National Republican., 1875-07-23
AMONG TIE HILLS. ~
From Warrington t, the Banks Of the sus-
duAhanna.

rspecial Correspondence of National Republican,
GRKArBEND,' PA, July %; 1875.
Northwsrd bound the train moves out Of the
Baltimore and Potomac depot and in q moment
more enc finds ones self rattling through the
densely Inhabited highways of the capital, sud
denly dRshing into the damp depths Of the tun-
need metropolis, and again rushing out into light
and life, surrounded By the myriad charms Of ma
ture which the frultfal summer months calforth.
Northward bound, and ere the moments have
numbered hours we are traveltag the serpentine
route of the iron horse, up and over, around and
through the towering hills Of Pennsylvania. On
we rumble, sweeping with q deep, dull roar
around the base of overroaching cliffs, moving
with 9 smooth, soft glide through wide expanse
ofvalley, dashing with resembling echoes through
mountain tunnels, now nesting meath
THEsHApE OF WOODLAND HILLS,
now busting into sunlight, with the monotone
cIfck.clueE Of the steelraIl ever beating against
the tympanum with unchanging Persisteney.
Beyond, as far as the eye can penetrate In the
rocky cut Of the Delaware, where fer ages the
waters had oattled against granite and flint and
triumph, it burst asunder the gigantic barrier
and swept calmly through q valley Of Arcadian
beauty and loneliness. Along the picturesque
river We hurry climbing the broad side of the
Titan pocona, sweeping smoothly over Its summit
and then darting with wonderful rapidity down
the far-reaching grade which leads into pleas
ant valley stretching away towards the snthra-
cite region Of Luferne, with its frOTning noun
'tai1s and grim-lookng pits OF coal
Presently there is a sonorous rambling ahead,
and quickly from daylight to darknessve make
a transition into the surrounding vault OF
gloomy tunnel. 1t takes all kinds Of people to
I'LL a passenger car properly. Simultaneously
with the sudden change timId woman OF nearly
two hundred pounds avoirdupois, who was quietly
Shrek Of surprise and clutched us BY the collar
with one hand, and used the other IN partially
successful attempt to penetrate our neck with
parasoI. As we shot out Of this
sUBTERRANEAN PASSAGE
she hurrieGly withdrew herself from our person,
crying, thank God, but thought every minute
would be ny next" The passengers smiled
The shadows Of twilight came closing in upon
us with the beautiful vale Of Wyoming passing
far away TO the southward, and the hills whicn
borcer the Wyalusing rolling grandly up on
either side mass Of geological wonder. Such
.ponderous buttresses Of rock, such over-hauging
cliffs, such deep.tangled wildwood, such astoral
nooks and sportive stTeamlets are seldom looked
upon even among the most beauteous endoW-
ments which nature has so richly laYished upon
this land Of sunshine and flowers.
Northward Ebound, and night oyertakes US as
the iron steed moves steadily on Its serpentlne
ourselves in the heart Of a-begriumed Scranton.
Gas-lights flicker In the murky atmosphere of the
summer midnight; there is slack in the speed
of the train; the breaks and wheels struggling
for the mastery; jerk and sudden check, q sharp
twapging squeak, and we are at a stand-stil1.
The great rolling shops and iron factories stand
ont against the horizon in gloomy array. The
busy industry Of the most Of these Is hushed. The
noisy wheels, the rattling clogs, the shuffiing
belts and slow-putting engines are motionless and
still. Row and then
ABOVE THE TTRAoIL
which exists in the immediate vIcIaity of the
depot can be heard the emphatic tbuds of the
TO extricate the carboDiferous treasures from
the earth. The platform presents spectacle
Of animation that isn't the least indicative Of
sleepiness. Travellers attached to carpet bags
and umbrellas dash here and into some one in
search of something which they imperatively
need and find many things which they had rather
not. The Dewsboys break loose upon the scene
and add noise to confusion. The twinkle Of q
policemsns star is seen somewhere in the distance
at one end ofthe car while another oZes out at
the other extremity; bustling conversation en-
sues, sacks and umbrellas, bundles and boxes are
tossed about irrespective OF costs or contents.
Presently all aboard is audible above the racket
without, rattling Of the break is heard as 1t
slips its grasp upon the wheel; a long narrow
cloud Of swelling smoke rolls slowly back upoa
the scene, and in twinkling we are once more
northward boand, vending our way through q
tortuous route that will soon guide US to
TEE SCENIC BEAUTIES
of the Susquehanna. Two hours more and we
are on the banks Of the river, in the picturesque
town OF Great Bend, which nest les in forest
shades in basin formed by chain Of towering
Arcadia here-like charmed spot Of nature,
lying upon the slOping banks Of an inland river.
The heavy foliage which borders its shores go
hem the waters in that It appears at first glance
to be bit of Loeb Lommond, into which the
north shores gradually slope with green sward
TO its maEgiu, and the west and east the wood
land bills, piling heavenward, seem a proper |
setting for the slopng banks below and the |
Sunday quiet of the crystallic stream. Noisy
rivulets come dashing down from the mountain
heights, and. mingling with the river, send their
whirling bubbles far out upon the bosom of the
stream. The bottomland Of the valley is covered
with mossy orcharding, waving fields Of grain
and spacious groves Of maple and birch, and
everything upon every hand works harmoniuusly
to make this spot charming summer home. D.