New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-28
SUMMER LEISURE.
THE DELAWARE WATER GAP.

York keeps him all the year round at work unless he
desperately abandons It, to survive the daily pull
the summer smell anu sweter OF the city, and to
make successful recuperation when the better
winter conditions put fresh life into his brain and
the rest OF his body but unless it be unavoidable
l do not think that it is wise to run the risk. The
time comes at last when the flag is insuppOrtable,
and there is positive virtue in a vacation. When
appetite is gone; when work has ceased to be ovable
for its own sake, and becomes what Mr. Mantilini
called :" a demd horrd grind" when one is tired of
seeing the doctor of spending money with tho
apothccary, and of testing the medicaments recon-
mended by good-natured friends, there is nothing
for it but to pack the portmanteau and to abscond
People with nothing the matter with them in par
ticuar who can do this every year without any cal
culatlon OF expense, and who can casiy shift their
country quarters should they prove untasteful,
cannot know how much calculation enters, or
should enter, into the plans OF those whose time and
whose purses aIe limited. Very much depends upon
the choice of place for the all too short retreat and
any mistake of air. of company and of accommOda-
tions may have serious results, especially when
there is a question of health.
did not come to the Delaware Water Gap OF my
own motion, for know nothing about it /; but was
told that should find here good mountain air. fine
scenery plenty of pleasant and reinvigorating
walks, an excellent hotel unspoiled by the folderol
of fashion, aud liberty of perfect idleness which
was precisely what wanted. If break through
tho law of lazDess which had prescribed for my
self, or which, more correctly speaking was pre-
scribed for me, and resume my acquaintance with
pen and ink, it is because there il a pleasure in
laboring here after limited and amateur fashion
1t seems almost shame to make no record of so
much pure and innocent happiness, and to do moth
ing to tempt my tagged and jaded fellow-cIeatures
to share in the eniOyments and benefits of this SUI
per1or, literally superior, spot. Most people have
aar1 xI,at A. III.
Gap is charming; but nobody can thoroughly
understand how charming it is until
th"y have felt its invigorating broezes
fan their feverish cheeks. have slept the unbrokcn
sleep which here is possible, have climbed these
rugged paths, with exquisite views continually and
unexpectedly breaking upon the eyes, and have
Heated between the majestic mountains over the
dark, unruified bosom Of the river.
l suppose it is hardly necessary for me 10 inform
my readers where what the Water Gap is; but for
the benefit of the few who have never heard of il
may venture upon few particulars. 1t is where TIE
Delaware River crosses the Blue Ridge. For one
hundred and fifty miles the stream has been rapid
one, but upon reaching the Water Gap it becomes
solemn slow and circumspect, and creeps through
the great crovice before ii once moro resumes its
speed, and, escaping from the Kittatny Range, hur-
ries again toward Delaware Bay its ultimate reser-
voir Perhaps am not surprisingly accurate in my
geography, and might be worse in my geology but
1t would be evident to eye the least like the late
Sir Charles Lyells, that at period the earth in
this region must have gone through astonishing per-
formanoes. 1t must have been a convulsion of no
common character which made this great fssuro
and openeda gate for the water, ping up the noun
talns, Minsi upon the Pennsylvania side and Tam
many on the New-Jersey side, each 1,GOO feet high
while the minor Blockade Mountain, about 900 feet
high, gives the river graceful curve. Minsi and
Blockade Mountains stand, as the Promised Land
did, all clothed in living green but Tammany rises
in unabashed and granite nakedness. These noun
tains are not Alpine in their elevation but for one
ambitious of exploits in climbing, they offer excel
lent facilities so far as they go. Mount Mnsi has
witnessed my inexperienced and vaetudnaran eff
forts. The Water Gap has many devoted admirers
who every summer come TO it for rest and recref-
ton, and some of these hare formed an association
called 1.-The Minsi Pioneers" the laudiDle purpose
OF which is to develop the beauties and attractions
of the mountain whose name they bear. To this So
cety the visitor is indebted for "Tho True Ridge
Path" a narrow road pathway running around
Mount Minsi This was really az entcrprisng piece
Of engineering. The trees have been removed great
boulders blasted, the thickets bcolen up bridges
constructed, places of rest planted. Really in my
physical condition. it was something OF aa exploit
to achieve the ascents and descents of the True
Ridge Path. was in manner betrayed into It by
women, were anxious to do the deed themselves
and who promised to see me safely around-a pledge
which, with much laughing their part aud mucb
sprawling upon mine, they honoraby fulfilled. The
Ridge Patti, doubtless, would be chd's play and q
Hat level to those who have scrambled among the
Alps but found it highly precipitous and exhaust
ing. Sometimes it was necessary to pull me I'D.
Sometimes it was necessary to let me gently down
Occasionally the ascent was steep that l. breath
less and perspiring, pronounced it impossible and
solempv If not piteously, declared that would 90
no further But then to go back or downward was
quite as bad as to so forward or upward.
There wcre ugly ravines into which no man
with proper respect for his bones would desire to
fall. do not suppose that there was much actual
danger, but occasionally the outlook or uplool. to
me was rather discouraging Yet there was of fre-
quent points such glimpses of superb natural seem
cry as repaid all the fatguing exertion, and when
we reached Prospect Rock tho view was one which
my lowland eyes never before witnessed. 1t was o
positive pleasure to recover ones breath: it was an
other pleasure to drink water, pure and sparkling
from its natural fountain. Before our ewes all the
beauties Of tins charming spot for miles extended
river and HILL hamlet and hotel, wood and valley
we looked down upon them all, while twenty miles
away rose the blue Pocono Mountains It was
worth while to come all tho way from New-York to
get such q sense OF elevation. l was tired but
was enchanted. / forgot all my ignomnious
protests against going on, while now that
the way was easy l experienced q different
reluctance, and was equally fain to stay where
was. But it was now nearly dinner time, and with
my rowling appetite dinner at the Gap House WAS
not to be disregarded. l had achieved the True
Ridge Path, aud was little proud of my achieve
ment. But Mr.. Brodheads piazza had also its
.cf4n I~I