Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-08-20

After tea we strolled about the city until the
time for the banquet. At 10 o'clock we enter
ed the dining room which was very handsomely
decorated with flags and evergreens. The ban
quet was protracted through the entire night
and most of the party retired by sunlight. A
drive around the city, including visit to the
workshops of the Dickson Manufacturing Co.,
where we saw locomotives in all stages of erec-
| ton, back to the hotel and then bidding fare
well to the hospitable city of Scranton, we took
the cars and were soon at Wilkesbare, where
We dined. On the way to Wilkesbarre we
passed the place of the
WYOMING MASSACRE
saw the Umbrella tree, and were shown Camp
BELLS seat, where he wooed the fair Gertrude.
So much has been written about the beautiful
Wyoming Valley that we will not attempt to
add anything thereto. Wilkesbarre is situated
in the centre of this Valley and is deservedly
a very popular summer resort. The Hon. W.
w. Ketchum lives here and we may truly say
| that no one whom We met found more friends
in our party than did he. He was with us in
Scranton and came to Wilkesbarre with u.s.
He expressed much regret that we could not
stay longer in Wilkesbarre and participate in
the celebration of the 4th of July, for which
great preparations were being made The
streets were festooned with flags, arches of ev-
ergreen were over all the principal crossings
| and private houses were decorated with flags
and eyergreens. It was quite new sight to
us to see such preparations made to celebrate
the Fourth-not having witnessed anything of
that kind for 10 these many years
From Wilkesbarre We crossed the mountains
into the Lehigh Valley. The road over this
mountain is splendid triumph of engineering
science. 1t winds around the mountains with
grade of ninety feet to the mile but this in
no wise appears to check the speed of the pow
erful engine, which whirls US along at the rate
of thirty miles al hour. The view of the Wy
oming Valley, as you ascend the mountain
cannot be surpassed. 1t reminded us of the
scenery along the Ches. & O. Railroad before
you pass the Blue Ridge coming from the East,
though far surprising it in extent. After hav-
ing travelled fifteen miles you find Wilkesbarre
lying immediately under you, not more than
three miles distant, presenting the loveliest
scene imagination can picture
Passing into the Lehigh Valley the scene is
entirely changed Ii is mountainous, wild and
rugged, but withal picturesque, and has been
aptly called the Switzerland of America. You
look ahead, apparently there lies before you an
impossible wall of rock and forest, but the en-
gine dashes boldly on, you round some corner,
and a smiling little valley stretches before,
while the grim mountains look down upon you
in mute amazement at the boldness of man in
penetrating their solitudes. All the distance
t. Mauch Chunk there glides beside you pic
turesque river and here and there where it
meets with distractions, it makes beautiful
cascade.
We reached Mauch Chunk late in the even
ing. This is becoming quite popular place of
summer resort, and we found large company
there seeking pleasure and retirement from the
heat and hustle of city life. This is the most
delightful place we know of to spend few
weeks during the cheated term" The see
merry is beautiful-the accommodations perfect,
and the atmosphere cool on the very hottest
days. We fell asleep with the noise of fire.
crackers and all other kinds of Fourth of July
noises sounding in our ears and were wakened
the next morning by the booming of cannon,
the beating of drums, piping of flies and the
promiscuous cries of small boys, all joining in
the celebration of the great Fourth of July.
A. S. M