The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-05-11
SKETCHES OF TRAVEL.
MauCh Chunk, the Switch Back, and
Glen 0noko.
Written for the Democratic Adrocate
BY W. L. SEABR0oK.

A merry party it was, that took seats in
car at the Reading r. r. depot at Potts
vile, on the morning of the 18th of July,
1877. Who were they? Myself and my
Chum, "Wiggle," " in the best of company,
for our companions were two young ladies.
After leaving behind us the city of Potts
vile, with its noiay forges and busy shops,
how beautiful everything in nature ap-
peared 70 us how sweet the songs of the
birds how healthy and invigorating the
breeze
After a twenty miles ride through the
most varied scenery, dense woodlands,
rolling hills, high mountains, streams made
black by the coal dust from the mines, we
come in sight of Tamaqua. Here again,
all is noise and hustle. The roar of nigh
ty furnaces tells us, that making iroE is
no child's play, but an arduous task, ac-
cOmplished only by the sweat of many
brows, and the labor and skill of many
hands. Here, We change cars, and after
a delay of an hour, We are moved forward,
in truth not very rapidly, over the Jersey
Central R. r. toward our destination,
Mauch Chunk.
The scenery has undergone a wondrous
change, high mountains on the one hand
and on the other deep and rocky chasms,
the streams are no longer black but as
clear as crystal. After a long but pleas
ant ride we arrive at Mauch Chunk. We
look at the towering mountains, so grand
and mighty, and then at what appears in
contrast so small, the village of Mauch
Chunk, nesting at their base, and we in
stinctively wonder how it ever got there.
Just opposite the depot, set squarely
against Sharp Mountain, which rises
sharply and almost perpendicularly behind
it, is the Mansion House, built entirely of
huge blocks of stone. Here literally bur-
led among huge hills-mighty mountains,
the real, the poetical, the fanciful and the
practical are all blended. Having register
ed our names, we rest on the piazza, look
ing out over the beautiful Lehigh river,
until suddenly we are aroused by the cry
"All aboard for the Switch Back p Hasti-
ly descending the steps, we took our seats
in roomy and comfortable vehicle, for
tunately our party, alone, undisturbed by
the presence of strangers. Speedily we
wound our way up wondrously steep
hill, and were landed at the foot of Mt.
Pisgah.
We took our seats in small car, open
\ at the sides, that the passengers might en-
hoy the beautiful scenery. Before us we
see an immense inclined plane, with a
double railroad track laid upon it. It is
twenty three hundred and forty feet in
length and appears to be almost perpen-
dicular. How will we reach the top? is
the first thought. We are not kept long
In suspense, the conductor, acting as brake
man, takes his place, close to the brake.
We hear afar off, on the summit of Mt.
Pisgah the deep throb of mighty engine,
and in a moment we begin to move, slow
ly,-so slowly and noiselessly at first that
it seems almost the work of enchantment.
Simultaneously, as We begin the ascent,
an empty truck begins to descend on the
other track, and so nicely is everything
arranged that we meet it Just half way.
Involuntarily We look at each others faces
for evidences of nervousness, for we nat
urally experience slightly choking sensa-
tion. "If anything should give way,
where would we go?" No fear by a
very simple contrivance, il is so arranged
that should any accident happen, the car
would be held in its place by rachets on
the rail beside the track. Who can tell
what mingling of feelings fills our hearts,
of wonder, of awe, and of pleasure as we
magically ascend? Welook around, above
and below us. Talk of the Rhine, of the
beautiful scenery of Europe, of any other
country, tell us, We who have travelled
where can be found so matchless q scene
as is now spread out before our delighted
vision? That beautiful little river, flow
ing like silver thread; those lofty noun
tains rejecting thousand beauties from
the rays of the sun; the sky itself, with it.
deep blue canopy, seeming nearer; the
soft, white, feecy clouds floating, in shad
owy grandeur, through the vast space
all combined, make up such picture a.
is rarely seen. Our enjoyment of thi.