Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-07-05

We then took the train for Penn Yam,
when by the courtesy Of Mr.. Farley Holmes,
If the Steamboat Company, we made an ex-
,ursion up Lake Kenka, or Crooked Lake,
% the Vineyards and Wine Cellars which
nestle along its border. Owing to the ne
,essity Of returning to Penn Van in time to
take the train for Watkins Glen, We could |
not proceed further than the UrbaEa Wine |
Cellars, where a collation. was spread and !
some of the famous Golden Seap' Cham.
payne Of the pheasant Valley Wine Com.
pany" was uncorked and everything went
merry as marriage bell. This Company,
singular to say, has and continues to ship
its Champagne wines to France. They are
pure and can scarcely be distinguished from
the genuine save by connoiseur. Mr..
Switzer, the Manager of the Company kind.
ly showed us through the immense cellars,
filed with hugo casks, and bottles Of wine
in its transition state from dry wine to spark
ling champagne, and explained the process.
We were much grati6ed with our visit, as
was expressed by citizens and excursionists
in impromptu remarks, at the Cellars and
on our return trip. At Penn Yam, both
going and coming, we met DR.. Tuthill, who
was exceedingly kind and of whom we can
not fail to make this especial mention.
We arrived at Penn Van just in time to
take the train. and were whirled as rapidly
as steam could carry US to Watkins Glen,
where we had most delightful nights rest,
the first since we left Baltimore, so rapidly
have we moved.
On Saturday moruirg, 22n1, we visited
that remarkable freak of Nature, Watkins
Glen, situated between two ranges Of hills
which seem to have been torn asunder by
some terrible convulsion. It partakes of
the sublime, as we'll as the peculiar in con-
trast with the other natural euriosities of
this country, and while We cannot describe
it in newspaper communication. yet advise
all travellers in this section to stop and visit
it. We were rendered the Inequalities Of
the darlington House" Immediately at the
Glen, whose proprietor, Mr.. A. N. Ack
ley, exerted himself to make our stay agree
able and he was unanimously voted trump.
Mr.. Gano, Of the Enpress, and Mr.. Bald
win, of the Democrat, and Mr.. Van Allen,
who welcomed us to Watkins, were espe-
cially attentive to the party. We also men
ton that Messrs. Baker & Son, of the
"Fall Brook House" rendered its hospital.
ties, which were accepted by half the party.
who speak in high terms of their entertain
ers. The Proprietor of Watkins Glen, Mr..
E. B. Parsons, rendered complimentary
tickets to the party to visit the Glen.
After dinner, the party accepted the hospi.
talities of the Seneca Lake Steam Naviga.
ton Company, and went aboard the fine
Steamer "0nandaga," Capt. NJ. J. Gil.
bert, and made most delightful trip of
40 miles up Seneca Lake, "a most beautiful
lake, which though in this latitude, was new
er known to freeze, and about which that
beautiful poem ''Silver Lake" was written)
to Geneva, the beauties of which we were
shown, the citizens rendering their private
carriages for the purpose and accompanying
aus. Geneva is delightful city. surround
ed by beautiful country, now being large
ly devoted to nurseries on an extended scale
In fact the nursery business is the business
Of Geneva, thousands Of acres being devoted
to it and hundreds of hands employed con.
stantly. We visited those of W. & T. Smith
& Graves, Selover, Willard & Co., receiv-
ing presents Of beautiful bouquets and were
conducted to the palatial residence Of the
descendant Of an old Virginia family, Hon
Geo. W. Eicholas, where we met Mrs.
Nicholas, and her Mother, Mrs. Gallaher,
native Of Virginia, Miss Virginia Nicho.
las, Miss Mary Nicholas, NJ. Gallaher. an
editor. by the way, Miss Lettie Hopkins
and Miss Irving grand niece of Washington
Irving, Philip Noroorne Nicholas and Rob.
ert Carter Nicholas, all Of our old Virginia
stock. Mr.. Nicholas had prepared an en-.
tertainment under the shade Of tho trees in
his beautiful and deliberately decorated
grounds, which was greatly enjoyed by the
party and brought forth several toasts
which were responded to by R. B. Berke-
ley and Judge Dusinberre. Meeting with
this old Virginia family and enjoying their
hospitality was Indeed one Of the happiest
incidents Of our journey and will long be
remembered by all of our party.
We returned to the Franklin House, kept
by that prince Of good fellows. S. S. Mallory,
in time to partake Of splendid supper pre-
pared for tie occasion. and presided over
by our old friend, one Of the Excursion par.
ty of last year, s. Fl Parker, of the Geneva
Gazette, where toasts we're again the order
Of the day and were responded to by Judge
Dusinberre, S. D. Willard, Prof. Chas. D.
Vail, J. ". Friepa Of Virginia and J. M.
Heating of Memphis. when Aud Lang Syne
was sung by the assembled citizens and Ex-
oursionists, and the party separated to &C.
cept the invitation of A 4. Guile ESQ. CT
gar Manufacturer apd Messrs. Page & Son,
Druggists. to partaks Of inequalities at their
establishments during our sojourp ip the
City.
AS 1 have more TO say of Geneva and her