Middletown transcript., 1872-07-20
Correspondence q dc Mdi,ao~n r,n.e,i,t.
WATKINS GLgs, N. Y. July 18th, -.

WATKINS GLxs, N. Y. July 18th. -.
MRssas. Epirogs As Watkins Glen
though "rock- ribbed, and ancient as the
hills" has not been Of very much notov.
ETY. among the many great wonders Of our
wonderful country, until within few
years. doubtless not many OF your readers
have seen it, or even heard much about il, 4,
and perhaps letter from here would not
be uninlcres,ing had heard such glow
ing descriptions Of this wonderful Glen.
given BY the few Of our people who have
been so fortunate as to visit il. that my
curiosity was all sg!ow to see it for myself.
and. determined that, " sink or swim, sur
vive or perish" &c would visi, IT, SO
packing few indispensblcs in carpet
bag. a Ia Southern Office. holder. left
Middletown las. Thursday af,ernoo, bound
for Watkins. stayed that nigh, in Phil.
ndelphia. Mex, morning | took the ears
u, the Reading Depot, and ere long found
myself whirling around the curves, and
dashing across the giddy ,rcs,lc.work Of
! the Catawissa Il Il toward Wiiliamsport
Pa which place ] reached about five
o'clock that evening. and put up at the
llerdlc House, which BY the way is one Of
the bcs, regulated and fines, hotels ever
stopped at Standing in the midst Of a
/ splendid grove, it is delightful place il
Summer. Aud one luxuriatipg under the
shade Of these magnificent trees, taking
hi, - o,ium cum dgnita,c, could scarce.
ly imagine that there could be such melt
| ing weather as that through which We
sweltercd in Delaware two weeks ago
! | was so charmed with the q" llcrdic"
that did not leave there until monday
morning. and got here about two o'clock
that day. Swallowing basty dinner
struck at once for The Glen Following
the main street Of the town. about half
mile out | came to small bridge over
little, noisy stream that one Nigh, jump
across anywhere Here there i. sign
posted, pointing to the right, aud bearing
the words, &" 10 THE GLEN" looking
in the direction indicated by the sign We
see that the stream proceeds from cav
crnous opening at the base Of pcrpcndic.
, ular clih 800 feet in height As we ap.
proach nearer, We find wooden stair. way
erected against the side Of the rock A.
cendng this. and crossing narrow foo,
bridge, our ears are salu,el with deep
toned, subterrancors roaring. aud We
catch glympses ct u column cf water leap.
ing from height Of thirty feet into a
black caldron beneath the bridge.
needed not to be told that this was The cn.
trance to TuE GLGN, Looking up, the
scene that greeted my eyes bcggars de.
scrip'ion. had seen Niagara. had
travelled up the ilalson, had viewed
the scenery Of the Thousand Islands. aud
had loen on the Great Lakes. and had
traycrs"d old oceans gray and mrlau.
choly waste. but never dil Imagination
awaken within me thought Of anything
like this SO wild, 50 romantic. SO pictur
c>quc, so beautifully aul uwlully .ranl
that f elingS OF supernatural awe came g-
yer IN, aud could net but think how
utterly insignificant are ,hc arts Of n.au
when brought into comparison with the
works Of nature. aud natures God
cannot describe il, i is beyond de.
scripti1n, the English language refuses To-
furnish words for the purpose. aud know
no other
The Glen is ,aii to be about three mile,
long, bearing the appearance Of great
rent in tbs earth's surface. but whether /,
was made hy the small stream that per.
yadcs i, cutting it, way through tbs solid
masses Of slate, or whether it was Tie re-.
suit pf saLicrrauean agency, Of coarse is
beyond the knowledge of man
Entering that portion Of the great glen
called "Glrn Alpha. your cyeis greeted
By the sight of four beaG:iful cascades fol-
lowing each other in rapid succession,
leaping, roaring dashing, foaning, crash.
ing, until you are almost dcafencd by the
clatier Continuing your way up the
Glen, crossing frail looking bridges aud
climbing giddy stairwoys, you come TO u
small house pcrched like an eagles nest
upon the brow of the cliff This is the
Mountain House, the tourists resting
place. where yon lind excellent icc-crcam.
berries. lemonade, mint julcps aud other
warm velthcr luxurics.
keiracing my steps to tho town pass
ed over Cemetery Hill, whiih rises to the
height of 400 feet or more. over. looking
The town. surrounding country, aud the
beautiful lake Seneca. which stretches a.
way like vast mirror. forming, al,oge,h-
er. gorgeous spectacle.
Perhaps | have aircady tired your pa.
tienc", and will therefore close by nlyis.
ing all your readers who have an eye to
the beautiful. to visit Watkins Glen
Respectfully Yours, &c,
Dnios