WHAT THE VILLAGES ARE LIKE-GOsSiP-

RIcHFrE1p SPRINGS, Aug. 16.-When one has
not the disposition to remain all summer IN inc city no.
yet the means 10 20 Europe OF spend the season a
Long Branch or Saratoga one must make the Best use
possible OF his small means and seek some manner Oh GU
oymept s,ted 10 his particular case We can always
.5ord On 90 ,,o the country at ell events, and II we
mitch unon tina Of lake or river we can
have fishing and boating to our hearts content "hie
long waks-walks OF many miles, IN Deayy poosS' OVei
rough roads away out into the open country" 20
found, II somewhat fatguing at the star1 einf
nenty ENJOYABLE on the whole, supremely healthiuI'
! and calerlated to leave upon the mind impress
sions which the years OF a lifetime CANNOT
| and nsed not eGace. otsego, Ce1Dty is about as
nearly as possible the central county In tho State anu
very interesting historically. agricniturauy, anu Ia
| physical formation and Typographical appearance
Ranges OF hills varying in altitude from 200 to 100 ieet
tA ieve Of the streams thread and inersect 1t all
the way from north to south hills covered with penod
growths Of oak and plne separated by valleys that form
the finest grazing and hop and grain growing lanos ~
the state each bearing in Its green BOSOM some
wbte and Rlitterng village with its tan spre-some
bright stenebedded stream, some miniature lake
with wooded Sides with perhaps tiny set IN s ceh'e'
and with its surface gay with wateries or green Win
sweeppR rushes Its southern portion forms parb Oh INC
| magnificent Valley Of the Susquehanna, nhea Win
towns and villages prosperous in trade ana ron IN acc
INFLATED wealth Toward the north rise the head"AteS
Of the susauehanna rich in historical and mythe ira
finest productions OF Cooper The whole country one
q, neaoe comfort and riches Its natural scenery Is
| aIversined without being striking-beautfu II NOV
grand Generally speaking the inhabitants are lnduS
trous Intelligent shrewd, and honest and the conPie
| tion M tho Albany and susquehanna Railroad aboat
| ten years ago, has inspired them Win
4 spirit Of enterprise which VIII YET "orA
Uonders What strikes you most, perhaps Is the uhF
firm oheerfulness OF their characters and the intensity
with which they to enjoy fe up even to ripe oiu
age Physically, not sure but that the pulk OF tue
OF Central NewYor rs strong and Vgor
Qua and would BIO found daring and enduring as inc
bands OF English and Dutch that first settled this region
and were often Obliged wage such fierce wars WIN he
| Mohawk and other tribes -... ...l. .-.
One OF the most the mental tempera
eht OF these people their indifference to the forms
and doctrInes OF religion Churches are, OF course
and they their regular bands OF worship
perhaps onehfeth part Of the entire population
Rn. the great majority feel little interest In church mat
er and seem but little concerned about the mysteries
Of the future or the capacities OF the son Their constant
answer 10 any questions the subject VIII DO founo 70
he something like the following: Well, guess II man
yes an honest sober life. and stays to ham, and mlnds
bIs own business, he'll come out all right IN
the end Dominies (ministersD talk don't SUIT
me as a general thing. don't mind going 10
r,eetiD, though IL they've got good preSeher'
They eyinee very little emotion OF any kind. For ths
reason tho conquests OF Methodlsm have been very
In every country there is spoken and written IAN
guage here, Of the written language Is muen
the same As in other parts the spoken language may DC
said 10 consist OF oneha ordinary speech and oneha
strange oaths" IL Is certainly unpleasant 20 the cult
waited car but 1t ia merely the result OF custom which,
fr more than conscience "doth mako towards OF US an
IL will be understood, matter OF course that te
structure implied IN the above sentence applies only 10
the Language OF the market place. the stote, and the
street. ...
word about the villages. They arc strikingiy beauti-
full and picturesque, general rule The residences
arc astefuy built and ornsmented. and the front and
s,de wards are lowered bewderment Monthly roses
and creeping vines and honeysuckes. ne the walls and
poke their pretty In through the open parior
windows The quiet, thcky shaded streets are
lined with smiling roses aud pansies, and
daod and every other flower you could name, to tho
great delight OF sight and smell Every yard, Also is
stocked With apple and pear trees, and the bossomng
season ms tho air with delicious aroma Underneath
the stores are generally billiard and beer saloons "hefe
Won can also buy peanuts, sticks OF candy, apples
ORANGES shoo-backing indulge 10 game OF euchre,
play draughta read the New York and Albany papers
Billiards Is the fayorite game and one may often see tho
village doctor and the local editor pitched against the
village blacksmith and the coored barber From Una
dllla line Of the Albany and susquehanna Road.
beautiful In name and reality where spent few weeks
Of blessed leisure, my wandenngs have extended over
considerable portion Of tho county. Unadila tsef-l
don't how II got such beautiful aud poeucal namei
10 possibly the only remaining relic OK Indian posses
sion for names how little soeyer there may be in them
else possess wonderful tenacy OF eXistence-giyes
fair evidence Of the general characteristics enumerated
The failure OF its bank years age almost completely par
alyzed trade but Il Is fast recovering ITS odtme im
portance II consists mainly OF ono long double Of
detached buildings, many OF then models OF taste and
elegance each IN It's beautiful framework OF smiling and
lu1uriant garden. Evidences OF its decay in
vacant houses and large academy building with
its windows rdded by and It's stops aud doorways
! considerably down at heel.
The habtua denizen Of the city can form conception
OF the beauty OF such quiet spot this. You rise In
the morning to look out sopng hills forest, and
meadow clad the placid bosom OF the river the
of many nights ardent fishing. and many evenings
| Joyful revel. After supper, the young men hob-nOb
around the drug In this instance also the postoce
or 20 out sparkling "a species Of amusement that can
] only be found In the country than which none moro
| agreeable can be imagined. II you take walk up
down the street. everything still the deserted
battle tbeOny SOUNDS a greet your ears Deng the
gay laughter OF the boys and girls whose dim outlines as
they sit the shaded rstep you can just family
In the gathering gloom. Perhaps once year travelling
circus theatrical troupe rouse the Inhabitants from
| OF and talk about for another twevemonth. The
| people trouble themselves little with politics; men
aud perhaps two or three times u week to the
billiard saloon; rise at o'clock breakfast at go TO bed
at o. and happy City folks draw their
cusIons The only drawback to this happy acadan pic.
tufe Is the universal habit OF tattng ana Du DOdyingi
aud the remark does not apply especially 20 any
| OF the villages In Central NeW.YOrk, but 90 every
| village no matter where NAV be It's location. Your nc.
lions all watched; your oings out and comings IN,
habits ald cOmpanOnshps arc as thoroughly and,
sort ol Associated Press for the
crOnClng OF all neghbors dOings Instead Of dis
sress the Villagers discuss the affairs OF one another
| Each is sefappontod vigilance committee TO watch
more entertaining than the most important cable dis
patch For the Refinement aud quntessence OF the art Of
ping. commend mo TO country village anywhere
From the little village OF Scheneous, the line OF the