The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-09-18
Letter from POkeepsie.
PoKEEpsIE, N. Y, August 22o

from lar away COLORADO, ot from this modest
little "Queen City" up ON tie Hudson.
We will first go back TO Washington when,
with the approaching cheated term, the super
fluous floating population began to stuff off,
leaving behind the poor unfortunates, tied to
business, languid and eneryated.
After winter of sightseeing and gaiety, and
little insight into politics, and lobbying, and
wire-pulling, we were only 100 glad, on the last
day of june to see the dome grow beautifully
less in the distance, and find ourselves once more
"on the wing" had visions of q delightful
sojourn on the Hudson, while one very dear 10
| me was penetrating the wilderness and climbing
the mountain Businesses of Colorado and New
Mexico laying in rich store of negatives from
| that region of wondrously grand and sublime
scenery, procured only by an immense amount
of hardship, toll and privation, penetrating the
wilds never before visited by the white man,
| and where the denizens Of the forest are sole
| monarchs-but am diverging
One nights ride brought us near the city of
Beccher-Tilton, and the Sun rose smilingly over
the fiat, fertile fields of Jersey dotted with
farm houses surrounded by trees, heavily laden
with fruit.
New York seemed dull; the creme de Ia creme
had evidently undergone the Swimming process,
and much of it was conveyed to cooler parts,
where there was less danger 81 souripg. What
was left looked disturbed.
After refreshing Ourselves iuwardly and out
wardly at ting Metropolitan, we sauntered down
Broadway, finding our way into art galleries
great artist The evening found lis at Barnum's
Hippodrome q heightened circus on grand
scale. We were transported at once to Rome,
and could almost imagine ourselves in an am
phitheatre awaiting the entrance Of the Glada.
tors. Were this institution not Barnum's, the
moral-loving people of New York would not
tolerate these dangerous performances, and
even now they arc severely censured by the
Press.
Early next morning we boarded the "NIary
Powell" and steamed out from amongst myriads
of ships, sloops, boats, &c, which crowded the
dock, and soon found ourselves upon the broad
waters of the glorious Hudson. Many time had
taken this trip in imagination in my young, 70.
mantle days, but never in reality, until | had
been and returned from "beyond the setting
sum- had seen the ''noble red man. in his wig
wan, and gathered wild flowers from fine bill
lowy prairie, Surely, there is time for all
things.
Upon our boat were many tourists, feld-glass
es in hand, eagerly looking for the first object of
! note, and they did not have to wait long, for
soon came in sight the Elysan Fields sloping
to the river, aud beyond these was one contnu-
ed succession of beauty and interest, until we
stepped out upon the wharf at Pokeepsic. The
day was clark and sad and drearie," but the
people were "briSht and gay and chcerie," and
determined not to allow their tempers to be ruff
fled by the damp East wind.
Soon the Palisades came in view, and the
crowd grew enthusiastic; here the scenery is
truly grand. These high perpendicular walls
rise some 600 feet out of the water and extend
| along the river about twenty miles.
would be unmindful that brcvity was the
| soul of wit did attempt TO describe all the
classical and historical grounds VIC passed, but
| must not omit mentioning the we'll known
names of Irving and N. 2. Willis, and the
more recent and magnificent residences of Bier
| stadt, VIM. b. Astor, Win. Aspinwall, Hamil.
ton Fish and other prominent, wealthy men.
| We passed West Point on the west side of the
| river, high up on the bectling brows of over
hanging rocks, nearly hidden by the trees, and
near it Kosciusco's Monument.
| Entering the highlands, what q scene lay on
| either side of US; the almost mountains loom up
in the grey misty atmosphere.
"And ever wakeful echo hrte doth dwell,
The nymph ofsportivc llockery, that still
Hides behind every nook in every DELL
And softly glides unsee, from hill to hill"
Here the Hudson for twenty miles plays hide
seek with hills rock rbbei and ancient as the
sun.
But we soon found ourselves at Pokeepsie,
situated upon plateau some 200 feet above the
| river, and with population of twenty thons (
and inhabitants. From College Hill we get a
fine view of the city, nearly hidden by trees, and
following the course of the river northward, the
Catskils rise blue and phantom-like in the dis
lance One mile above the landing are the wa
ter-works and the Insane Asylum the same dis
lance above. Vassar College, huge, dark
| sombre pile lies beneath us on the low, flat
land. One would imagine the learned Swans
would have been more hgh-minded when choos.
ing their location This city is celebrated for
its fine colleges and scminarics.
After some weeks in PokcepSe we extended
our trip up the river, which grows narrower
and the Catskills continue on some distance, and
away up near the summit of one of the highest
peaks is the Mountain House, looking like q
white speck of snow. About six z. NJ. our boat
| struck the pier at Albany; this is the highest
point they REACH and We with the rest made
rush for the cars bound for Saratoga, and were
|
| highly cultivated country. 1t only took an hour
to reach Troy, where we remained over night
and got glimpse of the manufacturing city,
part of which is built upon the sloping side of u
high bluff, commanding magnificent view Of
the lower portions, the river and the towns
along the shore opposite. Like most northern
cities, it is plentifully supplied with fine orna,
mental trees, which add both to its beauty and
healthtulness.
| From Troy we proceeded to Saratoga, the
great Spa Of America, and ! was surprised to
| find instead of village, quite little city of
| twelve thousand inhabitants, Independent of
the great influx Of pleasure seekers during the
| summer months. 1t wears Il business-likc air,
and its principal street, Broadway, was scene
| of confusion and commotion, especially near
the hotels, which are on either side, and present
| an imposing appearance.
The States" as it is called has been recent
| ly rebuilt and is a magnificent affair. 1t, with
| all the others, save one have been demolished
| by fire, several have been burned twice. The
| parlors at the States are indeed splendid and
the dainty feet that press over the velvet carpets
| have tripped gaily over those equally rich in
| their own halls ut home.
Here is congregated the wealth and fashion of
| the land the ladies vieing with each other in
the spendor of their toilets Diamonds worth
Il fortune, and costly laco5 meet the eye in every
| direction, but we take ourselves away from this
| bewildering scene and 20 on to the mineral
springs, grouped in differ parts of the city,
and taste of the-at tirst-distasteful water, and
saunter about with the rest of the pilgrims to
this health, giving shrine.
| The Geyser Springs are mile or two from the
| city, and are very beautiful and curious and lust
as medicinal as the others. While here we
| drove to the renowned Saratoga lake, beauti-
full sheet of water three miles long "a very little
GeDeya-and alighting, descended the slope to
| the waters edge Little pleasure boats rocked
| languidly on the stilled waters and Il large
i burly terrppin. shaped affair with camp chairs
| under the awning held the Judges at the celebra-
ted races. How silent everything seemed now,
not even n faint echo of the forty thousand hur-
| rahs, which sounded sin ultaneously as the Co.
lumbia rounded the point, and came off victori
Gus, her excited captain dropping almost life
| less in the midst of his fortunate crew. When
all was over, ten Thousand persons were left to
foot it two miles back to town and they formed
| into platoons, and did ii In a soldierly way
| though it was fatigue march. On the road 10
the Lake the races were in order, and crowds
were eagerly and enthusiastically watching the
| results.
We passed the Indian encampmcnt which is
Il feature Of attraction, and but few visit Sara
toga without bringing away some ofthese pref
| ty mementoes These Canadian Indians are
civilized and educated, and strongly contrast
with the ne plus ultra sayages of the plains
We did Saratoga in fw days, coming away
reluctantly, and with hopes OF long purses in
the future, with the accompanying diamonds,
laces, &C.; but this is womanly weakness. On
ly a few days in Pokeepsie, for the cool days
more, to "My Maryland" L. p. JACKSON.