The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-23
AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.

AB8oCtHth0M-A
Sem, and a Look mt It's Objects Of Interest and
surroundings.
Evon Our Own Correspondent
BETHLEHEM, Pa, June 22-At noon to-day, ac-
cording to the programme as teegraphed to you
from Easton, the New Jersey Editorial Association
rendezyoused at that place, as the initial point in
its regular summer excursion. The party comprised
about two hundred persons large number Of them
being ladies. The proportion Of the latter however,
was not great as usual on these occasions, many
who would otherwise have participated in the excur
sion having been deferred by the threatening state
OF the weather. At half-past twelve O'Clock spe-
ca train was placed at the disposal Of the party by
the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, and in about
half an hour we found ourselves at Bethlehem,
where we are to remain until tomorrow evening.
There being very commodious hotel at this place,
the eXcursionists were obliged to separate the
larger portion of them being quartered at
the Eagle Hotel and the remainder between the
Sun and the American.
The gongs sounded for dinner shortly after two
O'clock and this disposed OF, the excursonists dis
tributed themselves about the town. for the purpose
of inspecting its many objects OF interest and curl
osity Bethlehem settled in the year 1741, being
among the Oldest Moravian towns in the country
and retaining its original charter for much longer
time than any Of the Others Coming hither to avoid
persecution, and to attempt the conversion Of the
aborgines to the Christian religion, they were for
many years subjected to harsh treatment by those
who viewed their peculiar principles and practices as
mere eccentrcites downright heresies The society
or congregation was based the principle Of gene
raj community of property, with special concern
towards the care of the aged and inflrm, and uni
Versal upturning Of the accepted basis Of modern
society, which confers upon each individual men,
ber Of 1t the entire regulation of his own individual
concerns, so far this liberty does not materially
detract from the welfare of the whole. The COM
munity of property and the separation of the esexes
were strictly preserved as late as 1852.
But the peculiarities of the sect
have gradually melted away since that time by con-
tact with and invasion, from the outside world.
Practically the Moravians Of the present day compOrt
themselves in social and business way in the man.
ner which prevails in the world at large Their sys
tenn of worship, however, still preserves some of the
noticeable features impaired to 1t by Its founders.
Easter is still observed in very peculiar fashion, by
certain outdoor ceremonies at the dawn OF day. The
trombone is still sounded from the housetop when
death occurs and large baskets OF buns and coffee
are still passed around the congregation at the cee
bration Of love-feast. Many of the old buildings
are also still standing, their quaint low gables and
substantial aspect rivetng the attention OF every
stranger who passes through the town. Some OF
these venerable structures are still occupied by the
elders Of the sexes living apart.
The great church Of the society," large and i'm
posing structure, was one Of the first objects OF in
terest to which the excursionists directed their
attention. The celebrated boardingschool for girls,
which has attained widespread reputation and
interesting place in the town is the old cemetery
which lies in its very centre the last resngplace of
several thousands OF generations long since gone to
their repose. The graves are arranged in rows
male and female apart, in the order in which their
occupants were buried, whites, Indians
and negroes rich and poor, high
and low in regular succession, and on
the principle that death levels all distinctions Many Of
the mounds without any mark or token TO indicate
the name of the one whose earthly mould is covered
by them and the only monuments to be found are
plain obong slabs of white marble, lying prone upon
the earth, with simple inscription giving the name
and date of birth and death, with here and there
short scrptural quotation, and very rarely faint
attempt at decoration in low relief. AS we wan
dered to-day between the leng and solemn array Of
the dead we noticed frequently fresh wreath Of
roses or a neat bouquet resting upon the mounds.
Perhaps the most interesting OF all the graves is
that whose slab bears the following inscription
'tDavd Nitschman,
Founder
First tree to build the first House.
Born Sept. IS, 1916,
In Moravia.
Died, April ID, 1885,"
Another slab contains the following record of a
'Tn Memory to my Dearest Son,
James Mcdonald Ross
Eldest Son Of
John Ross,
Principal Chief OF the
Cherokee Nation.
Born Oct 10, 1914,
At Blue Springs, in the
Then Cherokee Nation,
East OF the Mississippi River,
Now Hamilton Co., Tennessee.
Died in ST. Louis
November 8, 1864,
His Corps transported by Adams
Express to Bethlehem,
And inferred at this Sacred Spot
November 22, 1854
Aged so years 29 days"
While considerable time and attention were de-
voted by the excursonists to these and other objects
OF interest in the town ITSELF great portion OF the
afternoon was devoted to visit to the Lehigh Uni
versity, the great monument which the Hon Asa
Packer has erected to his own memory, while still
spared to the world useful and generoushearted
citizen. Despite slight drizzling the ride across
the river to the South Mountain, at distance oi
about a mile from the Lehigh was pleasant and at
tractiye On the brow of this hill at an elevation
above the level of the river Of nearly three hundred
feet stand the University buildings, four or five In
number. Some Of these are used as residences by
the professors and another, called Christmas Hail.
commodious brick building, is taken up with lecture
rooms and dormitories for the students. But the
most imposing is the magnificent structure named
in honor of the founder, Packer Hall, which is nov
rapidly approaching completion. The architecture
of this building is very unique and striking being
combination Of the Gothic and modern Frencl
schools The material of the structure is the Pots
dam sandstone, found in abundance near at hand
with the trimmings and arches of native blue lime
stone and New Jersey red sandstone, in Attenuation
When entirely completed, the cost OF the structur
viii be about 100000. 1t is commodious, as well
attractive within and without and contains an ele
CANT chanel, museum, library, laboratory, severa
large class-rooms, and few dormtories. From
the tower magnificent view is commanded, EN-
bracing all the country within radius OF thirt
miles, ana including the Blue Ridge, the Delawar