The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-13
OVERLOOK MOUNT AIN.

OVERLOOK MOUNTAIN.
--c~>~~~~~>~-~~~~~~~~>~~-
Another Letter from Our Lady Correspon-
dent-TAe Wonderful Scenery Of Cloud
land-spicy Gossip About the Guesfs-Three
Blue stockings snmmerizing Together
What to Wear Among the Clouds.
OVERLOOK MOUNTAIN, N. Y, August 4, 1871.
Can you tell me whether there will DO any piano
practising in heaven Miss Phelps IN 'Gates AJar"
benevolenty informs an ignorant world that there
viii be pianos In that happy place; but perhaps all
the preliminary lingering viii be done In this world
and only the perfect results Will be heard there.
Let us hope 80. have been moved to ask this
question by the sounds that have penetrated the
space and the various intervening substances be.
tween the parlor and my room Cor the last hour. !
have come to the conclusion that nowhere except
In the hopedfOr region indicated above can we ever
expect 10 escape from that variety OF the genus
young lady who wishes to improve her music. SO
let US be patent; for Is better TO bear the Ills we
have than to ny," &c.
After two days Of sunshine we are again lost In
the fog. The railing OF the piazza bounds view
sky, mountain, valley and plain are nowhere.
Memory. with the backward glance" we have all
heard 80 much OF, says there is scenery, though It
Is hidden for time; and Hope, with that everast-
ing forennger Of hers points to brighter day when
the foggy veil shall be drawn away from our en-
chanting mountains. But really We don't care much
about the weather. This Is such delightfully."- easy
going place that nothing short Of humiliation could
disturb our equanimity; and now that stop to
think IA thing very dangerous for writer's to dol we
! shouldnt know anything about that, and 30 you
may consider us safe from all mortal cares. There
is neither gong nor bell allowed here In these
celestial regions We get up when the bed becomes
contemplate from too long familiarity; we eat when
We are hungry; we sleep when we can no longer
keep our eyes open. The stream or time flows on
In harmonious tranquility, and Is never damned up
by regulations for which we offer due thank
to the powers that be at Overlook. always de-
tested regularity, and lo here 1t Is not. Breakfast
runs deliciously into dinner; and dinner barely gets
out ofthe way OF tea. All times OF day We struggle
into the broad airy dining room, md all times of day
the festoons and bouquets OF coored walters that 80
picturesquely adorn the white walls somehow undo
themselves and fly to relief 1t Is all very well
for you down in the world to have your time cut
short OF by some horrid sharp rule; up here We are
indefinite as our beloved fog as free as our fresh,
sunny breezes. What do we do oil dayf What do
we do, indeedf But Of course, you couldn't
be expected to know from your level
SO VIII ne good and tell you that we enjoy our
selves. We promenade. Oh, don'twel re have
200 feet of pazzn aia assure that we ndusiriously
pace that precious space, alternately gazing at the
mountains and at the fellow beings that are also
attention $50 and mne is IKE oarseSes
fblue;" but, unlike ourselves, she never writes for
money she W writes be-, because she Loves to- know
doubt that woman, Tor she Is natures SELF she Is
fond Of nature. she says, and the watery look in
| more tnai pathetic. Nobody would know you
were literary ssld sae g ~. V this morning
We have nsrned her sappho. having always been
led 70 suppose tnat Ihas antique oas 6seu wrote be-
But what do we see from our piazza on a change
able day like tnis 4th Of Augusts Wonders not TO
utes ago the world made OF nlist now, although
the clouds are swoopng by us iar, far below lies
SHINE. In the west a mountain peak looks exactly
like smoking volcano the blackness is so concen
tra,ed just above It. Up and down the green mon
that crouched at right and lett the
shadows chased by the golden light; IN the dis
are veled In tenderest blue. Here the sky Is
black; there IT y Q delicate gray and yoHder are
sun has gained another victory over the MIST and
there ia the beautiful river, broadening into bay
where IL seems to meet the horizon and Ow over is
Intangible rim. The wind freshens; the white
clouds are torn In hundred places; the darkness
glad osehe," In i've minutes more We NAV be
mystfled again, for aught that anybody can say to
From our piazza we see q hundred miles OF the
Hudson valley lis farthest southern limit marked
by the faint outlines OF the highlands that in the
for rA It's coons u tins valley besutifai; otherwise
the mountains at the west claim all the glory. The
seem tine merest dwarfs and the nelds are the size
OF ordinary dining table; while the farm houses
But OF the miniature fields some are covered with
the fresh growts that Follow the scythe; some wave
white Win fragrant blossoms; there are the grains
Win its broad, green ribbons nnIserins ana Sosns
IN the san and wind And from our far-on-ness
~ 'front.' se Of Is Jaw away DOWN in the valley n is
low Hran back of are are denstiesp Or deep green
foliage, where white outbuldings nestle Costly.
bit Of landscape bringing out the gold Of the grain,
sOftening the coarse red paint to poetic glow OF
pastoral scenery worth Climbing mountain 3 see
The plateau upon which the overlook House |
room to speak o. II one should try 70 swing cat
either side That feline would be IN Imminent dam
few feet from the piazza an almost sheer descent
OF ever and ever and ever so many feet II confess |
some rocks that command view Of ail TINS down.
ness we often stand by twos q nd threes) and here
n1e % an sS p Sns
body on those rocks. am AFRAID shall do 10. |
have no especial choice as TO the VICTIM want to
stantly picture to myself the expression OF concen-
trated surprise. fear and despair that the chosen
individual would throw back 81 when has boots |
and the rock should part company, and not having |
much confidence In my powers OF seif.deniai dis.
vicinity OF that particular perpendlcularfty. |
There are about hundred guests here. and not q |
snOb among them. .sThe reason Is plain.n Snobs |
don't care about mountains except Tor a dav or |
Two That masculine variety wants TO be where he |
can show hrs turnout yhe female can't exist without
constant opportunities iirt and snow the contents
OF her trunks. There Is chance here for diving,
dressing or coquettng. II you drive of you 20 over |
n preclpice II you dress VINO cares IL you nrt IL
must be with mountain. 80 1t comes TO pass that |
only tile sensible people stay here, and IL Is won
der that hundred OF that rare class should have
Already found OUT this retreat OF retreats. |
AS TO dressing you can don your pretty white lawn
fro fnrn (the WraDDer PrCpUguCs IL |
fas, becoming extinct every where except for special
,,ses) ana wear it tn bedtime II you choose Or Al
the mist be nmical to starch pretty gay sack |
and bright ribbons give your alpaca . |
picturesque appearance that renders cost |
her apparel quite unnecessary. Of course
ladies want TO look pretty everywhere, bless |
then but the way do 1t among the mountains 10 |
10 study pquant effects with few inexpensive |
sor, 80 re a nd ,yrar,s &c Ahove ali