The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-12-21
Top Ofthe Brooklyn Bridge.

Before we set off across the river,
stop for little quiet enjoyment of the
marvellous picture spread out beneath
our view this pleasant summer after
noon. If you have ever doubted the
correctness of the bird's-eye views of
cities and the like, so common in the
print-shops, here at least is an assurance
that such things are possible. Brook
lyn lies displayed at our feet, with its
fringe of warehouses, docks, and slips,
perpcndicularly under us. How differ
ent is the comparative newness and reg
ularity of the sister city, and how mark
ed contrast offered by its bushy green
cry marking out the the streets like col
ored lines on plan, as compared with
the densely-packed, dark, imposing
mass of architecture over the river!
The bay, sparkling silver and golden in
the sunlight and dotted with its many
islands, is visible clear beyond the Mar
rows and down to Sandy Hook. Far
eastward we can almost pick out the
sand-hills of Rockaway and Coney Is
land, with the blue sea-line beyond, and
to the west, under the sinking sun, the
picture is framed In with the purple
haze of the Highlands, Neyisink, and
the Jersey hills. Look at that ferry
boat just starting from the Fulton Street
slip, packed with heads (all we can see d,
and notice the odd effect of the dots OF
white faces turned up to watch us, in
teresting as we are, not by our indiyid-
uality, but by our position. We can
fancy them repeating pope's lines ON
the fly in amber:
mot that the thing Itself is rich or rar,--
| wonder ls. he - ii flar.
As for ourselves, proud of our momen-
tary elevation, and drunk with the
keen, sweet, salt air, and the gorgeous
prospect, one is reminded of the NAV
who, on the ladder ready TO be hanged.
when mad bull caused dire confusion
i'll the crowd below, said, in thOuehtless
exultation TO his companion ropue.
"How lucky it is we're up here!''
And now down the steep slope of the
river-span, digging our heels well into
the Stats, and checking our momentum
by the sidc-ropes till we stand where q
few years ago no mortal probably ever
expected to stand-two hundred feet
over the channel of the East River, with
all its varied traffic flowing beneath us.
Hurry Just here | want TO get plumb
over the Bristol as she sails majesiically
up-sHc coihi anu cipol tle sinhll vanity
of doing what no one but the shipbuild.
ers ever did beforo-look sqilarely down
her smoke-stack into her fire-box. No.
tice her exquisite, fish-like lines seen
thus in plan, and tho way in which the
narrow hull is marked off from the
guards by the timber-work of tho cab.
ins. Phew! what a racket! Bristol
Massachusetts, Stonington boats all as
they pass under the bridge salute US
with a whistle, while ferry-boats, tugs,
and all the small-fiy, salute them iii
the whole air is vocal with one great
treble Of demoniac howl and screrch,
set of by the deep bass hum of toll and
traffic, the grand diapason of labor sup.
piled by the two great cities. As the
noble s. Gamers pass on up the river, no.
tice the beautiful, divergent lines OF
wave from their paddles like the double
} tail of comet! You remember the
same effect, only more distant, feathery
and fairy-like, as we looked down In
tho early morning nom the Rigi-top on
the dark polished surface ofthe Lake OF
the -Four Cantons.-[Appletons' Jour
nal.