Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-07-26
A Summer Tripl
FROM BURLINGTON TO BOSTON, THE BEACH AND
THE WHITE MOUNTAINS.

DEAR FREE PREsS Inc oummef mo'e
ment of seekers of relaxation, health, and
change of air-which is often the same
thing-has come to be very marked and
important incident OF the warm season IN
this country. 1t increases year BY year, and
ought to Increase more widely, for it IS a
sensible practice, in the main conducive
largely TO mental, physical and moral health
1t costs something, like most things worth
having but many man and woman saves
the cost of a Summer trip, only to e1pend
twice as much in doctors bills, which might
have been saved by few weeks change OF
air and scene. am glad that so many SEN
sible people need no argument on this ques-
ton. For them, where to 90. is the only
question to be decided. As q general thing,
of course, dwellers in cities and large towns
should seek the purer air OF the country.
Dwelers by the seaside are attracted to the
mountains and jewellers among the noun
tains find by the shore Of the ocean
the contrast and the change OF air which
benefits them most. The readers OF the FREE
Press will allow me to describe Tor them
short tour, which | can recommend as de-
lishtful. without qualification.
We left Burlington small and con-
genial party-at 40 in the morning, by
The Burlington and Lamoille road. The
sweep around the southern outskirts OF Bur
lington through the valley Of Potash brook
across the Winooski and the plain to the
valley Of Browns river the ox-bOw circuit
around Jericho village; the run past Di1on's
and under the spurs of Mansfield. round and
to the Lamoillc valley, are already familiar
to many OF your readers. Though the day
WAS hot and the weather had been dry and
the streams were low, the country still look
ed fresh and the ride to Cambridge juno
ton was a beautiful one. The Burlington
and Lamoille road is now in fine condition,
and is admirably run under Mr.. Linsley's
skilrul management The track is smooth
the trains run closely on the card time de-
heard Of; and a gratifying increase of local
and through passenger and freight traffic has
been witnessed, this summer. The road is
every day indicating the practical
wisdom of its projectors. As car
now runs through every day from
Burlington to Portland, no change oil
cars was necessary at Cambridge junction
The Portland and Ogdensburg train was in
sight as we halted at the Junction, and We
were soon winding through the lovely seen
ery of the Lamoile Valley. Each curve and
turn brought to view fresh and attractive
landscape Of river, mountain. meadow, head
land and forest. The fine outlook across the
country to the Green Mountains, from Wal
den Heights, was, unfortunately for US,
shrouded in haze; but the nearer views
everywhere along the line were of rare
beauty. | remember no railroad ride OF
equal length which, on the whole, equals
the ride from Burlington to the Connecticut
by this route. for rural attractivene.s.
The Vermont division of the Portland and
Ogdensburg line is feeling sensibly the &C
cession Of business from the Burlington
branch and its prospects are steadily i'm
proving. Superintendent Jewett has
brought its expenses "down to hard-pan.'
and the road is paying its expenses,
with surplus every month to put into
fencing, filling up Of the trestling,
and improvement of the track. One OF
the receivers is superintendent and purchas-
ing agent. The other receiver is treasurer
and financial manager. There arc no sine
cures and double salaries. Security holders
have no occasion to complain of waste OF
stealings, and the road has doubtless brighter
da vs. before it in the near future, as its
business becomes developed and established.
and it, attractions for tho SummAr travel
become known.
Crossing the Connecticut, into New lamp
shire, the change to q poorer soil and less
inviting region, which marks so strong a
contrast between the two States at various
other points of transit. strikes every observ-
ing passenger. But he realizes that he is
now approaching the White hills. The
cool breezes from the mountains begin tC
reach him and he thinks he detects in the
air something of the life and invigoratinl
quality of the mountain atmosphere. Soor
the higher submits begin to loom up or
right and left, till the mountain wall at las
presents itself a. if to block all progress. Blu
the locomotive pushes onward past Bethlehem
and the Twin Mountain House and Fabyan's
immense white bostelry, as if bound to dash
itself against the rocky rampant. Suddeull
the barrier opens, and, passing the Crawford
House, the train sweeps through the rocky
gateway Of the famous Notch of the White
Mountains Observation cars" roofet
above but open all around the sides, withou
glass or blind or panel to obstruct the view
had been attached at Fsbyan's. and were a
once filled with eager sightseers from tn
other cars
Twenty fse years ago ! stopped at tn
old Crawford House, long since burned, an
drove with friend in an open waeol
through thi, famous Notch. | was greatl
impressed with its wildness and sublimity
and have never lost the impression. Blu
when came to go through it by rail, | be
r came conscious that had before realize
comparatively little of its grandeur. Fror
the carriage road. still the common highwa
through the Notch, the view, striking as
is, is too much obstructed by tree
and rocks, and the impression @
the heights and distances is lessened
] From the railroad. cut from the side of on
V precipice three hundred and fffy feet abov
B, the Saco at its foot, the passenger look
down to the base of the opposite wall. an
upward, eighfoH Hundred feet above him, I
= its broken and scrrated top and if be hay
but half an eye for the wilder beauty an
grandeur Of nature he is SPECIFICS and wei
d nigh breathless, as he takes in something {
t the power and presence of this tremendor
pass. But not in his first passages throug
/. it will he realize Its full magnifcence. ii
}. eye is fastened to the precipices and ii
steep slopes below them, scanned by the to-
rents, cataracts rather than streams, whic
have washed the scanty soil and clingin
!, foliage from the rocks. in long streaks frol
It top to bottom, but he hardly comprehend
that they are ten times as high as precipic,
- which he has heretofore considere
tall. 1t is easy to say the walls
= this Notch are over fr0 thousand feet fro
top to bottom but to comprehend
IS pass through such elevations one must sec i
&c and see it more than once. 1t was bol