Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-08-21
Editorial Correspondence.

WHITE MOUNTAINS, August ~, 1873.
Starting out on Saturday for hurrie
"march to the sea-" through the gateway O
the White Mountain Notch, we stopped Of
here for the Sabbath, hoping by the help of tn
inspiration and pure air of these grand oil,
mountains we might the more speedily an,
effectively get free from the CALLING load o
care we sought to leave behind. Nor wa
that hope in vain.
As we sped over our gem of road K
Wells River, and noted the many improve
ments whereby 1t has been brought into it,
present state of comparative perfection, the
newly made grave of our neighbor and
friend, Mr.. James G. French, rose up be
fore us, and we wildly recalled the months
and years of ceaseless toll and consuming
anxiety which this enterprise cost him how
| his very life-blood, as it were, was freely
given to cement its superstructure from the
foundation to the top stone. And yet, we'll
nigh before we know it, all this will be for
gotten, and the public knowledge and ap-
probation will not go back of the finally
completed work--as if it had been created,
with the surrounding hills, and the charm
ing scenery through which it passes, by the
voice of him who "spake, and it was done ~
So one generation passeth away and another
cometh So one man layeth the foundation
and another buildeth thereon. And so we
need another world, of eternal equities and
adjustments, to atone for the sad imperfec-
tons and injustices of this
A pleasant ride of two hours up the Am
monoosuc from Wells River brought us to
our desired haven, the Twin Mountain
House, situated on rise of ground on the
south bank of the river and commanding a
ine view of the White and Franconia
mountains. On the right rises Mount Lafa-
yette in all its grandeur, while to the left,
and distinctly visible, is the White Noun
tain range; and touring above all is Mount
Washington. Four or five miles further up
the railroad is the Fabyan, nine miles the
Crawford while ten miles reaches the point
of ascent to Mount Washington. This
house is one of the most deservedly popular
among the mountains. 1t is owned by the
Barron Brothers, as is also the Crawford,
and their fame as hotel keepers is known far
and near Mr.. &C. Gage is in special charge
of the house, as he has been for many wears.
and is one of the rare men who know how
to run hotel. The house is well filed,
with a superior class of guests, as it ever
will be while its popularity rests upon such
'ure foundations as at present.
After our arrival, Saturday evening. we
witnessed one of those magnificent displays
of the elements which are vouchsafed only
to the mountain regions. Faint glimmer
ings of lightning were seen playing over the
ragged top of Mount Lafayette, far to the
northeast. Soon they increased in vividness
and anon their forked tongues extended
over the long line of peaks to Mount Wash.
ington, and lighted up the whole range with
their lurid fame This was succeeded by
copious shower of perhaps fifteen minutes
duration. But no sooner had the storm
cloud swept athwart Mount Washington to
the east before Mount Lafayette, to the
west, was bathed in golden sunlight, which,
with almost the rapidty of lightning, fol-
lowed in the track of the storm, until the
whole mountain range and broad valley be-
low was illumined by the most gorgeous sun.
set we ever beheld.
Yesterday morning some two hundred
guests gathered in the parlors for religious
worship. Rev. DR.. Miner, of Boston, preached
| highly interesting discourse, and was as
sisted in the service by Rev. DIR. Hutton, of
New York. In the evening services were
in the same place by a son of Dr.
Hutton.
Tomorrow we make flying trip to the
crawford, and, after taking in the charm
ng view from Mount Willard shall set our
aces toward Portland. Jp