The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-10-24
For the Democrat.
TRIP SKETCHES.
LETTER NO. v.
of Democrat:

Whether my travelling companions
will comply with my request and give
| description of our supper in Alba
~ on the European plan l know not,
out should they do so, l have no hes
fancy in asserting that it will prove
amusing as well as interest
to the numerous readers of the
Democrat. Not having had time to-
Jake a view of Albany, city famous
FOR the establishment of vast rings
and corrupt legislative proceedings,
will only remark that it is Of con-
siderable size and presents a fine and
business like appearance. We left
this place on Sunday morning for
New York in one of those large COM
modious and magnificent lowpressure
steamboats,, for which the Hudson
river is so %proverbial. The boat was
crowded, having over one Thousand
passengers on board, and one could
not help wondering OF seeing such a
vast crowd where could possibly be
their destination, and whether real
ly the times were as hard and pinch
ing as the newspapers assert them to
be. The boat possessed every COM
fort for the accommodation of its
passengers, and its tables during din
ner hours were furnished with every
delicacy of the season in order to at
tempt an increase of the appetite and
pander to the various tastes of its
guests. The meals are served on the
European plan, no doubt having di-
rect reference to the sure and speedy
method ofemptying the pocket books
of those who are loud of indulging
in a variety of dishes and the sched-
ules of the Bill of Fare are especially
gotten up for this object. Our trip
along the noble and magnificent
Hudson was pleasant, agreeable and
full of interest. The scenery is
grand, noble, sublime and magnifi-
cent, and cannot be surpassed for
grandeure sublimity and romance,
by any other section of country in
the known world, and as the most
interesting descriptions of it have
been so frequently given by celebra-
ted writer's, | shall not attempt to
add any thing to them, but shall
leave the splendor and novelty CT the
views (as witnessed by our party to
the fertile inauguration of ny read
ers to fill up any blanks that may
have been left untouched by former
descriptions. The writer having
spent some years of his early life at
the Military Academy at West Point.
and being familiar with the scenery
from Newburg to New York city, ex.
perienced inexpressible pleasure in
Witnessing the old and familiar
scenes of his boyhood, as they recall
ed vividly to his mind many pleas.
ing "reminiscences and agreeable in.
cidents of early life or this noble
river. Time has made great addi
lions and improved greatly the beau
ty of the towns, villages and beauti
full country residences along thu
banks of this beautiful and magnifi
cent stream. As we passed Yves
Point my mind reverted to scenes o
early Cadet life and my immagina
tion almost lead me into the belle
that l could hear the voices of thos,
noble companions. Forbes Britton
Alex Montgomery, Alex Shiras
Montgomery Meigs, Harry Dupont
Jerry Reed, Joshua H. Bates and
host of other cadets, joining in tn
choruses of the old familiar song
liking Cole" Landlord fill the flow
ing bowl" and Benny Havens.'
My feelings were somewhat mingled
with regret and sadness when l re
fected on the fact of how few of thes,
noble-hearted fellows still survive,
to Join me in the rehearsal of tn,
daring adventures of those gloriou.
days. West Point has kept pac,
with the times in the improvement
Of its buildings and besutifying O
its grounds. Evea the old steam
boat landing has been changed ant
many of the old land marks hav,
been entirely obliterated and thei
places filled by beautiful structures
of artistic skill and beauty. Tn,
whole appearance Ct the country
along this majestic stream seems tt
have undergone a change and grow
more strange and beautiful. Thu
entrance of this noble river among
the far-famed Highlands as witness
ed whilst streaming down the river
is so grand sublime magnificent anc
romantic, that no tongue can give ut
terance to or pen depict a inst anG
accurate description of it. The Pal
isades are well worthy of note and
repays the traveller in pleasure o
the sight. Reached New York city
in the evening and stopped at Stew
arts Hotel, originally built for the &C
commodation of only women. but no
paying expenses it has been changed
into a Hotel for all the sexes. 1t i
a building Of immense proportion
and beautifully constructed for tn
comfort and accommodation of it
guests. The gentlemen havin,
charge of the office are kind and gen
tlemanly in their attention to thei
guests, and l have no doubt but tina
it will prove eminently successful.
On Sunday we visited Brighton Beac
where several Of our party indulge
in sea-bathing, which they enjoye
and seemed greatly inyigorated b
so doing, whilst the temerity an
fear exhibited by them as the swell
ing and b%oisterous wave rolled frar
ticly and sportiEgly ove them a
forded great amusement to that POI
tion of the party who did not indulg
in the luxury. Our party visite
Morristown Asylum in New Jerse,
and were much pleased not only wit
the buildings grounds and gener.
management of the institution, bt
with the very kind, cordial and gel
tlemanly reception given our part
by the social and genial old gentl'