Connecticut western news., 1881-11-02
Am American Scotland.

The following interesting letter appeared under the above heading, in the Boston Eve ming Transcript of Oct. 24th. It is from the pen of MT. A. O. Jennings of Boston, and will be read with interest by all our readers in this section:
 Such was the exclamation that rose frequent. ly to our lips, as our rides and walks, during the late summer, led us through the north western corner of Connecticut. Look out that corner on map of the State, and you will find it darkly shaded and studded with lakes, which look as though the waters had rolled together, like drops of mercury. between the hills. You expect & rugged surface and rocky soil in such spot. But think what that dark shading, that ruggedness, indicates Grandeur and beauty of mountain scenery in nature-strength and energy of character in man. These, the great characteristics of European Scotland, we have found, on smaller scale, in Litchfeld County, and es. pecially in it's most western town-Salisbury. The name suggests an English derivation, which probably is the true one. In shape, the town is perfect oblong, and owns no bound aries on the east and west but those of nature. The broad, Indian-christened Housatonic, flowing swiftly past on it's way to the Sound, spreads crystal barrier to the eastward. On the west mountain range, united at it's southern end to the Alleghanies, at it's north- ern to the Green Mountains, rises imposing and grand, an impenetrable screen from the
 
 the northern link with Massachusetts, and Sharon, which lies on the south, is almost as beautiful as the famous plain of biblical histo- ry which bore it's name.
 The charm of Salisbury scenery seems to lie in it's rich diversity. Mountain and plain, hillside and glen, lake and river, forest and tield-all are there combined, too, in propor- tions so perfect that we are never wearied by the excess of any one of them. A clergyman who had spent several years in the south ot Europe considered the landscape scenery of Salisbury to surpass in beauty and variety anyt thing he had witnessed abroad. Another, whose birthplace was Lanarkshlre, Scotland, and who for forty years was pastor of the Con delight in it's natural features, as reminding him of hls native land.
 One residence in the picturesque village of Lakeville, in the very heart of the town gives one & view fifty miles in extent, which the en- thusiastic proprietor terms 'sunequalled in America" As we looked upon it, one of George Eliot's rare bits of description came to mind-"High up against the horizon were the intended to fortify this region of corn and grass against the cold winds of the north.' But her English landscape lacked one promi- nent element of this-the two noble lakes ly ing in full view. and forming in front and at the left the central points of vision. In prim- itive parlance, the former was called Long Pond and the latter Round Pond-measuring just mile each way. After mountain and lake have been duly admired, we have still to mo- tice the sidelights of the picture-the grad ually sloping meadows. long belts of forests, fields yellow with oats. green with corn, choco- late with ploughed land, or so white with buckwheat that one almost imagines snow has been falling. Riding northward in the early morning, with those grand mountains always on our left. these various features changed as rapidly as the fig ures in kaleidoscope. The element of grandeur might have been strong CT, but more of beauty seemed impossible Viewing the scene twelve hours later, by moonlight on summer evening. the charm was different in kind but not less in degree Moonlight" as a recent writer has remarked, ''simplifes and softens the landscape. Colors become scarcely distingui h ble and forms de- prived of half their detail, gain ln ma jesty and size. The mountains seem greater far by night than day-higher heights and deeper depths, softer meadows and darker pines." The beauties of Lakeville are evidently ap- preciated by New Workers. who crowd the ho | tels in summer and appear to find their White Mountains and Lake Winnipiseogee here. To render the delusion more complete, there IS | veritable Mt. Washington not far distant, the view from which is said to be very fine. From a day of sunshine, the counties of Duchess and Columbia in New York, and even the Catskills and Mountain House.
 On the border of one of the lakes stands the Alexander Holley. The past and present gov ernors of Connecticut would seem to be on good terms, since the present incumbent, H. P. Bigelow, was the guest of the ex-governor during our stay, and reception was given in his honor The illuminated grounds, with band playing under the shade of the trees, the tastefully decorated rooms, we'll spread tables and richly dressed company were enjoyable features of the evening, but of course tue event was our introduction to the two governors. Is it necessary for State magistrates to be Of strong physique andporty figure2' Could our own noble Long, to whose form we became so accustomed in benevolent meetings last win ter, have been transported to the side of Gov ernor Bigelow, we fancy they would have matched as exactly in height and size as they probably do in executive ability.
 The fine library of the ex-governor, and the old and valuable State documents contained in his cabinet, increased the interest we al- ready felt in the history of this truly New Eng land town It seems that the northwestern part of Connecticut was but little known pre- vious to the accession of James II. In 1886, the future Litchfield County was granted to Hartford and Windsor Two years later compromise was made. which divided it be- tween those towns and the colony-Salisbury being retained by the latter.