Middletown transcript., 1874-10-24

great orders of border chivalry. the
skimmers and the COW boys. Nyack q
thriving village; Piermont, Rockland
Lake, Croton river, Tellers Point and
Haverstraw Bay were all places of in
terest seen on our trip. It was quite
amusing at times, when there was any
nne who seemed to be familiar with the
surroundings. and was overheard to
make explanation to some others, to see
hoA everyone would rush toward that
part of the boat to hear him Their
rushing reminded me great deal Of a
large poultry yard at feeding time.
Everybody seemed carried away with
| excitement. At this time man and
woman had an equal curiosity Stranger
or no stranger. the enlightened party
would have to rehearse and re-rehea se
the same story. followed BY the an
swering Of many reduplicated questions.
said but little, but ssf
Il would out-stare the sternest eyes that look.
And now as the boat keeps continually
floating through the smooth and dimp-
ling stream and the cool breezes con-
stsutly arise from the noiseless tide.
onward-onward gliding, passing first
Stony Point and then the Peekskill.
the latter known as the spot where
Nathan Palmer. the spy, was hung
The Highlands another division is ap-
preached, here for miles the Hudson is
said to play "hide and seek with hills
rock ribbed and ancient al the SUM-
Scenery and history are colleagues
among the Highlands. Anthony's
Nose is prominent feature. having
height Of 1900 feet. near which remains
hole in rock where the end of q
chain was thrown across the river to
barricade the British ships in time Of
the revolution. In this vicinity, stands
West Point percbed many feet above
the river but obscured from view. as it
seems to be situated on the opposite
side of one Of the peaks. To this point
will be added interest when We remem-
Der it was in Benedict Arnold's com
mand at the time Of his treachery so
familiar to every school boy. Not far
ahead, we have view Of sloping New
burgh; an old looking city but ccr-
taiiufy an active one. There was enc
feature of the city that particularly
struck our notice, viz the narrowness
Of the streets. All the streets running
at right angles to the rivef (which
were the only ones we could see.) l
doubt whether they would measure
more than 8 feet from curve to curve.
Just to the left Of this city is an old
house, known as Washington's Head
Quarters Of which | have spnken above
We were informed that there we're
many relicts Of the revolution in this
building. 1t is not long now ere We
reach the picturesque scenery Of the
hillsides extending SO far beyond US.
Now we see. the queen city Of the
Hudson-Poughkeepsie" said to have
10 different ways Of spelling its name.
1t has population Of about rs, 900 iu-
habitants aud noted particularly for its
intelligence aud refined society. Far
ther to the northwest, gazing down
upon US il Significance as it we're, is
the lofty and imposing Catskill. OF
all the scenery of the Hudson the Cats
kill have the most wonderful effect
upon an imaginary mind. At once.
was reminded of that verse which reads
"And soon the Catskill point the distant
sky,
And DER their airy tops the faint clouds
driven,
So softly blending that the cheated eye
Now questions which is earth or which is |
heaven"
As we slowly foated along sitting upon
the deck watching them, it now raining
very hard, We could imagine that the
black clouds which at this time cnvel-
Dped us to be fairly opened and bursted
asunder by their lofty peaks. The
damp and hasy atmosphere obscured
of their beauty but there
still remained those objects which de-
light an esthetic faculty. At one time
hey would seem 10 approach; at an
other to recede. For a while they
would appear as a vast and variegated
scene in unbroken stiffness. and thus
until like other objects of in
crest they were left in the distance
Look when you wish and where you
will; on one or both sides of the river,
rom one terminus to the other you
will always have before you either
grandeur. sublimity. picturesque. re-
pose or beauty. Like the mountains of
Greece. they will call forth the admira-
ion Of any modern traveller. Suffice
q conclusion th-t there is peculiar
;harm about the whole scenery that no
lialect can express. Nature seems to
;hallenge the power of language. And
While acknowledging hundred other
ntert sting places unmentioned can
Tot refrain from adding that 'sneed
lever an American look beyond his own