Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-07-23
For the Spectator.
EDITORIAL EXCURSION.
WATKINS GLEN.

| AT clock p. M, we took the train fol
Watkins carrying with US pleasant recollections
of the kind and heartfelt welcome we had re.
ceived from the good citizens of Penn Van, as
we'll as those of Canandaigua.
We reached Watkins about o'clock, and
were received by the authorities of the town
and conducted to the hotel. It was our good
fortune to be among those who were accom-
modated at the Arlington House," kept by
that worthy and efficient host Mr.. A. u.
Ackley, whose kind feelings towards the people
of the South are evidenced both by the treat
ment we received at his hands, and by the fact
that he has bestowed upon his House, but re-
Gently erected, that name Arlington so
dear to all Southern hearts, and especially SO to
Virginians.
After supper, nearly all of our party accept
ed an invitation to take sail upon the steamer,
Henrietta" and visit 'Hester Falls" on Lake
Seneca. But having had enough sightseeing
for one day, your correspondent remained at
the Hotel to rest himself, and to cool off in the
pleasant breeze which is always to be found at
this hillside Hotel All who went described
their trip as most pleasant aud romantic, and
many Of them being men of fine taste, we were
willing to take their say SO, and yet graduated
ourself that we had not gone.
After pleasant night rest, we arose early
on the morning of the 22d Of June, much re-
freshed and full of desire to see the much-talk-
ed-of "Watkin's Glen,' the entrance to which
was within a stones throw of our hotel, and
had been the object of much curious scrutiny
on the previous evening Our first step inside
of the high rampant of solid rock which hides
the entrance from view, convinced US that our
ideas of Glen were very much at fault. When
we were told that we would visit "Watkin' 8
Glen,' place of great interest and beauty, we
expected to find beautiful, sparkling stream
flowing quietly down some obscure hollow with
sloping hills on either side, and surrounded by
landscape views that might require the pencil
of Landseer to transfer them TO canvas But
nothing Of the kind, did we see. True, we
found the sparkling, limpid stream, but it flow
ed between two walls Of rock hundreds of feet
high, and over precipices, down cascades, both
large and small, here waterfall and there pool
some thirty feet or more in depth, then sue
cession Of rapids ending in long and broad
sheet Of smooth water rejecting, like q mirror,
the ravine above
This glen has evidently been formed by the
stream of water which flows through it, assist
ed by the cold of winter and the thaws of spring
Some conjecture that it was formed by some
CONFUSION OF the earth surface, but this theory
is refuted, we think, by the horizontal stratifca
tion Of the rocks, which show no indications o.
having been torn apart. From the number o
deep pools found in this glen for some distance
below each fall, it is evident that these falls mus
once have been much farther down the glen
than it is at present. This recession of the fall
can be accounted for In the same manner a
| that Of Niagara, for the rock at the top of th,
ravine is much thicker aud harder formation
than that which underlies it-that below bein.
a very soft shale, easily worn away by the wat
| er.
| This glen is some four or five miles in length
and rises in that distance some eight hundred
| feet 1t is situated at the head of Seneca LAX
in Schuyler county, New York. For beauty
grandeur and magni6cence, this glen cannot b.
surpassed by anything in the world, and fo
, variety of scenery it yields in no respects t.
Niagara, which, by the loud roar of its waters
has SO long retained the ear of the world. T.
describe the numerous arcades, galleries, grot
toes, cascades and rapids, which are found a
every step along this truly wonderful freak O
nature, would require more time and spac
than are at command, and greater powers o
description than we possess To be properl
appreciated, it must be seen.
On our way up the Glen, we stopped at th
Mountain House," which is fast becoming
fashionable place for Summer resort; and, truly
a more pleasant one can no where he found
The air here is always cool, and kind of hal
twilight prevails throughout the day, owing t
the great height of the hills on either side.-
We were here kindly entertained by the oblie
ing host, and treated to lemonade and ice-crean
On our return down the Glen, we were me
at the Picnic Stand by Mr. Stephen Chubh
Secretary of the Seneca Lake Grape and Win
Company, with several baskets of Dry and Swet
Catawba, Isabella, Diana and Iona wines
which were very freely sampled by our part
and pronounced to be excellent. Whilst u
the Glen, we had the pleasure of meeting Mr.
M. T. Tucker and her charming daughter, Mi:
E. M. Tucker Mrs. Tucker is distinguishe
contributor to the New York Star. She an
her daughter were on a visit to Watkins, an
intended to remain several weeks, so we ma
hope soon to see description Of this beautif
place from her graceful and ready pen.
1t was with lingering steps and many bacl
ward look that we traced our way down tt
Glen but as we were to leave Watkins at
o'clock, we had to hasten. We reached o,
hotel at o'clock, and, after sumptuous di
ner, repaired to the steamer which bore Of
happy party up Lake Seneca to Geneva. Lal
Seneca is a most remarkable body Of water.
is about forty miles long, and varies In wild
from two to five miles, The water is very det