Litchfield enquirer., 1881-09-29
Correspondence of the Evening Mail.l
LITCHFIELD.

 LITCHFIELD.
 AS IT WAS AND AS IT Is-1Ts FAMOUS PEOPLE ITS ARCHITEOTURE-ITs PLEASANT PLA- OEs.
 L1ToHFILLD, Conn.,, Sept 2. Among the old and interesting places which stlll keep fresh the aroma of colonial days perhaps none are more sought after by the modern dweller in towns, who longs to shake of their dust, than Litch6eld. Lying as it does perched on plateau formed by the hills, you descend from them into the verdant val leys around, which are again encirced by an amphitheatre of stately slopng hills which disdaiu the idea of being clsssed with moun- tains of other States. A century ago, when a Puritan ancestry lent prime dignity to the society of the day, it conferred on Litchfeld part of it's prestige, and the stately mansions, oVer-shadowed by century old elms that bor- der the village streets. yet bear over the round ed archwaY of their entrances the dates, in quaint English numbering, at which they were erected. Outside their fences, and far into the highway, stretch their smooth shaven lawns, protesting against the niggardly mod ern fashion that forbids the wayfarer and the traveller enjoying even glimpse into the own CTS possessions or the beauty of his home. This old town, sitting majestically on it's hills, has peopled nation with intellectual culture; it has given it divines judges and statesmen, and has, in it's restful elfcontrol, put clog on the modern hurry and tumult that is the principal feature of the life of to-day.
 No manufacturies with their spouting steam and smoking chmnevs have polluted the pure clear ar. The railroad, which the towns importance demandedit should possess, crawls in so sleepy and apologetic a manner through the wild and picturesque valley of the Shepaug river, from which it takes it's name, that it bears little kinship to the bustling lines from which it branches. The locomotive edg- es through a country bridle-path and parts it's branches as it goes. Even the COW catcher seems to show cOnsideratio ion foreign to that prosaic invention under ordirary circumstan- ces, as it pushes back the wild flowers and summer bloom that impedes it's progress, and the traveller, never a commercial one on this line. bears with composure the slow pro gressiOn as he gazes enraptured at the rive in fact a mere trout stream-dancing and gurgling over the stones, shadOwcd by aldcrs and pines which dip gracefully or stoop in stately dignity into the water. Occasionally the road runs by precipce in whose depths, lighted by occasional f1ecks of sunshine, still runs the stream, it's joyous life imprisoned be- tween the granite walls then breaking it's bonds, it flows gaily through the flower sprink- led meadows and verdant bouquets again. No houses are to be seen, the stations are mere huts in the pastoral landscape, and when a few passengers get out, one wonders where they eau be going and ifthey have d lodge m some adjacent wilderness. They vanish into the greenery and the train creeps lazily on to it's terminus, Litchield. A few boys pitching pennies on the station steps eye us with lan- guid curiosity; there is DO noise This is one of the few places in our bustling country where no one is in hurry. It is better than thousand rest cures to watch how leiSurcly h:ot nothing is dead or sleepy in the old. town. On the contrary there is quiet, digniied ca I'm in the air, the stately mansions seem to protest against uncourtlY haste, but there is no tOrpOr about them. One sees young and graceful groups under the Eizabethan porti- cos, and from the stone doOrsleps the gay voice of youth rings out merrily. Back from the public square where it used to stand has been pushed the old church where Rev. Lyman Beecher used to preach, and these sanc gay youths and maidens we hear and see have ta- ken this venerable temple oftheology in winch to hold their dances aDdcountry revels-a use, we fear, of which the venerable divine whose clever pesterity has made his and their own name famous, would hardly approve for in the old New England days stern discipline and little amusement were advocated for youth.
 As we drive from the village we find at the foot of the hill vestige of the famous old
 
 Burr and hosts of the legal lights of his and a later day were graduated), in frame build ing moved here from It's original site It is the home of large colored family and the pica- ninnies are disporting themselves about it's classic but mouldering rafters in glorious unconcern of it's whilom dignity. We are now on the road to the pride of Litchfield, it's beautiful lake, which lies like acrescent among sloping green hills crowned with prosperous fovfno xUhnao aalrn hpantU ic varied hxy sonal closely wooded stretches that fringe the shores There is a small hotel or clubhouse at one end where suppers may be had and boats hired, and Litchfeld itself boasts of a large and we'll kept hotel, the Lake View, which compares favorably with any in the country. But the migratory summer visitors have little to do with the society of Litchfeld, which relies nothing on them, and furnishes an intellectual and social atmosphere of it's own rarely met with in this country. The old English and colonial words and customs yet may be found here, and one finds "The Glebe" still written on the gate of the ancient rectOry.
 Litchheld lost one of it's most honOred and oldest citizens this summer in the justly cele. brated Judge Seymour, so much prized, not only by his own party, but. by the whole State. There is little variation to beseen from the quaint, old fashioned style of achitecture of the fine, roomy mansions, in some of which Washington stayed, and where the descendants of old provincial families still live. One or two Queen Anne villas have crept in to con- trast with these, just as occasionally lawn or garden fete is given by way of a change from the old fashioned high tea our ancestors de- lighted to honor. Five o'clock tea. where one may have the dish of tea served in delightful old blue and white willow ware cups from the hand of some fair hostess whose rooms are ornamented with quaint corner cuphoads har- boring treasures of ancient delft and porcelain is after all but revival ofthe customs of our forefathers, and this may be enjoyed with it's real significance in Litch6eld.
 Now that the early fall days are come inc country is becoming doubly delightful. The tints. the hedges are fringed with the golden rod, aster, gentian. and the fragrance of grape vineyard and apple orchard fills the air with a fine fruity fragrance. After the, afternoon drive one may come back to genuine ''high tea, then pile the ample chimney place with chestnut and hickory logs, and finish the evening in blaze of good cheer. The drives around are delightful. Down at Morris just below Liichfeld, situated where onr roads meet and cross. stands an ancient inn whose sign was only removed. after swinging ov"r hundred years. Ii year or two ago. aad whose flip iron and grating to the broad vim dow through which the drinks were handed from kitchen to parlor may still he seen. The window is bris'ked up. bri the easement remains, as does upstairs the long ball room,
 CONCLUDED ON FOURTH PAGE.