The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-08-02

Wlul VIII ucllpNl SOME seems perfectly nor
ridn 10 others. Those who are fortunate
enough to possess plenty Of both leisure and
ucrc" are not satisfied with our home attrac
tons; 50 as soon as the dog days set in pre-
pare for sail DER the bounding pillows and
spend their vacation abroad, Others ,(and
more sensible ones Join the throngs who
make our fashionable resorts the gayest in the
world, While others, who prudently consider
the cost both in dollars and days, spy out the
land ike Caleb and Joshua seeking us
shady hooks and rocky Businesses. its health
giving fountains and natural wonders, and re-
turn at the end of their rambles laden with the
strength and vigor, gathered where the birds
sing and the graves grow and their hands
graspng as treasures leaves and wild flowers
the humble offering Of dell and dlngle, but
cherished ~ memcntoes OF natures God
While those who went abroad" and gazed
only on hot walls and ,ramped through hotter
streets return weary and worn, after Drawing
the dangers Of the deep and enjoying healthy
III VI Std-SlthIt0S, 'tuI With MY OH bt'
puked themselves inside out and would have
willingly died on the spot. | know how it IS
myself had three days Of 1t once, and free.
" confess that never wantcdto die 50 bad IN
my lite. \ sea voyage may be healthy, and a
life on the ocean wave good thing, but give
me life" on terra frmo and III be content
But | am of the track, and torcturn to first
principles let me say thatfor beauty of scenery
| know Of but few places to equal
THE DELAWARE WATER GAP;
and to say that It is grand IS to say but little
it is extremely 50, The Delaware, which
winds its way through overshadowing hills,
now meeting with some apparently lmpcnetra-
bic barrier to its course, again daTing off OBJ
liquely to seek the passage way cleft for it
through rocky battlements Ivy some gigantic
convulsion Of the past, finally meanders
on in picturesque beauty till it joins the placid
waters of the bay.
water Gap" IS the name given to this par.
ticular point, MS here the river forces its way
through what is called the Blue Ridge" Of
the Allegheny Mountains Two mountains -
Minsi and Tammany--form the Gap, their al
most PERCEPTIONS sides rising to the height of
nearly two thousand feet, and seem to ap-
proach each other 50 close as if determined to
bar the rivers course. Around them and
along the river bank on both sides vast mass
es Of green hills rise opposite each other in
silent grandeur, At their base, a thousand
feet from the summit, the river flows placldly
along with naught to disturb the silence eX-
cept now and then the murmur of human
voices among the hills and occasionally rum
bic Of a passing train far below as it winds
round the base of the hills. From the sum
nit Of Mount Mnsi "a narrow crest scarcely
fifty feet wide most glorious view Of the
1900 'v',"~ss5 ~v..--. ov uau. On enc
side varying panorama Of open country,
gradually resolving into swelling ranges of
hills, extending a vast distance towards what
is called "Pocono Range" which breaks the
view upon the distant horizon. From another
direction one beholds among the classic hills
Of Jersey" picture of highly cultivated
farms, denotlng smiling peace and plenty
A gam, as our eye follows the course of the
river with its many twinlngs and windngs,
Along which we observe a succession of vii
ages, alternating with farms and meadow
ands, which dissolve at length in the dim out
ines of the Lehigh Range,
The attractions of the Water Gap are many,
nut The great charm is the scenery, which is |
ruly grand, and under certain atmospheric |
fleets wonderful At times when fleecy clouds |
rather on the mountain tops the distant view
,ecomes one of enchanting beauty. The lines
# mountains seem covered with faint silver
ell, which gives delicacy of coloring touch.
ny on the ideality, the nearer aspect of which
Gems powerless to show in the Imagination.
md when the clouds are gathering fora storm
nd gray masses of vapor seem Clinging to the
recs on the ridges Of the hills, the rocks, trees
nd clouds are blended in fashion that would
eight the very soul of poet or painter. And
when the sun, triumphing over the heavy
umuli masses, sends his golden arrows slant
ngly upon the mountains, the whole scene be
ONES transformation, and the entire section
nvcloped in golden haze that makes them
or moment the vcrtable hills of the. Edo
ado. Such scenes last only for a few brief
moments. jut when the sunset hour arrives
t invariably brings glorious visions, for ihen
he mountain sides, wooded from base to sum-
nit not with tall pines, those scntnes of al
,ine regions, but with grand old oaks, magnif1-
,ent chestnuts and many others, whose green
oliage Frightened by the rays of setting sun
until it CLOVIS like gold, and by contrast be-
,omes preternatural green.
| saw it once by moonlight, when great
LIQUIDS were gathering for a storm-a vision OF
that will never fade from my mem.
,ry 1t was at the close of one of those hot,