Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-07-31
Mountain Scenery i'm Virginia.

ginia that it is worth voyage across the At
laptc to stand upon Jefferson srock at Harper S
Ferry and look upon the magnificent landscape
to be seen from that point. 1t is worthy, we
think, Of all Mr. Jefferson has said oft; but
grand as it is, there are other points along the
comb OF the Blue Ridge, from which we may
gaze upon scenes superior to this IN beauty and
sublimity. :,
There is an old grey rock, crowned with a
battered piDe-tree, which looks as old as the
rock itself, on the top Of the Ridge not tar
from the Shanoudale road, from which can be
seeu at one time, eleven different counties 10
Maryland and Virginia. This rock, bald and
bare, except tor the pine-tree which has clune
to it through the storms OF so many years.
beetles over a yawning, rugged cllasm down IN
to which we may look upon the tops of the
ral!est trees dwnded to shrubs by the dis
tapce, and up from whose dreamy depths. ever
comes a mystical, musical, murmur which sub
dues the soul as we listen, into halowed
melancholy like the voice Of the wind
through forest of trees.
Through one part of the glorious landscape,
spread ont, over hill and dale, and field and
forest, steals the Shenandoah river, around
the base of wooded spur, and amid the dap
pied shadows of glen and valley ln another
we can catch glimpse of the Potomac, so tar
away, that it seems frozen into stiffness upon
its bed of cascades. But we have not the
time or space to dwell upon this splendid
view 1t is far superior, We thiuk, to Harpers
Ferry. 1t must be seen to be appreciated.
In fact from almost any knob, or spuror cliff,
of this beautiful chain Of Mountains, a view
may be obtained which will far more than pay
for the time and toll it would need to reach
these points of observation. And yet how few
of our own people know, or care anything
about them.
We were riding the other day across the
Ridge, on the Pike from Leesburg to Wlnches-
ter and stopped accidentally at point from
which by turning in one direction we could see
the whole of the Loudoun Valley, and then 10
another the grandest and richest part OF the
Valley of Virginia.
1t was scene upon which lover of the
beauties of nature could feast his eyes, without
WEAKNESS, for hours. The mountain here fat.
tens into table land-arrable and unobstruced
with rocks or gorges-which would afford
most beautiful site for Mountain House-tor
accommodation of summer boarders.
Health lives in the pure air whi;h clrculateS
around these Mountain heights. A perennial
beauty mantes the scenery around with ever
changing and varying light and shadows
hues and groupings, never-faillng spring
brings water pure and cool from the deep re-
cesseS of the mountaln-water when never
needs any additions to make it delightfully."- pal
atable.
There could be no more charming place than
this for the citizen Of the heated, and dusty
towns 10 spend the summer, if it was properly
improved, and we do hope that when the en-
ergy and financial skill of Mr.. Mckenzie shall
have brought the W. IL O r. R. safely TO SDlck
ersvlle, that some far sighted, sagacious, man
of business will see this speculation In It's true
light, and give us a mountain house upon this
lovely spot. 1t would be paying speculation
to the railroad company itself.-Loudom En-
te4prtse
A SERMON IN A PARAGRAPH.-Presde
Porter, of Yale, gave the following advice to the
students Of that institution the other day:
Young men, you are the architects OF your
own fortunes. Rely upon your own strength of
body and soul. Take for your star, sef-reliance ian
Subscribe on your banner. Luck is "a fool, Pluck
is a hero Don't take too much advice-keep
at your helm and steer your own ship, and re-
member that the great art of commanding IS to
take fair share Of the work. ThlDk well OF
Yourself. Strike out. Assume your OWN posi-,
ton Put potatoes in a cart, over rough road
and the small ones go to the bottom. Rise
above the envious and jealous. Fire above the
mark you intend to hit. Energy, invlnclble
determination, with right motive, are the
levers that move the world. Don't drink
W.
deceive. Don't read novels Don marry until
YOU can support a wife. Be in earnest Be
self reliant Be generous Be civil. Read
the papers Advertise your business. Make
money, and do good with it. Love your God
and fclow-men Love truth and virtue
Love your country and obey its laws.
If this advice is implicitly followed by the
young men of the country, the millennium Is
near at hand.
A GRAND SCENE.-A correspondent, writing
from Heury Lake, in Montana, describes the
locality as a scene of wonderful grandeur. The
lake is situated In the Rocky Mountains, at an
altitude of 1000 feet above the level OF the sea-
Looking from high peak near this body of
water he saw the panorama OF the most Won-
deriul region known to man. For within scope
of the eye from that point-havlng their origin
in Lake Henry-are the sources OF hive great
rivers born, as it were in the same little lake,
and drinking all from the same small spring.
Here the elowstone, Snake and Green rivers,
as we'll as Clark's Fork, Wind river, Madison
and Gallatin, start together leaping and bound
ing 10 great cataracts and rushing in every di-
rection to empty themselves into the Pacific
and Atlantic oceans Beyond low mountain
to the southeast the eye falls upon the specta,
Gle of the steam ascending from the geeysers, to
mipele with the clouds. This, exclams the
correspondent, in burst OF enthusiastic won
dermeut. lis the real end Of the world
DECREASE OF STREAMs.-Of the cutting
down of forest trees which is so constantly go
ing forward in this country, William Cullen
Bryant says 1T is common observation thai
our summers are becoming drler and oul
streams smaller Take the Cuyahoga as an IL
ustratioa. Fifty years ago large barges loaded
with goods went up and down that river. Now
in the ordinary stage of the water, a skltt car
hardly pass down the stream. Many boat o.
fifty tons burden has been built aud loaded IL
the Tuscarawas, at New Portage, aud sailed t.
New Orleans without breaking bulk Now the
river hardly affords supply of water at New
of other streams They are drying up. Anc