The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-08-26
For the Register.
From the Quaker CITY.
A TRIP To VALLEY FORGE.
Philadelphia. Aug :. 1873.

TRIP TO VALLEY FORGE.
Philadelphia. Aug 8, 1878.
When a lad the words valley Forge
to me we're OF impressive sieuifcance,and
we're probably to thousands of other boys,
from reading and hearing recital OF the
sufferines Of our heroic revolutionary
troops at that point in the winter of l777
but had then no idea Of ever visiting that
historic spot. On the oath ult., with n
friend, Mr.. Edwards, took the cars OF the
Germantown Branch Of the Reading Rail- !
road at Ninth and Green Streets, and
we're soon outside the built up portion OF
the city. After short run, deserted on
our left, the northern bluff Of picturesque
Laurel Hill," with its countless throng
of shining monuments pointing heaven.
ward, and indicating an unseen city oil
the dead. In few minutes afterward
VIC were in the dcfles Of Wissahickon,
through which the creek Of that name
bounds, leaps and splashes, until at the
foot of the precipitous hillside its foam
ing waters are comming,ed with those OF
the quiet Schuylkill. Our iron horse soon
wbirlcd us among and into the businesses
of the rock. ribbed suburbs Of Manyunk,
whose precipitous and narrow gorges re-
minds one Of the description of the an
cient Thermopylae, through which Spar
tan band could scarcely pass. | was sur.
prised to find such romantic, wild and
Jagged scenery so near the great town.
We soon emerged into more open coun-
try, the Valley of the Schuylkill. Still
farther on passed through the thriving
manufacturing village OF Conshohocken
these three last towns retain their Indian
names. About eight miles farther on,we
reached the large and handsome village
of Norristown, it being the residence Of
Gov. Hartranft, and situated something
similar to that Of Burlington, Vt.-the
upper portion of the town being much
higher than the water front. AT this
point we cross the Schuylkill at our left
and strike the Reading Railroad proper.
About four miles farther on the train
slows and the conductor cries out, " Val
ley Forge" We alighted and proceeded
up the main street alongside Valley Forge
Creek. Here is dam that produces back
water for nearly threc.fourths Of mile,
with towering aud wooded hills on either
side, with just room for tho creek, which
flows smoothly, and II nice and smooth
wagon roadway.
After walking up the road awhile and
viewing the creek and its surroundings,
we returned and proceeded to visit the
"pic.nic grounds" where we encountered
large party that had come out from the
heated city in one of the morning trains,
and appeared to be enjoying the situation
hugely The location or headquarters
was on wooded and finely shaded side
hill, nearly hundred feet above and to
the east Of the village; here was erected
raised platform about thirty feet square,
on which were number of gents and Ia
dies " tripping the light fantastic toe in
executing waltzcs, polkas. !igs, &c, keep
ing time with n brass and string band.
After little we deserted an outside show
operating on terra firma in near proximi.
ty to the dancing platform. On approch.
ing, we found a play in full operation,
which they here call the Copenhag-
en- play but which in Addison County
we called the "string play" With.
out boasting, your humble correspond.
ent was aioretime reckoned some
thing Of an expert at that play
among the fair ones in Bat donation
parties and similar gatherings. Remark.
ing that fact to my friend at my elbow
he quickly responded, Why don't you
pitch in?' was obliged to substitute
" the will for the decd" as in taking q
scrutiniziDg look at the fair damsels, and
slight one at the gents, could not re
cognize familiar phiz, although living
in the same community, and therefore
concluded it would be breach Of comit,
or rather etiquette, to introduce mysel
into tho arena, and was consequently
obliged to forego participation in hit
ting and kissing, &C. But to be more re
; served, we now left the picnic party fo
season and commenced the ascent o
Valley Forge Hill, as they call it, with
= blazing sun pclting our backs. We n
= length reached the crest or apex of tn
ridge, and the panoramic view was su
perb Directly west is succession 0
hills, but northwestery and north far be
low US was spread out before our viev
the valley Of the Schuylkil. That beau
tiful river could be traced for mile
9 through slightly ascending and some
what undulating section of country. an
the long coal trains on the Reading Rail
road could be seen threading their wa
:, along the edge of that shining and spark
= ling waterway and far in the distanc
could be seen the ascending and hoaiip
columns Of smoke, minglng with III
. light and fcccy clouds that skirrcd til
i low western horizon, which procee1e
from the great and extensive iro
works at Ph@nixvilc. After viewin
= the fine scenery in that direction, "
" faced about " aud took look eastwar,
= there was presented to our view va'
r sweep of vision. The general contour
: the country was slightly undulating, al
y pareutly u fine farming section. Will
d out any telescopie aid We could discel
e in the far off distance-23 miles-in Il
blue and hazy outline, the towering dom
and spires Of Philadelphia.
A. Standing on these memorable height
'e with such an outlook, and medtating {
b the great historic facts handed dow
'91 through the political century now closn
Of the patriotism, valor and suffering
~ those saiDted heroes. that hero 10 the
Ut trenches died that we might live, it su
u, charged the mind with emotion, al
- seemed their spirits could not be Ear ava
'h and that we could nearly hear them VIII
per, maintain unHinchingly that {
~ which we laid down our lives to help i
~ " augurate, and transmit uumpaired to Il
III coming generations those great orgar
principles of which we here helped Il