The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-06-04
ON A FOREIGN SHORE.
Amid the Hills Of New Jersey, and the Historic
Regions OF Neversink.

ysva a brief SYNOPSIS Of q days travel through
Manhattan Island, and mere mention OF a few
of the sights that may be observed In Gotham
but there Is so much to be seen ard admired, and
such a continual transformation going on, that
no one could do it justice in single letter. and
the person that saw it last year is considerably
at sea when he makes visit to the same place
this wear. There are the suburban sights and
places, which, though not in New York, are con
sidered part Of IT.; and il you have never taken
them In" your visit to Americas greatest city 10
Incomplete and you have overlooked the most
interesting features of trip to Gotham.
Without going into details and devoting all my
letters to scenes in Gotham, or giving the more
noted resorts even passing glance, thought II
more pleasing for the benefit Of your readers to
ago abroad"-invpde the foreign shores OF Jcr-
sew! and make tour OF its most sacred and his-
toric landmarks. And to accomplish this know
of no more deserving spot than the famous
"Highands Of Neversink, " or "Tha Jersey High
lands" as they are more commonly called, which
lie about twenty miles distant seawardfrom New
York Ever since the day when the ancient
Dutch bark Hendrix Hudson first sighted 1t 1t
has been the great landmark for all commerce
arriving at and departing from New York. II Is
the last bit OF America visible to the outgoing
tourist from the steamers deck. 1t Is famed In
the morey.digging legends of Captain Kidd the
new novels OF Cooper, and the delightful legend
ary lore OF Washington Irving. Those High
lands have for more than two hundred and fifty
years been conspicuous in song and story in
history ana tradition, and in all phases of life.
Those brown-turicd hills, which rise more than
three hundred feet above the blue old ocean,
have looked down in turn upon the birchbark
canoes OF the aboriginal savages, upon the tub.
built galiots OF the Amsterdamers, upon the
couuuering armament of Charles H., whose sol
ders and sailors wrested the "Lordly Hudson"
and its noble estuary from the grip OF the Dutch
men, to yield II a century later to its rlghtiu
owners-upon the splendid lines OF battle OF the
French and English fleets during the revolution,
and upon the hostile preparations and immense
ornaments of the great rebellion during our own
times Through all these stirring events the
sleepy old highlands and their inhabitants have
remained stationery, while all else around them
has gone forward. But what wonder is this,
when there Is not one in hundred passing down
long enough to take second look at these ven
cradle heightsp Fewer still want to climb them
ana enjoy the magnificent panorama afforded
from the SUBMITS. But the admiration Of this
entire place is Its lovely Park, where now In ear
ly summer the crack Of the hunters rifle re-
sounds through the leafy groves that fringe the
terraced hillside and along the magnificent tree
clad heights which front for more than two mlles
the blue ocean, and then away in another drec.
ton for miles and miles.
This park Is reached from the landing by a
winding roadway a mile or 80 in length, which
leads you to q spur OF the mountain called Mount
Michael, $50 feet above the waters edge. The
panorama which greets the vision on emerging
from the woods upon the broad, breezy plateau
OF the mount is truly glorious. To the right ex-
tends the broad blue Atlantic. terminating, AS it
were, against the lighter blue Of the horizon
some thirty miles away. Below. apparently be-
meath ones feet, the long. graceful outlines Of
Sandy Hook stretch away to the northward,
It's narrow, sandy isthmus dotted with evergreen
groves, shaded roofs and the white iutting walls
OF light houses and beacOns. The smooth, grace.
full sweep OF "Horsehoe Bay" on the west, while
to the south in al inlet dozens Of tiny hshng
smacks are grouped in picturesque disorder.
Away almost ON the horizon, to the northeast,
stretches Long Island coast, with the dim out
lines of Coney Island hotels, Rockaway aud Long
Beach, while away to the far northwest the
breeze stirred tbs surface OF Raritan Bay and
the Narrows sparkle amid the trees. Bat tha
woudrous spot has other attractions equally as
a a.,
picted. The rustic avenues and roadways along
the hillside are picturesque-skivting rs they do
sharp declivities and winding through the Sc
cluded rayineS of the mount, aiording at every
turn glmpses OF the ruiiled waters through chest
nut woods that cover its sides; while now and
then are to be seen bubbling brooks and purling
streams that are fed from the wooded hills. But
there is one In particular which has been known
for over two hundred years as the "water spout, +"
from which the coasters have regularly flied
their casks; and even the great Ilendrick hun
self, repenished his tanks from this spout.
From this spot we pass on through the thick
groves, shaded dells and take the road that lead,
TO THE LIGHT HOUSE,
q magnificent two.towered structure, which nc
one fails 10 visit when within radius, and which
is worth going many miles TO see. This appar.
emily solid shaft runs its head above the ever
green crest of the hill, and for size and il
Illumination is the finest Of its kind In America
Says a writer: THE two massive towers and
their connecting walls Of brown sandstone fac,
the ocean little TO the north OF east, ut AZ
elevation Of 1876 above the sea level. The Ian
terms are 80 feet above the ground making theii
eus.I t..s..l - -
Under the care OF deputy the visitor is con
Quoted into the stone-payed store.room, and In
spects the huge l0O-gailon casks Of the best lard
oil, frozen by the cold winter TO the consstenr,
and color Of Ice cream, and which before being
used 10 the lamps, must be delved upin chunks
and melted over q hot fire. From thence be zoe,