The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-12

The Beauty OF the sarrOu dinGs-A Descrip-
tiOn Of tho Lakc-The Accommodation for
| vislfOrs.
LAKE MoHoNK. July 4, 1871.
Over the hills and far away from the busy haunts
OF mon party OF four went seeking rest from the
horrors of Fourth In New York. They had heard
OF the charms Of Lake Mohonk, fourteen miles back
from the river opposite Pougnxeepsie, It's principal
recommendation being. as far as could learn thar
nothing in tho gutse oi black bottle. mask demt
John 10 allowed on the premises, and 1t being pOpu.
larry reported that before any heathens from New
York could enter the limits OF the hotel the propre
tor is Obliged to smell their breaths to that
unnOy beverage has passed their lips Truth
cOnpels me, as q veractous reporter OF orr
measurable morning luxurv-the HEnALD-to
state tnat such was not my experience.
Luckily for the preservation OF life and
limb. lay not the treacherous ties OF
the Erie Rallr0ad but unfortunately for the interest
OF my narrative we came up the Hudson in the most
prOsaic way incident GROWING tho journey, and
nothing the way of accident occurring to startle
staid New Workers from proprieiy to inter.
rupt our search Tor the quiet denied US al home.
Don't, dear HERALD, think US unDatriotic or not
grateful for the Fourth Of July. We are duly sensi-
bic or the advantages of being free and Independent,
and much obliged TO our f0refathers and all That;
but 1t does to IL this day OF the In
situations which should be more hOnored In the
breach than in the observance. However, chaean
q son govt, and behold the why and where.
fore OF four unhappy members OF the human
race roased from dreamless slumbers at the
ncathenish hour OF five, MONDAY, July 8-a
practice which here. let me OBSERVE and
viii gress no further, cannot DO too strongly
rep7obated, ana should be abolished as o relic OF
the Middle Ages and worthy only OF tho days OF the
JnuuiaitiOn If Mr. Darwin has nffdy suUlested.
we are all OF only monkeys. why, them it can't
matter mucn; but II, as hope, trust and firmly be.
i,eve, our clothes do not constitute the sole dir
ference between ns and the beasts, why then, let
us here, as in other inngs strive TO make the dis
tnctlon as marked us possible.
Lake MOhonk and Sky Top. the highest Of the
Snawangunk Mountains can DO reached In two
ways-Grst, by the much reviled Erie Railroad to
Goshen where brancn road leads TO New Paltz,
ana stages meet every train to convey you to the
mountain. Then the other way IS by the hudson
River Railroad to Poughkeepsle where you cross
the ferry and 20 in carriage or stage to MOhonk.
We came the latter way, ana the scenery was
charming. the road beyond tue average Of country
roads, though little neavy from recent rains. The
first nine miles Of the way through hily. farming
country. but as you pass small town OF New PATTI
dawns upon you ike a new revelation one OF the
most beautiful spots God ever created or man ever
behed. Waikiki Valley, with lis broad, uDbroken
eXpanse OF level country dotted with patches Of
forest trees small iarns with jolly, comfortable
lille farmhouses the waikiki River winding ike q
RIBBON through the centre and supplied by Its
Itlic Tributary 0rooSs, with tue Calsks IN shadOwy
oul ne III The distance, make up bcautnul wno.e
wnicn only Inc pen OF poet or the pencil OF O
painter picture. Pauslng 10 drink in the beauty
Of the scene our gallant chatioteef who was quite
an Uri2iDal IN his way, wnipte up tue horses and
we FASTENED on. The road up the mountain Is III
very good con iitlon 50 tdat Lake Mohonk. though
out OF the way Is not dincult oil access. Ihe road
Tor The last three niles ieais between rows OF
forest trees which went over ones head. The
beautiful ground idure Is la inii ooom and nothing
G IA he inUre exquisite tnan us delicate pink bios
SONS. ulngng with me darket green ol It's leay les
and the different saa les OF the GaderDrdsh. We
see but lev teams on Inc road aud fewer pedes-
traus VINO now eyer, are mostly covered VITA muu
aud march on ia gloomy, logged way, which
would nave delighted the very soul OF q. p. X.
James.
Ui course the Shawangunks have their romance;
aud our driver tVid US II pathetic story IN
very classical ianguaae, ABOUT pair
VI lovers who were wandering Oh the euge
OF one Oi the frownng precipices where tue
man in a transport OF jealous rage pushed the
lady oil his love over ,ne brink. she weat over,
COZ sc; nut her colheS Cntcning In tree broke
ner iai, 80 INA. sac was saved, anu, Wohaerlui 10
re'ae, ultimately reco. erea 10 see justice meed out
to nef iaitii.es5 hoine0. 'but she WASN'T much
accoant any way adued our Jehu; ''she was nalf
muat" y Dtpo. al U m res I'm so glad us
GU. OF lash;On 10 pltcn ones lady love over precl-
plccs. the ladies oI our party were mucn enter
tanned tiIIs Individual and he design ting
ali as "oi,,r ia ne cosesl manner possible, vas
mucn in crested W hear we came ail the way from
York, and asked inuuineraDlc Questions about Lhs
town. vel.dred To IN luiie H. among other celebd
Ties our III na mad ever heard of frince Eie but,
aas Tor the ,rans. tory nature Of even an undying
la.nel ne never mad, and wanted 10 know II ne
'tendeu store down 10 YORK."
But wniie wele conversing we turned an angle
IN the r0su ana Lake ntOnunK. IN It's crystal Dcaaty
lay ~ our Get tnuuDer ni1es. not more tnau nall
lae long without outlet suppiicd by spi ms In Its
aDle walled In on Detn sides by lofty cifrs covered
whn lichens. and ferns aud aureis growing IN the
cievces. tnuann planted by the hand VI the great
Landscape Gardener. Tall pine tees Crown the
sum.ls OF tsess walls oil rock aud In some places
mmenso masses vi granite are Junoied together IN
confused heaPs 40 though coavuised ~ some gigan.
TIC upuelvai Ut tbs Ufrestrni DaiL On the as side
Ut tue lake. as you drive alonG you have tue lake
on one lanu and the ROCKY OrC. hcation Of SKY Top
on the other. rue notei Is ~ lie opposite cad OF
the lake, anu ~ You approach IT, with the little bal
comes, towers. OussAae staircases cupolas and all
rlgnt edge ~ the lake. IL realizes my ideal of
q Swiss cnaies though, never having been on the
Oiner sido vi tne pOid, CAilu0J speak IRON eApe-
me hotel has only been buit some Two or three
years. aud nas been mucl en Urged during the past
winter, tnag nnoaaJes loo pers0Us ia tue
east OF tne house you have the lake aud sky Top
boldly defined against tue SKY, and the west SIDE
the k0ndout Valley, more beautnu, possible. IMAM
The WnIkill. Tho house kept by smile, most
courteous OF hosts EVERYTHING about the table IL
Of inc incest The ateh ,auCe excellent, ana the |
rooms niceiv dtted up ana eacn opening on
little Ua,coiies. ~ Is sooewnat strange ibing.
but this LAKE was hrst discovered and as beauties
made KNOWN W an Edgsh tuur.st Or course the |
country farmers knew that there such u lake on
tho Top Of ths ANS, they were not regarded
Us anything special th our cousin rom over the
water came aud po,nIed out the lovely scenery |
to our unapprecidiIve cOuutrymen But don't |
let mo tor Nh instant lead the dear New York |
ladies' iuCo the error Of thinking that Lake |
MohoBk House Ia y fashionable note. Fashion !
would seem oud enough, TOO, In this Wild sccuery. |
one conld more readily fancy Indian maidena !
Win taeir dusKy lovers. naming these ooAy
nesses ana pruieva, forests, than even tue PLAINLY
atred uiviAitses III brown linen suiis aud pork pio
hats WAC nourlsn here, sketch books IN hano aud
heavy Uts Their dear fee;--fOr ali take lie
longest walks aud come home with such appetIies
aud certainly nUinihg cOud he more inviyorating
tAan tn5 pure mountain air and the mi
breezes. witn0ul tait oil Clues human iile when
come 10 us IKE vOiceIess Whispers IRON another
sphere. But yOd must all cV.ae anu SEQ tor your
serves. Come ana look OF Sky Toy Nv the grand
panorama spread out by oOunteous Nature; al the
Valleys, mountains forests and rivers: row on the
lake, witness the sunset N the Rondout Valley par
takc OF inl.ie host Smiles hospitality, and I'm sure