The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1879-09-10
Ways, Hy-ways and Highways of New-
town,
OR A TRIP TO TRENTON FALLS, NIAGARA
AND WATKINS GLEN, ETC, IN THREE
HOURS TIME AND WITHOUT COST.

OR TRIP TO TRENTON FALLS, NIAGARA
AND WATKINS GLEN, ETC, IN THREE
HOURS TIME AND WITHOUT COST.
Some one once told Socrates that a
certain person did not enjoy travelling
VI can we'll believe that, replied Socrates,
Won he took himself along with him."
The thought in the mind of the wise man,
perhaps, was that the man himself was
lacking in the quality which renders all
travelling, whether for one mile or thou
sand miles, enjoyable and profitable, and
without which no Journey, however ex-
tended and expensive, Is endurable,
namely; eyes to see and mind to sense
the beautiful in nature and art 1t is the
object of the writer to call the attention
OF all residing or visiting in Newtown to
some portions of our town almost over
looked, and which may be enjoyed at any
time by the dgpreciatiye traveller They
have, at least, afforded one so much
pleasure that he woU- Il deem it selfish not
to share it with otne"s,
1t may seem extrlvagant to say that
we have In the heart of our town, and
within the circuit of u mile or two, a
collection of natural wonders, which re-
mind the traveller of the famous places
mentioned ut the head of this article
Trenton Falls, Niagara and Watkins
Glen, but 1t is true nevertheless. The
sense of recreation and retreshment and
the expansion of mind and soul, to one
who truly loves nature, received from a
stroll in the locality to be described is
very similar to that experienced in a Wis
it to these and other places of resort
whose reputation is worldwide. Now,
II the people OF Newtown can be informed
of ard can learn 10 appreciate what is at
thejr very doors, and what they may see
and enjoy for nothing; If, by simply "tak-
ing themselves along trHh them" with pos
sibiy a lunch-basket and an agreeable
companion or book, they can, in two or
three hours enjoy us much as by q long
and tiresome journey, eXhausting to
patience and to purse, truly it is worth
the writers time to write, the printers
time to print and tho readers time to
read the hoe and the where of it,
Our purpose can be best accomplished
by asking the reader to accompany us in
all excursion we Ihade yesterday after
noon, (Sep. 5th), which occupied just
three hours, giving ample time for stop
ping at every place of interest
We left the village with our faithful
horse at three p. m, and, taking the cold
road" by North Centre School House,
went to Walnut-tree Hill, stopping for a
moment at the summit to admire the
charming view Of Newtown village and
the environIGg hills. Turning to the
right and then few rods farther to the
left, we drove to the residence of Mr..
John Cavanaugh, who, with the courtesy
and hospitality which has ever been ex-
tended to us in our excursions in that
vicinity provided place for the horse
and gave directions for our projected
trip. We went across the field in u south
easterly direction, and soon struck a
path which led into the woods. Leaving
the path we descended into a gorge
through which flows a stream now running,
leaping. foaming, and then again gather
ing its waters into little pools, Swallowed
by the great rocks and the tall trees. 1t
Is one of the most enioyably beautiful
spots We have ever visited, and yet we
doubt II fifty people not residing in that
vicinity, have seen its lovelinoss.
W. 4 Al
Its entire length, stepping from stone to
stone and haiting every m oment to en-
plore this, to US, new and delightful
ravine. In one place the water rushes
down n narrow, rocky channel and then
1t spreads out In broad sheets which here
and there fall over the rocks in cascade
and spray. After passing Jacobs ladder,
n highway made by our friend Jacob
Wenderiy, (whence the name of Jacobs
LADDER we emerge from the woods and
find ourselves near the Upper Rubber"
The sound OF many waters reaches our
ears we go In the direction of the sound
and soon come to the Falls" We go
down bank and find our way to the foot
of the Fall aud there, looking up, we see
broad sheet Of water pouring over the
dam and dividing itself into lines and
drops: beautiful rainbow is distinctly
seen arehing u portion of the water which
seams to pause IL moment as II entrauced,
aud then dashes down tho ravine out of
s,gat. Sittin, .here, we felt that there
was more quiet eajoymcnt iii that scene
than in the roar and vast volume of
water at Niagara. The words of y. P.
Willis come to mind: Niagara is too
much like huge roasted OK; it is good
to look at, but one retires to dine on
something smaller" We now stroll on
keeping close tn the stream, indeed at its
very edge. we pass n beautiful little cas-
cilde and the foot bridge. and soon come
to the rapids and waterfall, which can
Just be discovered from the lower Glen
road. We have lived i'm Newtown five
years. and yot had not been nearer this
romantic spot than this road. Now we
are by 1t, yos. In It, for we seat ourselves
on a rock IN the very midst OF the seeth-
ing. rushing water, aud blame ourselves
for not coming hero every week In the
year. Five times fifty-two, we reason,
are two hundred and sixty. We have
lost all that enjoyment from simple meg