New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-08-25
SUMMER LEISURE.
IENOX.
w. c. W

A BEAUTIFUL CoUNTRY-SToCKBRiDGF-
FROM THE CITIEs-sUMMER LIFE.
[FRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
LEyox, Mass, Aug. 22.-This beautiful ana
quiet little town, amid the lOveliest OF New-bnElah"
landscapes has had but little prominence III American
history Named after the Duke OF LenOX IL seems 10
have slumbered undisturbed through Revolutionary
times History makes no mention OF the to"h' except
as place where convention met during shayss repei
lion in 1897 The old-fashoned town lies III beautr
mountain regOn-the Berkshire hills. Inc liousa'oho
Railroad lands the visitor within three miles OF the VII
lage The rest of the distance has to be mace by
and such stage! low that your neck aehes getting III
and ont so old that like Mr.. Holiness famous VENICE
it may at any day just collapse into heap OF dust' 80
decrent that its doors will shut and its wheels are
all on wobbe and squeak Certainly IL belongs WIN
WashingtOns servants and all other cenenaahs' at INC
Philadelphia Exhibition Like the stage, so is the only
hotel Of the place, very tumbledo"n AFFAIR." WIN
weatherstreaked wall paper and ceilings ana antique
closets bent with age. Though the hotel is old ana p
ire rooms are clean and good and the fare satisfactory
VIM s Curtis the present proprietor when asked why
he did not make engagements ana improvements,
decrcd the change us an infringement upon 'ne Pu''
and noffensive odfashionedness OF the Town. liz hhs
simply turned the old country tavern INTO "ouupc
hotel with accommodations for some 5Oodgers and table
room for 100 The majority of the guests are iougeu out
nj neirhborng cottages The town is very NeW-Engad
ish with wide streets and grand old elms and That per
vading atmosphere of quiet and rest which belongs 10 al
villages so Graded amid encrclng hills Win Only ono
hotel it is of cottages, and there are not oie
than three or four stores In the place.
Among its institutions are free public library anu
Town Hall where there might be dancing of an evening
could only some music be found. The gentlemen nave
very handsome clubhouse the main street near the
hotel which from its fresh paint ana fece. sVe
of architecture to be OF late growth. Wholly NJ discord
with the ancient spirit of the place Is he OF Soe 'e
cottages built like city row-the Auehmuty buuinS,
There 10 no space between them nor grass III 'front.' anu
they are about inappropriate as such ugly "oik VI
mans device can DC in contrast with so much OF
natural beauty and grace. These HOUSES arc
rented furnished, and the occupants get ''cii
meals at a nearby restaurant. Inc cOuh'r! SUI
rounding LenOx is magnificent III inc eAueno )
an orphitheater of picturesque hills, with the Housa
tonic River winding waywardly between Them Win long
stretches of deep still water aud sharp turns Oh NOISY
,,,shinr pehbly shadows. The hills which grow hazy
and purple with distance. do not rise INTO any i'i'
Atty Of hight or outline their mass pled up gives al
most level horizon six miles from Lenox, up hill and
down. lies sOckbridge-a very jewel OF llttie 'o"n-
right on the bank Of the river and creeping slowly UP
the BACKGROUND OF hills. Beyond its unusual natura
heaut the place contains nothing OF note except mon
ument of Jonathan Edwards. Stoekbridge is the home
of ali the SedgwcksMrs scdswick the authoress ana
all the other branches Of the family At present al on
The name have scattered fled except two families The
country between otockbrdGe and lenox and surround,
ing both Of these places is dotted with beautiful ana
costly villas, the property OF New-IOrk ana boston
Families OF wealth and high social stahuInH
| Between Stockbridge ana Lencx Mrs Charles Astor
Brsiod's ,a Iies gte 81, hcaIy Ihosn
of fr RathaOne, Mr.. Schermerhcrn Mr. llaGgerty, Mr.
| KneeIand and Mr. Lanicr of New-GOIk, ana of Mr..
| RObeson and Mrs. Hooker OF Boston, are the most
! elaborate The late Vim. II. AspinwGl owned natural
park OF 500 acres which he erected very hne
house, now owned and occupied by Mrs. WOlsty. Alr
Ldier's villa is the most beautiful cottage among many
others of remarkable beauty Near his house rises
round knoll the hight Of some 30 feet; on us Top ne
! has erected u suInmeT-hOuse, from which can DO Oh
| tanned a most MAGNIFICENT view OF tire surrounding
country lie has kindly thrown open to visitors ana
| made a drive up 10 the summit. The lana near
IenOx is very undulating, and affords moht elegant
stes for the villas, OF which pcIched on fOund
shaded hlJCps and others part way up sleeper ascchs
Two somewhat large lakes lend beauty 10 the scene
Mrs Frances Anne Kembc formerly occupied small
cottage near LenOx called the Perch, which she sold
some time ago She Is living at Curtss Hotel, very
rarely coming the table, ana engaged very
assduOusy In literary laDors Considerable ot cnfo5-
ity and old Landmark the house III the neShb0rood OF
| IenOx once owned by Nathaniel Hawthorne, In which
native tradition tells that he wrote The House OF seven
Gables" Ii doubt just such another place a. the
Manse' at COncOrdretircd and coy ana aiid sgses-
tive and inspiring scenery, where has shy ana nhoDtiu
sve character shOne in the best light, ana where his
literary abors could proceed without fear OF jar or dis
|