Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-07-02
Montpelier In Summer.

We gladly copy the following extract from a
capital letter by Colonel II. d. Hopkins (Deming)
in the Saturdays issue Of the Boston Journal,
dated June 2sd. 1t Is true, every word Of II:
Montpelier, Vt, and the surrounding country
are seen at the present time In their very best
The meadows and hills were never clad In richer
green, nor the trees and shrubbery In richer,
heavier foliage. Vermont abounds In desirable
localities for summers retreat from the dust
and heat OF the cities, but one OF them, In all
Its appointments, surpasses Montpelier. The
NOTES.-THE first thing one contemplating country
sojourn inquiries about-are among the very best
to be found anywhere The Pavilion Hotel COM
pleted and furnished In 1876, Is, par excellence,
conceded to be the equal of anything outside the
large cities. Its apartments are all large and
airy Its furniture is and irst-class It's tables
are spread with the best Of meats and other sub
stantials while the fancy dishes receive a fair
share Of attention And in polite. prompt and
willing attention to the thousand and one wants
Of guests, by clerks, bel-boys and porters 1t has
no superior anywhere; and Its bills are reasonable.
Other hotels are also here--the American, the
Bishop House and the Union House-al we'll kept
and affording polite attention, good tables and
desirable apartments in abundance. But the
chief feature Of Montpelier as a place OF sojourn
is not in her hotels but outside. The neat and
well kept residences Of the people, the miles Of
substantial brick pavements and the absolute
purity Of the air generally are points which will
attract the notice Of the stranger Every attention
Is paid here to cleanliness There are no off ensve
cesspools or open drains to generate offensive
smells and breed malaria. Besides all these good
points, the social element here Is every way
healthy and desirable. There are six neat and
substantial churches In the place. Congregational
Methodist, Episcopal, Catholic, Unitarian and
Baptist-which all stand with open doors on the
Sabbath inviting the attendance Of strangers and
sojourners. These churches are all supplied with
able ministers, and in all appointments Of good
music, Sabbath-schools and polite attentions
pleasant places OF worship Railroad and mail
facilities are ample and frequent. The Boston
Morning Journal Is received and delivered at four
O'Clock p. NJ. But there are other delights to be
found here in plentiful supply.
1.-THE surrounding country is not surpassed for
attractiveness. The drives are many, charming
and various, and all lead over easy and safe roads
The drives to Berlin pond and Benjamns Falls
have long been popular and have been tested by
thousands of visitors, The rides to Shady Rill.'
Horn OF the Moon Phelps Hill and Mddesex
Falls afford rich attractions to pleasure seekers
and will repay to the lover OF nature the trouble
and expense Of a journey The views afforded
from any of the hills in Berlin, East Montpelier or
Mddesex are extended and charming, and the
air from these various hill-tops operate pleas
ant tonic to the labor-worn denizen from the
crowded city. There are yet other places of in
terest to be visited; some nearer and some more
remote. Among the former may be named a trip
to the observatory, erected last year on the sum
nit Of Capitol Hill. This structure is but short
distance from the State House, is easily approached
and well pays the labor of a visit.
Among the more distant attractions, should
not fail to mention Surprise Mountain This
lofty summit, likely to become quite as popular
as Mount Mansfield is reached by a nine-mile
drive. 1t is situated northwest OF Montpelier,
and lies partly in the towns Of Middlesex and
Worcester. From its summit, Mount Mansfield,
Cancels Hump and Owls Head in Marshfeld are
seen and seem to lie little way off, just across
the valley, while more remote, and in all their
magnificent grandeur may be seen the White
Mountains in New Hampshire, the Adirondack
in New York. and Montreal Mountain in Canada
Lake Champlain is also seen for long distance
carriage road has been finished quite to the top
Of Surprise Mountain, and the journey and the
sightseeing there are all easily accomplished
from this place in day.
Still another slightly and attractive eminence
in this vicinity is Owls Head in Marshfeld. The
Montpelier and Wells River railroad passes the
base of this mountain, and trains stop to accom-
modate those making the trip The distance from
the railroad is but half mile by an easy foot
path For the labor that trip to the top OF this
mountain costs, and the extended view to be OBJ
tained there is no venture in this vicinity that
pays better There are other drives and excursions
which deserve mention, notably Plainfeld Springs
In Plainfield, and Williamstown Gulf in Williams
town. Taken all together, Montpelier is charm
ing place for a summer sojourn. The boarding
places in town, the social and religious privileges
afforded, with the proverbial politeness Of her
people, together with her clean streets and the
fine farms and substantial buildings of the ad-
jacent country, combine to make it unsurp ,ssed."