Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-07-12
letter from Mad River Valley.

NtNteidiAi az ulu MOST ui tli' E'"" l''i'' W '''
country, in one way or another Bat didn't SO
To Burlington, nor to Mortified where they cele-
brated in a becoming manner nor yet to Warren
to the picnic which, by the way was the only
public gathering the patriotic citizens Of Mad
River valley could get up this Centennial year
II We except the Centennial ball at Moretowni ON
Monday evening, when " mine host ~ treated his
guests to supper, after the style Of ye olden
time lntatoos and meat green PEAS and GU
cumbcrs etc, served without napkins.
Well, have told you where didn't celebrate,
and now will tell whore did 60 Accompanied
by few friends we climbed the heights-ormore
strictly speaking, our horses climbed them-
where, like Moses on Mount Pisgah, we could
view, II not the promised land, yet q land Of much
promise. This slightly cmincnco has never been
honorcd by the name Of mouniria, nor indeed any
name until christcnod 1t yesterday, Prospect
IHu."
Away To the SOUTH E,st and West rises from
Mad River Valley tier ON tier Of hills partly
wooded aud partly cultivated, With dwellings dot
ting the landscape, while ON the South these hills
merge into the dense green of Lincoln Mountain,
which rises sharp and abrupt against the sky, the
bare, bold rocks Of the Green Mountain Slide
very plainly visible rhi. slide took place in
lSD, after q protrncted rain, when the soil he
came detached from it- rocky bed, and started OF \
on nm exploring expedition ON ~ own RESPONSE |
bility sweeping everything before II, in rs de-
scent leaving behind il the bare rocks and soil /
naked Of any ycstige II vegetation for nearly |
mile The shock Of the descent was felt for miles, |
and heard with the distinctne-s Of heavy thun-
der It Is now grown over somewhat with such |
bushes ~ can find root among the rocks, but l. an
object Of curious interest, and attracts numerous
visitors Yet not so many as it should There |
have been several smaller slides SINCE which are I
also plainly visible. little farther 10 the East |
Of these lies the basin Of Grand Hollow" in
Warren, bat here on Prospect Hin We see little Of
the basin which Is concealed nom our view 10y |
lofty hill that juts down over precisely like the
mountains around Willoughby lake. one who has
ever visited Wiloughby cannot but be struck /
with the resemblance Still farther east are RoN-
bnry and Norhlcld mountains but farther away |
and not 20 distinct on in the southwest is the |
Notch, where the road lasso- over The mountain
into Scarborough, Towards the north our view |
is obstructod D., woods
How / wished that every dWeller among brick |
and mortar might have stood with u- on Prospect
I'LL, and viewed the grand yet lovely panorama
spread before u.s. But the irowuing, angry clouds
scudding fercely along old lincolu'- brow warned
Us that we must not lnger for We had already
taken refuge from one heavy shower in barn.
and wished 10 reach home before another over
took III; AZ we reluctantly bado goodbye Ia Pros
pect Hill
il orr patriotic citizens had showed their en-
thusiasm for the Centennial Fourth with cannons
and frc-cIackcrs, We should doubtlcs. lave Joined
l a. { Int Ito
/ good q way b. celebrate a- any for the memory
Of beautiful prospect fingers in the mind long
after the noise and busue attendant on a grand
celebration has passed away do not think YER
monters appreciate their birthright Of beautiful
scenery certainly not til they have been ban
ished awhile where the landscape Is tame and in
sipd Surely Our characters otght to be grander
and more perfectly developed than another poo
pie, reared as we are amid the lofty and soul-in-
spring beauty Of nature How a soul be
mean and grovelling that had its birth among our
grand old mountains and hills
But as Lucier, even amid the delights OF
heaven, fell from his high estate and became
base, will many among MS sodownward instead
Of aspiring upwards
But excuse this rhapsody began to write Of
celebrating the Fourth Of July, and lind myself
like ministers have heard preach so far away
from my text that must make an abrupt turn to
/ get back to my subject Seriously | can but re
gret that the citizens Of Mad River valley did not
| feel patriotic enough to have celebrated the day
with spirit this centennial year waitsiied Is the
central town OF the valley, aud had all the towns
united there in carrying out the idea suggested by
| the President, there would have been a pleasant
and profitable time enjoyed Perhaps the inhab-
| itants will be more patriotic at our next Centen-
uial; but we shall none Of Us be here to see
June has been a splendid month with u.s. rather
warm for comfort, but vegetation, which our cold
May left in such backward state has leaped for
ward with rapid strides aud bids fair for abun-
dant harvest The hay crop looks splendidly bat
whether il will really be much better than usual,
remains to he proved Strawberries have been
unusually plenty but like other good things are
passing away but the promise for other small
/ fruits is excellent The gentleman from Colorado
! like other unwelcome GUESTS intruding him
l self where his room wonld be esteemed more
highly than his company for nearly every potato
field has some Of the pests that have done so much
mischief elsewhere The farmers seem To be about
equally divided between the policy Of using Paris
green To fight the Intruder or in letting them
have their own way 1t Is now so late in the
season that many have hopes that the crop will
not be greatly injured this year, but next year
may look out for them to be on hand bright and
early.
It was correspondent Of the WTrmAS, /
think, who recommended keeping poultry in the
potatoe patch 10 clear ont the bugs, and said they
would keep curant bushes free from currant
worms. Now we have had no experience with
{ 81 INIT 1 l.l 4 fla
rant worm has been costly, for they have denuded
the bushes Of leaves year after year, until most of
the bushes are dead-and that too when our
hens and chickens had free run Of the garden, and
helped themselves freely, Hoi To the worms, as |
could discover, but to the few curraats the worms
had left Perhaps, however they may thrive on
the poiatoe bugs and II they relish them the
problem Of saving the po;aioe crop easily solved
More anon. L. n.
RoNBuRY The reform club is prospering; new