Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-08-05
summit House,
Mr. WASHINGTON, July %. 1876.

Mr. WASHINGTON, July "a. 1876.
EDITOR OPINION !; Sitting here
in the Office by u hot fire, II Ia hard
to conceive that only u few miles
from us in the valleys below, II 10 &c
terribly hot as reports tell us. The
temperature to-day In thirty.three
aud ranges at this season Of the
year from about thirty.hve to sixty,
four degrees above zero. In pleas
ant weather when the sun shines
out warm, it Is delightful to 60 ou,
upon the rocks aud with q good
glass, scan the mountains aud vat
leys from the Green Mountains IN
Vermont to the long straight line Of
the ocean in the East. "Crag heap
ed on crag with many a fiery rif\
and hoary summit" The vast OK,
tent and magnitude Of the stretch
of country seen from the summit il
almost overwhelming. In a clear
day we can sec way to the West
Mount Malay in Canada, over one
hundred miles away; also Mount
Katahdin in Maine, while nearer al
hand are mountains nameless and
numberless. We feel like exclaim
ing with Emerson.
EVERY morn lift my head
Gaze ON New England widespread,
South from st. Lawrence to the Sound
From Catskill East to the sea bound
Ina clear day the ocean looks like
u long line of silver, and by the aid
of IL glass, Portland city and bay
and point Elizabeth beyond are
brought into plain view. We eau
even count the steeples Of the
churches aud see the vessels in Port
land bay.
Distances are very deceptive here
and what looks to the eye accustOm.
ed to judging distances in the low
er lands, to he not more than a hun
dred yards distant, we learn in as
constituent and to our cost if we at
tempt the trip, to be from eight to
ten miles from us. Tuckerman's
Ravine is one of the points of in
terest, ono mile and u half from the
summit and after the hard tramp
over the rocks, the traveller feels
doubly repaid for his pains by the
view from the edge of the ravine.
1t is gorge many hundred feet in
depth walled up on either side by
the everlasting hills and covered
with acres of snow ut the bottom.
1t is dangerous to attempt making
the trip without a guide, on account
of the thick fog or clouds that some.
times settle down almost without
a moments warming.
Yesterday afternoon after the
storm, it cleared Oft beautifully and
we enjoyed the best view of the sea,
son. About five o'clock went over
to the Signal Station and after chat.
ting a moment took the glass and
went out to look at the ocean, but
the impenetrable mist had come 80
quickly and covered everything 50
completely that we could not see
half a dozen rods. Sergeant Line
and Private King make this their
home through summer and winter
in the service Of tile government,
taking observations each day aud
by Telegraph to the observ.
er at Boston. They are men of rug.
ged constitutions else they could
not endure the extreme cold and
hardships of the winter. At the
present time they have their families
with them. 1t seems a queer place t.,
raise babies, but Mr.. Lines little
girl, the little Mountain Maid as we
call her, does not seem to regard it
amiss and is doing finely. People
visiting the Signal Station are struck
with surprise Vt sight Of q baby Gar.
riage on Mt. Washington. Some of
the questions asked ly them are ex.
treluely ridiculous. A gentleman
addressing Mr.. King the other morn
ing said, "Why MIR. King did you
live through last winterW "Well,
l believe So" answered King and
gave hin his arm to feel Of, as in
the case of scepticaI Thomas.
Miss Lizzie Bourle's monument
is only q short distance from the
Summit House down the line Of rail
road. A pyramid OF rocks and a
board stating age, &C., mark the
spot where this unfortunate young
lady persisted.
A few evenings ago we were ia.
vored with sight which probably
the most of Us will meyer have the
pleasure of Witnessing again. While
promenading the platform, we sud-
denly saw ourselves reflected on thu
All the people In the house
came to see, aud whatever we did.
the figures responded &C. shaking
hats and hallukerchiefs, walking,
&c., mimicing us most per-
tectly. 1t was wonderful sight
and one long to be remembered.
Sometimes the cloud which We were
reflected on would be at a distance
and then would come within doz.
ell rods, when the figures would be
Of gigantic size. We could even
count our fingers and thumbs al we
held out our hands. AS the sun
sank lower the phantoms became
more indistinct and finally faded en-.
Lirely from sight. Cor0nae is the
ATTN name for this phenomena.
About seventy persons stopping
here at the Summit House were ia.
vored with a splendid sunset last
evening and All equally fine sunrise
his morning, followed about five
o'clock by a fall of four inches of
snow which still remains on the
and most prominent noun
aims adjacent. The weather is now
clearing aud when the sun
Freaks through the mist a magnifi-
cent view is afforded. These par.
.ial views are considered by some
n ho tho fpoSt nc xv1nu tho sv1, olx,