Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-08-30
WArK1Ns GLeN, August 26.h, Il


Leaving, ,Elmlra, from where my last letter closed
We went TO Athens and thence by the Ithaca 4
Athens II Il. recently opened to Ithaca, much
shorter route than via 0wego. A dtenching
storm welcomed us, but having a fair share OF
good nature we made the best of the trouble and
waited the next day for sight seeing. Ithaca, AT
the head of CayuSa Lake, a hours hing town,
enerprising aud possessing much wealth. II is
tue seat of Cornell University, destined through
It's several princey endowments and able pro-
fessorship to lead the colleges of our land.
This institution il due to the combined bounty
Of the U. s. Government and Ezra Cornell. lii
1862 Congress passed an act granting public
lands to the several States and Territories which
Aould provide colleges for Agricultural aud
Meonanlc Arts. Under this act thirty thous-
and acres for each OF It's Senators and Reprehen-
tatIves in Congress were appropriated to every
State New YoIk's share being 10 land scrip,
representing nine huudle ed and ninety Thousand
acres, which she transferred Cornell Unlyeisi-
| ty, with the agreement that Mr. Cornell should
give five hundred thousand dollars. this bene
1ceut Dequest he afterwards increased by the
Stt of two Hundred acres of land with buildings,
and of the ''Jewett collection III geology, &c
which cost him ten Thousand dollars, besides
other gifts amounting to over thlr.y Thousand
dollars more. Donations have flowed IN from
other parties amounting to ovJ + i've hundred
thousand dollars. la fact RnxOus are the
people for the success OF the institution, that
tueIb " pbllbCt giving anu
money, land, buildings libraries &c, &c, are
almost at discount.
The buildings consist of fonr grand stone
structures rising nobly on the heights which
overlook the town aud lake. The situation ID
magnificent, and the facilities Afforded for in-
struction surpassed by few Institutions. The
rofessorshp embraces nearly iifty Instructors,
among whom are such ripe scholars ~ Andrew
ID. White, Louis Agassiz Geo. W. Curtis, JAS.
Russell lowell Goodwin Smith, Bayard Taylor
"a ,Eg Several Mimiuufuuiana Rtu
dents here, one shaving graduated IN June ]
met one of the professors who spoke of ihem III
high terms
4 pleasant ride of ten miles up the lake landed
us ut ''GOodHlns Point, when I'VE Jumped into
he wagon" and were greeted by Mr.
Thompson, our genial host OF the "raugh lnnock
Hotel This house is situated on the ciiH over
looking the celebrated "raughannOck Falls"
known as the 'StanDach" of America. The g en-
opens out on Cayusa Lake, at the point above
mel toned, entering which We follow the bed OF
the stream upward for about a mile, the cliffs
gradually nsihg on either side I'm IL they tower
10 the dizzy height OI three hundred aud eighty
leet perpehdcularly above us, and between their
cold grey walls down the chasm worn by the a. 5e7
rushes the stream which breaks on triangular
rock two hundred and fifteen feet above the bed
Of the glen aud tals in one unJrukIn sheet of
silver intO the deep, dark pool below.
Tins iall Is about seventy live feet wide and
hfty higher than Niagara, aud is saII by expert
enGed travellers to equal any similar scene Ia
Swltzeriand III the pocnilar beauty OF us form
Ind the majestic grandeur Of its height, in har-
lnOny with the towering cnts nom whose banhs
one can look over into tue immense chasm upon
tree Iops winch would tower almost to the clouds
| lid they stand upon tue plane WITH US We
| spent a week pleasantly here, by day enjoying
| the grandeur aud ina esty of the fall aud by
uig ght iued TO sleep ny Tue music Of It's waters.
| Que evening We had the rare pleasure OF gazing
Jn d Large eagle rs II SCARED up the Glen within
t.few teet of Us twas inspiring to see our ma
| ,ional Dlid in full flight On Sunday We tranpei
| lhruugh the upper Glen about mile to view the
npper fall which is much smaller and of different
| character but possenses charms whlcn fully
| repay a visit. lis no wonder the red man want
| ed no steepled roo. under which to worship the
Great Splllt, for here is temple not made with
| hand a "h0use founded upon rock, with
| roaring water, speaking the Masters power, and
| towering pines through whose braI ches he
| Nhds sing ever natures sweetest hymns, with
| rocky walls rlelt gradually lnto space, aud the
| bue eky arched as the roof, there is church
controlled 10y no creed, ever open to the light
| of heaven, ever open to The voice of Goi-a
chuich whose very vastness puts TO shame tbs
contracted walls and mar ow Isles of our bullded
| temples, and in whose ma jOstle silence one
-talds in alteration and insunctiyely wOrshlps
| the Father III the tuhllme coLts mplation of lis
| truly wundrous works. Had we more OF nature
| and less OF nan III our worship the world would
| be tho b ,tter One cannot sand IN Ia presence
| of "Taughanuuck' or Niagara" an nave in-
| moral thoughts; one can sit IN many Ii cushioned
| pew and seheWe for the coming day.
Just back OF our Aotel from seats in the pleas
| ant grove one has grand view of Cayuga lake
| Az il glstens in its perfect rest, hundreds Of
feet below. Que lovely evening ws took .
boat ride by moonlight ol its sparkling breast, II
| pleasure which you must experience to fally ap-
| precate Here we met mingled with one Of
| those pleasant parties often found In travelling,
aud winch aud 80 much to ones pleasure. For a
week or 30 Of quiet Taughannock offers superior
Inducements.
Leaving here we took the boat for Cavuga. at
the foot OF the lake. The ride is delight one,
but the contemplate spirit which returned III
civty aud falsehUod to our civil questions from
officers and men on the boat could offer no ex-
cuse except the desire TO keep US in Cdyuga, a
| place whose accommodation we tested once before
| and where nothing short of jail would keep me
me over night AGAIN. From here by rail we reach
| Geneva at foot Of SeDeea Lakea very attractive
town, ,showing..much taste in buildings and lawns.
| by boat We had charming ride the full length ol
| this exquisite lake. BJtn of these lakes How
north, are nearly forty miles long by two to six
miles wide lying nearly parallel. They are very
! beautiful, the water being of a deep rich green
| and 80 deep i'll some parts as SAID to be unfathom
able. They never freeze over even III our
severest winters, and the water, especially in
Seneca lake. is 50 stll and transparent that tile
sand snd pebbles are clearly seen on tho bottom
when the water is thirty feet deep. This lake
has no known outlet aud some species OF fish
! which come down the streams die and hoat OIL
| It's surface. The shores are lined with vel
titled farms with mountain chains in the back
! ground.
A three hours ride lands us at Watkins at the
head Of the lake through whose hilly streets VT
are carried in hne turnout and soon welcomed
} to the 'Glen Mountain House" under the etii
cient manag agement Of John j. Lytleat OF Phila
| and member of the society OF Friends. H'
t has opened the Now Mountain House over the
3 gorge aud thrown fine suspension bridge across
connecting the two, built a new roadway on thu
other side the glen, added new railings, ,sarways
4 etc. etc, in the glen for the better security o
visitors and in many ways shown enterprise anC
a desire to increase the popularity of this ia
| nous resort.
The - New Mountain House" is the largest il
| Watkins accommodating l50 guests 1t is llghtei
i | with gas throughout and every portion oil tll
a furniture aud fixtures is new. The table is wei
. | supplied and Mr.. L. Ii always about seeing tha
: | his guests receive attention This house is use
| for lodging and the old one for the eating de
!. | partment, necesstating a walk over the brids
for every meal which in pleasant weather add
. to the romance of the visit.
= For several weeks, religious meetings hav
y | been held twice each Sunday IN the parlor unde
!. the charge of Wm. Henry Chase, bruther,in-la'
Il of our worthy citizen q. w. Rowland This l
Il very ENJOYABLE for many but think will dotrac
from the popularity of the House as Sunme
resort, as il makes it in a manner seetarlan an
n, throws air of plainness and restraint over 10
q guests which, however commendabe in th
- opinions of some, will not be acceptable to th
y travelling pubhc and will force them to tax
'r rooms at some Hotel in the village where the
l. IA fratlnm flf ia and llAZZg