Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-09-15
Great Falls Of the Potomac.

] Z Mr. Editor: A recent trip that | made To
the Falls has left upon my mind such very
pleasant impression that desire to perpet-
uate the memoir by embalming IL In the
"art preventative"
Capt. Gale, with his characteristic cour-
tesy, and accompanied by his exceptionally
charming wife, Miss Nelly Coniey, Mr.
Wiley, Of Washington DR. Baker, and lit
tie Hamilton, the Interesting son Of Capt
Gale, called for me with a spanking team
from the Summit Hotel livery stables, and by
8 o'clock We were rapidly passing through
your beautiful town on our way u the far
famed Great Falls of the Potomac.
Nothing very notable occurred on the
way except a little delay caused by the
breaking Of wheel, which difficulty we
were greatly relieved from by the kindness
of the generous farmers along our route,
who furnished us with assistance and tenn
porary wheel, and the wheelwrght at Po-
tomac, who repaired our wheel inI had it
done on our return from the Ftl,s the
ladies', wlhss, comfort was oi ..',uss, ,mr
greatest sonr5s .. +Jicilude, took the delay
&c, quite phi'ePr' llicaly and miligated our
plight very much by their conmendabie
goIL hnnn.r
Arriving at the Cromelin Hotel We turned
our team over Ia mine host, Carroll, whose
general attention Ia his guests is ~ grateful
Ia the visitor nj the Falls, and soon after
wards made the rugged passage 10 the river.
The sun being somewhat Obscured by the
clouds made ii most suspicious for pleas
ant observation OF the scenery, rs | have
noticed that on real bright days IL Is very
hot on the rocks that here abound.
All of us expressed our delight at the
grand and rugged view, and although Mrs.
Gale was little disappointed at the absence
of any bold and prominent cataract she ac-
knowledged that the scene became more
and more fascinating 10 her gaze. Ienjoyed
feast Of the vision and imagination never
experienced before, and became almost OBJ
livious to the rest Of the world In the con-
temptation Of this eternal waste Of rocks
and water. think the poet, Pope, must
have sat in such contemplation when he
wrote
40 the poor Indian whose untutored mind
Sees God in the cloud and hears him in the
wind"
felt the realization Of the Great Omnipo-
tent In the restless surge and dashing foam ;
In the water.wOrn bndcrs, and In the great
assures, evidences of natures commissions,
as never did before, even In the dazzling
lightning and thunders crash. Whilst gag.
ing, fancy paints the wild aborigines, sur.
rounded by this scene, disrobed of every
feature Of civilization, and the soul foods
with rapture Of poetry. Here and there
ut inaccessible points great timbers aud trees
have been lodged, and In places spanning
chasms and assures with plumb and &C.
curacy worthy Of the highest degree of en-
gineering skin. In the rocks Of the stream.
bed are large round basins worn by the
eternal eddying Of the waters, silent proofs
Of the antiquity Of this hesdlong rush and
surge and foam. II seemed that my fancy
expanded with the limitlcss grandeur OF the
view until sentiment broke Us bonds In the
exclamation: Natures splendor! ] never
saw Niagara-I never crossed the ocean
but cannot conceive that any scene can
surpass in natural beauty and wild and
rugged grandeur the pass Of the Great Falls
Of the Potomac.
"Noble river, onward flowing,
Through rugged pass or quiet glade,
Where the grim old forests growing,
Gloom thy waters with their shade"
We returned to the Cromelin, where the
cuisine IL excellent, and soon were In the
full enjoyment Of good dinner appropri
ate u the SEASON. some Of us were rathel
unsettled by the unusual exercise among
the rocks and could not do justice To thi
good cheer Of the Cromelin. But had re.
served my strength for the occasion and this
good dinner, attended by pleasant company
forms no mean attraction in the reminis
cences of one of the pleasantest days Of my
life. RAMBLER