Litchfield enquirer., 1870-08-18
From the Valley Index.
WARAMAUG LAKE. Aug. 2.16

I1OW GA0 VnA0y AAOO4:
 WARAMAUG LAKE, Aug. 2,187O.
 EDITORS INDEX I am staying for few days at this renowned lake. Its renown is mostly local, and presume many readers of the Iader never heard of the name of the lake either in song or story. The locality, however, is celebrated as the birth place of Jeremiah Day, late president of Yale Col lege. His father was the first minister in New Preston, and probably staunch Pu- ritan. Tradition speaks of him as great and good man, and the father of Jeremiah and Thomas Day. It is quite possible there may be more evidence of his goodness and greatness Dr. Bushnell was born here and spends his summers in this locality every year. The world makes honorable citizens of the town fully understand and thinker. taa
 Dr. Wheaton, late president of Trinity College at Hartford, was also born here. He was princely looking man in the pull pit. had magnificent voice, and was splendid reader. He closed his ministerial labor in New Orleans and returned to his native place to die. He loved these rug ged hills and mountains, and his love grew in intensity to the last closing scene in his his eventful life. In his declining years he devoted his time and fortune to improve the spiritual and temporal condition of his relations and earliest friends. Joel Camp | was also born here his reputation was not by any means worldwide, only local. l suppose he was as near 8 saint as human infirmities will permit. Some enthusiastic l admirer, in writing his obituary, pronounce ed him a second Harlan Page. He was the honored father of many children and the husband of five or six wives, which fact was sufficient to give him 8 local notoriety; and last, though not least of the celebrities In ] this vicinity is the aforementioned Wara- maug Lake, or in primitive and perhaps more vulgar language, Warren Pond. There is copartnership in the title to this charm ing sheet of water. Washington and War ren are the joint owners, and the citizens of each town pay annual taxes on the prop erty, and the improvement of the foads along its margin. It is gem of lake ana i beautiful for situation. envlroned as lt IS l by continued succession ot wooded hills and mountains. The people flock here In crowds from all the adjoining towns to en- ioy the fun of fishing and pleasures of plc- nicking. Small squads of ladies and gen. tlemen can be seen any time of day, at va rious points on the margin of the lake, dressed comfortably and seemingly happy. Some are standing, others sitting. and more perhaps are moving along on the edge of the water, or standing on some proml- nent bouldef to get broader view. 1t IS a wonderfully quiet place, especially as the sun retires after the heated term. It IS re- mote from busy railroad center and far removed from a noisy world-ln fact, bu- siness cannot obtrude it's iron rules, and arbitrary laws in this isolated retreat. There is 10 place to build brass mill, a store or shop, the hills and mountains rise so abruptly from the waters edge. How refreshing it is to find one spot where there is no ''golden calf'' set up for the people to fall down and worship-one beautiful place where business and it's tormenting cares are banished Such is Waramaug Lake. Fish are caught here in large numbers, l am told. Your correspondent has tried his hand every consecutive year for the last decade and never caught one larger than common horse fly. They seem to have deep laid plans to avoid my hook, and dis appoint my highest ambition, by gracefully sailing round and round the hook without so much as even a sulutatlon. l try m l every way to woo them to speedy death.
 tempt them with the most improved hook l OalJ6Q W1GU 1u1l S1A0u WOEu6s AAJ AOPOAV- ment in the boat is remarkably quiet, and often meditative. I speak to my comrades in the boat in subdued tones-scarcely above modest whisper. watch with ab- sorbing interest the striped bob, but 1t IS ever, ever floating. The sun pours down upon my pate, with nothing to protect it save stove pipe. In this sad and melan- cholv frame of mind, continue to watch the floating bob, and to relieve the tedinm I perspire copiously- ''muchly." My heart begins to sink; what little courage and enthusiasm I might have had on the start, is ebbing slowly away. l yearn with an indiscribable yearning for these cool shady hooks scattered all along the margin of the lake, and wonder if each tree which furnishes shade is not little paradise for discouraged fishermen. Ihecome exasper- ated, and in the full tide of my exaspera- tion to hint the desirableness of shade. and at the same time suggest the propriety of moving on to the front near those 'Elysian fields" This reasonable and comnon sense proposition is treated with contempt by the entire crew, including the ladies, who, of course, are in a measure protected from the intolerable heat by wide brimmed hats. I I yield to the force of circumstances with l out murmer, and with bowed head, tired back, and aching heart resume business by watching the striped bob and perspir, = d a1- ~-sA