Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-07-20
Why, | have nothing to do with him; he is
sent direct from the emperor to Dost Ma
homed of Cabul, and | am merely asked to
help him on his journey"
A Beccher In Solitude.

HE BUILDS HIMSELF A HorsE AND WILL SPEND
HIS DAYS IN THE ToREsT-FAILING TO
CHALK HIS CALENDAR, HE WORKS on Sun
DAY AND KEEPS rENITENTIAL MONDAY.
Correspondence of the New York World.
KINGSTON, July 3.-About three years ago
Rev. James Bcccher, brother of Rev.
Thomas X. of Elmira. and hali-brother Of
Henry Ward, finding that his usual summer
vacation of six weeks spent in the wilds of
Maine, the Adirondack or along the north
crn Pacific was costing him too much, con-
cluded to accept the invitation of some
Poughkeepsie gentlemen who had club
house on the WillememOc, in the wilds OF
Ulster county, where, as subsequent calcula-
tions showed, he could spend six weeks at the
limited cost of Sl7 so when his vacation had
ordinarily cost him $3.50.
The party reached the club house on the
WillcmcmOc, but Bcecher was dissatisfied.
1t was rough and picturesque and also wild,
but it was not wild enough for him, who
had seen some of the grandcst and most ro-
mantle scenery of the world. So the camp
eqaipage and utensils were strapped to backs
and the party tramped oyor the mountains
on an entirely new route until they reached
lake, which has been christened Beecher
lake. When Beeeher stood on the shore of
that lake he felt that all his longings were
satisfied he had wished to stand in a primi-
tive forest and commune with the wild and
picturesque scenery of tumbled nature but
never before had he found it in such pcrfec-
tlon as in the midst OF the solitude of which
Beecher lake forms the gem. its clear crystal
waters unsoiled by any running tributary,
but fed from below by the purest of springs.
The lake lies in the centre of an ampi-
theatre OF magnificent proportions, the high
est peaks of the Catskills circling it almost
completely, there being only one break
through which the surplus water finds its
way into the Beaverkill, tributary of the
Delaware.
Mr. Beecher spent his six week on this
lake, camping out, and then returned to his
charge Of the Congregational church at
foughkeepsle, but 50 enamOred was he of the
perfect wilderness he had found that be re-
signed the pastcratc, was paving him 81 500
n year, and buying square mile of land, in
the centre of which was the almost unriyal.
led trout lake that now bears his name, he
prepared to settle down. Ills first step was
to build house, and buying lumber at the
mills of the nearest settlement, nine miles
below, he had it hauled to the spot 1t was
work OF great. magnitude, as there was no
road, and the route was cut through the
forest. The labor OF hauling was so severe
that the lumber doubled in cost before it
reached the lake.
Mr.. Beccher, who has chest of fine tools,
set to work Immediately and built his house,
completing it entirely alone. 1t is one story
and a hall high, and contains a kitchen,
sitting-room, parlOr and bedrooms, with a
vcrandab fronting the lake, finished in rustic
style and very pretty. The stalwart clergy
man cut many Of the trees himself, swing
ing his axe with stroke as powerful as any
ordained ecclesiastic's. lie is very fine
workman with saw. chisel, hammer or plane,
and the house is finished in the best man
ner.
Here on the border of this beautiful lake
Beecher fixed his home. The whistles of
the Midland railroad, % miles away, can be
heard on its shore; but the wilderness is as
profoundly primitive as can be found on the
continent. 1t is situated in the town of
Hardenberg. and mail comes every Fri
day to TurnwuUd, the mail route running
from MOrston, on the Midland railroad, to
Margaretyille, on the Ulster and Delaware,
of which mail route the inhabitants tell
tale and chucl,c Il, they tell it. 1t was cnly
by great persistence that they induced the
department to establish a route, they agree
ing to carry the mail, because they wanted
it so badly, for $500, per annum. The route
runs over mountain after mountain. One
OF them is so precipitous that it is called the
"cat-ladder." Men make their way over it
with hands and feet, but there has been
found a horse that does manage to crawl
over it with the bag tightly strapped upon
his back. At the last mail-letting an Illinois
party, who has been bidding on all the
routes in country, bid on this route at a
lower figure. Ever since he received the
contract he has been writing letters to in
ducc some inhabtant to take it of his
hands :; but they all want islto see that prairie
mail carrier 20 over that "cat- ladder, and
he doubtless be greatly astonished when he
intakes it.
up his residence With his wife and an adopt
cd daughter six years of age. lie says he
means 10 spend his days there, and
is not in the market. although he has re-
ceiyed calls from Brooklyn and other
cities. The only drawback he has so far
found Is that parties of clergymen are build
ing club-houSeS for their vacations within
four or five miles of him, and, like the
western pioneer, feeling crowded, he thinks
he will soon have to make further into the
wilderness. During the summer season
there have been as many as 80 visitors at
hrs house at time, but he has managed 10
accommodate them. lie has cleared small
space near his house, and the neighbors
from 10 miles around turned out and built
him a road. After be got the road he
bought him pony, and then came cow,
which frequently cOmpels him to travel
several miles when she fOrgets to return
home. In his lake of - acres he finds the
best of trout, his wife and self catching
enough after sunset any evening to amply
furnish the table for the next day. Beecher
got his road by visiting the settlements, and
being handy man putting in windows and
doors in the settlers cabins. Mrs. Beecher
teaches n school, from which she receives
500 OF public money. and spends $50 for
clothing the children and providing them
with books. Mrs. Bcecher takes the poney
and blackboard and goes after the mail to
Turnwood, nine miles away, but Beecher
himself rides the pony on his old saddle
which he used in the army, from which he
graduated lower than he entered, as he says
he went in chaplain and came out
brigadier general. lie breaches at two
regular stations in school houses, making
it point never to miss an appointment.
lie did miss one, however, in an amusing
way. lie keeps the run OF the week by
checking off II calendar. but one week he
missed day When he came down into
the settlement to fill the Sunday appoint
mcnt as usual. he was astonishcd 10 sec
pous woman washing. "Why, Mis-.
I'm astonished to see you washing on the
Sabbath" "Why, Mr.. Beecher, this ism
Sunday it's Monday" alt is? Why, |
did the hardest days work ever did yes
tcrdsy.' But, sure enough, it was Mon
day and Mr.. Becchcr turned on his heel
and went straight home, where he kept the
Monday as strictly as ever he did Sunday
in his life.
The first winter Mr.. Bccchcr was entirely
alone, and ne describes the solitude as sub
lime. The stiffness is profound 1t seems to
be something more than mere absence oi
sound its negative character appears To give
place IL a positive, and the silence can aliso-
utcly he tct. In this solitude Mr.. Bcccher
is perfectly content ; says he has never been
satisfied before, and cannot he tempted out
ol it, and he expects to spend his days by
the shores OF This beautiful lake. lie Is
about ia regular Bcecher in style ol
preaching, and draws his illustrations from