Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-06-29

1888.
er MIR. Anson johnson, Mr.. Ira Shattucl
and MIR. George Barstow, though not prcsen
at the levec, agree in saying that Van Nes'
then lived on the hill and gave the leve,
there. The same SAYS, also, Mr.. Warehan
Warner, now wealthy citizen of Cleveland
OHIO, but formerly a resident Of Burlington,
and well known to our older citizens as one
OF the best masons we ever had here. lie
worked on the college building in 1926 and
spread the mortar-bed for the corner stone
laid by Lafayette. Among 'he ladies, Mrs.
J. ID. Allen, Miss Ann Lowry, and her sister
Julia NOV Mrs. Gen. skinner say that
they were OF the company Of young ladies
who strewed flowers before Lafayette as he
went up to lay the corner stone, and that
they attended the levcc at The mansion on
the hill. Mrs. Skinner recollects that the Ia
diea wore at the levee. Lafayette gloves
1. c., gloves with his miniature stamped on
their back. Mrs Henry Thomas, Mrs. G.
Mills, Miss Almira Johnson, Mrs. w. L.
Hickok, Mrs. Alfred Brooks, Miss. Maria
Loomis and Mrs. Jane Root, though not
present at the levce, confirm the general ira
last named were at that time young ladies at
school at Kccnc and Troy, and speak of let
tcrs received frOm Gov. Van Ncss's daugh-
tcrs Marcia and Corncla, describing to them
the splendors Of the levec. which they all
agree in saying, was something magnificent
beyond anything known in Vermont in those
early days.
Thus itappears that the old people OF Bur-
lington arc unanimous. Not one dissenting
voice has been founI-al confirm the old
tradition that the famous Lafayette levec
was held at that ''princely' place now owned
by l.. Barnes Esq, with its "ample court
yard" and its mobile avenue leading up TO
the house"
The following extract from the letter of tE
V. 81" above referred TO, will interest our
readers;
Extract from Letter OF "E. v. Sc" to the
National Journal.
BURLINGTON, May IS. 1895.
The college you will recoilect was
burned last year. This vas serious loss.
But the inhabitants are about to replace it,
having raised sufficient subscription for the
purpose. The situation is very commanding,
being on the very brow of the hill and over
looking the town, the lake aud perhaps the
| finest display of scenery in New England.
Several years since, in company with a
fellow traveller, | viewed the scene from
the cupola of the old college. Every point
is fresh in my memory; indeed SO deeply
was | impressed with the sight that could
never have forgotten ii. 1t was Summer
morning; the village lay beneath us smiling
In the bright beauty of the early sun.
On its right, slowly winding its northward
course, the Onion river meaudcrcd through a
lovely valley, the farms of which exhibited
by the waving richness of their fields high
state of industry and cultivation. The mouth
| of the river was family indicated by the in
| termissiOn Of the forests which bordered il
aud by the projection of Colchester Point
extending itself Tar into the lake
On the left, the little village of Shelburn
embosorned itself among the ycrdure aud
beauty OF the corn clad hills and fertile
valleys which encompass 1t. The bay was
still and uuruflled and its calm extended
to the deeprr blue Of the open lake, which
seemed lm-king in the general radiance.
Juniper Is and, Schuyler Island and the Four
Brothers 10 kc gay and verdant and even
the bare scalp OF Rock Dunder, adding to the
varied cna a.,cr oi the scene. was an object
upon winch the scyc was pleased to rest.
To the north and south the eye wandered un-
constrained over that beautiful cxpansc OF
water save when interrupted by some green
| hcadlani str trilng into the lake or some
minute Island d ting its surface. At a grea,
distance to the south the spires an3 roofs OF
Essex shOne indislinctly at the foot of its
mountain background while far northward
Plattsburch was peeping from between the
points and islands that almost obscured II
from the eye. Directly in front lay the deep
ly induntcd biy-and across the lake, the
mighty ramparts Of the Adirondacks stoot
forth in the eye of the morning. displaying
the rugged outline of the iron bound shore.
OF New York, clearly and boldly defined OF
the unclouded horizon.
Almost equally grand was the opposi,,
view in the eastern direction from our com
manding position. Along the whole horizoI
stretched that lofty ridge denominated tn,
Green Mountains, commencing in Connect
cut and finally losing themselves in tht
plains and prairies of Lower Canada Her,
they presented Il dark blue rampant
the waving outline now abruptly ris
ing to stupendous height, forming
the wooded cone Of Camcl's Hump and tn
frowning elevation of Mansfield. Along tn,
whole horizon there was no opening in thi
sublime barrier, which bounded and chaine,
the sight. Over these dark heights the SUI
was commencing his durnal journey and a
his rays beamed upon the intermediate val
OF the huge ellis over which they were sent
"Jocund day
Stood tlptoc on the misty mountains tops
Nor in its round, do | believe nature pre-
sented to its smile a greater sublimity o
beauty than that | gazcd upon. You ca,
not conceive lis varied, its uniring charms
No words of mine are adequate TO descrip
tion which could convey even faint ide
Of these beauties.
i X. T. Englcsby's Garden.
mentioned TO you III my last that th
: grounds in this place ave generally tasteful
, arranged, and ornamentei. Nor must fai
to notice the garden oi gentleman, locate
near the court house square, upon whic
, great care and expense have been bcstowe
and not withou. corresponding effect
certainly exceeds any garden in your city Il
appearance and is stocked with the most dc
} licious fruit. | mention this more partcu
larly, as strangers are always made welcom
!, to amuse themselves in this delightful spot
and it is universally spoken of by visitor
from the southern cities AS an ornament 1
the place.
The Corner stone of the North Build
Ing.
The corner stone laid by Gen. Lafaye,t
was tina. of the South College. The corne
stone of the North College was laid by Gov
Van Ness, April 20, 1925. The NortAeri
Sentinel OF April 30, 1925, gave the follow
ing account of the ceremony;
We take much pleasure in announcing I
the public that the corner stone of the co,
lege editice, about to be erected in this town
was laid by His Excelency Gov. Van Mes
on the Goth inst. in presence of the officer
and students of the college aud large mum
, her of the citizens of this and adjacen
towns. An appropriate address was deliver
ed by Charles Adams Esq, and the ceremc
, ny closed by u snlemn nnd imnreasiYe nraYe