Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-04-19

the mountain, apparently with as much ease
as though walking level ground. Ihe
path was plainly marked and well trodden, al
though at times quite stony. 1t led on to the
right and left. making sharp angles, but we
could cut across when we chose. The sun
was hot a part of the way, but after while
we came into forest, whose shade was re-
| freshing. Several cool and clear mountain
brooks crossed our way, and we did not fail
! to take advantage of them with our drinking
cups We rested from time to time, partic-
ularly at a restaurant about half way up.
Here we tried a bottle. of what they call
| 'slimonade,'' which is an agreeable drink
made of citric acid, and probably quite IN
| nocent of lemon juice. We reached the
hotel Flegiere, which is not very prefen-
tious house, about IL o'clock, without being
very much fatigued.
| VIEW FRoM FLEGrEEE.
! From this point. we had before US an ex-
/ tensive and magnificent view OF Mont Blanc,
across the valley, with all its peaks and sum-
mits, without any intervening obstacle. Inc
great monarch of mountains stretches Its
| length along. with its various heights and
cliffs, and needles and crowns, including the
great central crown itself, the Mont Blanc OF
Mont Blanc, white with perpetual snow, and
seldom without a cloud resting upon Its sum-
| nit.
| At this moment some are ascending Mont
Blanc. and some returning from the ascent
Both parties can be seen with powerful tel
escope from this hotel. They appear like
moving black specks on the snowy surface
we can see, where we stand, the Mer de
Glaze (sea of ice) extending many miles TO
the southwark between two mountain ranges
At the same time. we behold four other I'M
mense glaciers on the slopes of Mont Blanc
In fact, we have before us, the widest. the
most varied. and the most sublime display OF
mountain scenery in Europe.
Chamouni. from which we came this morn
ing. is a collection Of very large hotels and
other like structures; but at this height, it
appears TO our view like an insignificant
group of very small buildings.
The fields and pastures on the mountain
slope where we are, are green with grass, and
adorned with an abundance of beautiful wild
flowers. Towards the north, rises cliff
thousand feet or more above our heads.
Our little party is not alone here. Strang-
ers were at the hotel when We arrived, and
others have been coming and going during
our stav. Some ascend on foot, and others
on mules. Amongst the rest. were two ladies
who were natives of Augusta. Maine, (now
of New York; one of whom had very fine
field glass, ivory and silver mounted, which
cost about $50.
RETURN TO THE HOTEL.
Chamouni. 1ug. I've left the hotel
Flegiere in the middle of the afternoon, and
when going down met several ascending, and
amongst others an Irish priest from Dublin,
who seemed to have had some drink more
potent than water or ''limonade." At the
half way house. we were greeted by our five
friends vino had climbed up to the Mer lie
Glace and crossed il, and were now finishing
the day with Flegiere. Our party reached
| Chamoun in season for the usual dinner
| hour We had made our nine miles and
more, had had rich and agreeable expert
ence. and even the lady of the party was APP
parently none the worse for it. The other
parties also arrived safely. Some Of the
Young ladies rs well as gentlemen had crossed
the Mer de Glaze.
MoNT BLANC.
| We have seen little of this wonderful noun
tain. The group is probably 30 miles square.
There are heights on heights. and deep val
| leys intervening. Thirty-six glaciers are
| found on its slopes, 16 on the north, and 90
on the south No single individual has ever
explored the whole of it, We are told about
| fifty persons ascend to the summit in the
course of q year. On the highest ridge is an
area covered with hard snow, about $50 feet
by 80 Who, after seeing whatever can be
seen of Mont Blanc. can describe its sublime
and wondrous beauty? The mind must be
dull indeed, that is not impressed with awe
and alteration of the great Creator, whose in
finite wisdom and power spoke into existence
this and all his glorious works seen in the
earth and in the heavens Shall we not,
then, address Mont Blanc, in the language of
| Colerdge:
'Rise, O. ever rise!
Rise like cloud of incense from the earth,
Thou kingly spirit throned among the hills,
Thou dread amba sador from earth to heaven
And tell the stars, and tell yon rising sun.
Earth, with her thousand voices, praises God
IL x II