Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-10-02
a Visit 10 VT. Toby g..

Gus~ TOWER, MT. TOBY, SUNDERLAND,
MASS. sept 22l.
Dear Ph1RiJ According Ia promise !
take this opportunity TO give you an ac
count Of my first visit TO this temple in the
clouds. Many Of oar readers have seen in
the local papers, sketches OF this wonderful
place, which has slept for two centuries in
our very midst unknoWn aud unsought,
hui which Las mt last awak ened from it,
ielhirgy To find itself famous. Two hun
bred wears ago John Pynchern, of Spring
field. huucht Of Mettawanpe, n noted In
dian chief, TINS whole mountain and much
adjoining land for 40 iathnms OF wampum.
S.ucr thai time ii has been div idrd into va
riuu- tracts aud owned by many different
parties, bat has never been considered of
any great value, as ii was deemed almost
inaccessible. About two yeats since the
whole tract was purchased by Mi. l.. l..
Go-s OF Montague, farmer, humber dealer,
brick maker, sture-k eeper, depot master
Vc.. with the intention Of emitting oil the
wood and timb'r; but amer getting OIL
lrW hundred cords, aud realizing the very
supc.or advantages which the region af
lurdcd. he determined not 10 destroy more
nf its natural Beauty, but Ia take the nee
cN>irv measures 10 open its attractions to
thr world. The New London northern
rtilIual passes close I, the foot of the
mountain, aud Il station has cen built here
the past Summer Ter tho accommodation of
tourists. Near by are extensive picnic
grounds, Win fountains, swings, seats, la
| bles, aud all urcc ,>ary arrangements /;
while from thence has been constructed at
great eNprus" good carriage road tu the
summit, IA distance -; two miles. Your
| CORES poudcut rode from the base TO the
| tower IN auupcu buggy Win no other team
Strr than Miss of fourteen years, and We
made the trip up and down in perfect safe
~. Upon reaching the tower, our party
wa, conducted Ia the top 10y the gentleman
~ attendants, MCsSrs. Smith and Goddard
TO whose patience in answering questions
/ am "re4iiV indebted .ur Information en-
abiing ne la make up nay very ImpeI feet
| account. Standing on !hc top of the tow
| or, which j. sky lert hi-h, learn that we
are 1900 feet hhuye The ned "r the Connect
icul, auu 400 feet above the level of the
sea. TIC Connecticut valley, with lis nu-
nOruu> towns aud villages, i, spread he
fore lac eve in one vast cNpausc. Not a
sound, not leaf seems To- sir, but the
whole valley seems browsing and dream
inG in the mellow, golden Sunshine of this
matchlcSs day in September month of all
months ia the year. Not a ripple disturbs
the mirrur-lihe surface of the silvery Con-
| ueclicut. Even the noisy Deertield has
consented, for thi, uncc, to keep still. Some
sixty i've towns, in all, can be seen from
here. From Nurlnlirld on the north TO
Springfield on the south, all Intervening
town, dIe distinctly seen with the max ed
eye, while 10y the aid of the telescope we
can SEQ - Tar A. Hartford. \ very good
view of Ward,W"rlh lower on TalcUt
mountain wa, loiuted oul To- me. II has
bcou lately SAID, "No "nc can know the
Cunn"rt Cat valley uulil he has taken one
lupk nom G,~r'S tower"
Far away 10 the north wr discern the ia
miliir form al obi Ilay>ihck la Winning
luu, VI. la lha uorlhca,t frJwus Mhnad.
nurk, Stern ald -rim. In the east /, Wa
chu,et, win It's t"wer, when we plainly
sec hy the a,d of the glass. Ia the south
are Mt. lluiynAe and MI. Tom, the former
Of which i easily overlooked from this
point il being higher 10y spme 300 trrt. 10
tho westward We see Greylock, Saddle
back, and many lesser mountains, whose
names do not know, the intervening
space being tilied up with that ever varied
aspect of hill and dale, mountain, meadow
and stream, So familiar in New England
landscapes.
II is beyond the power of words 40 de,
scribe the vast panorama which Nature
here spreads oui for all who will but see.
1t is grand and glorious beyond conlpari-
son. After stopping here some two hours
turn reluctantly 10 descend, but the after
noon has PASSED rapidly away aud am
urged to stay a little longer and see the
sun set. ] wait and watch as il sinks slow
~ and maiestically down, down into the
dim distance, curlaining all the west with
purple and with gold so iiercely bright that
eye OF mortal might not lonk on it-pavil-
ion fitting for an angels home.
We do not need TO go abroad to witness
the grand and sublime in Nature, for we