Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-08-14


laugh of perfect joy,-of the abundant ia
bles-of the brilliant fireworks, and of how
every one felt that it was good to be there.
For the Democrat.
A NEW MINERAL LOCALITY.
Oxford County Is justly famed for the
great variety OF choice specimens which 1t
furnishes for the mineralogist; many ia
nous collections of minerals, both public
and private, being indebted TO the noun
tsins of Oxford County for some of their
best and rarest specimens.
The mineral localities, as well as varie-
ties, are acknowledgement additions
having been made to the list of each since
the &" Hamlin boys" discovered the mineral
bonanza known as Mt. Mica. The latest
OF these, so far as we know, is that made
by the recent discovery OF minerals of the
Tourmali ne Group, on Black Mountain, in
Rumford.
Visiting the place, not long since, we
obtained very good specimens of red Cor
pink. green and black tourmslines, lepi-
and crystals. The vein from which these
were taken is about six feet wide with an
uncovered length of four or five rolls, and
has been broken into by only one shallow
blast We also found in other places, on
the same mountain, garnets, quartz crys-
tails, magnetic, and yellow beryl.
This mountain is situated in the north
ern part of Rumford. directly east of White
Cap. the well known blueberry mountain.
Seen from the Andover side, it has re-
markedly pyramid-like appearance, which,
in connection with its height-nearly 2i00
feet-maSes II 4 prominent feature In our
moutain scenery. 1t is easily accessible,
as the summit is within one and one-half
miles OF the Horseshoe Valley road; and,
aside from the minerals which II affords,
is well worth visiting by any one who has
n taste FOR mountain rambles. To make
the ascent from the northwest, which
point Is selected from the fact that along
the northwest angle the mountain is bare
much nearer the base than elsewhere, We
leave the road a. or near the house OF j.
r. Andrews, esq, of Andover, pass through
a pasture that extends third OF a mile up
the slope and through dense thicket Of
young birches OF nearly the same extent
before reaching the lodges. These are OF
mica schist, sometimes passing into gnelss
and from this point 10 the summit rise one
above another with stair-like regularity.
Along these lodges numerous boulders are
scattered, and in places glacial markings
are plainly seen. Resting on one OF these
terraces one falls into the mood so we'll
expressed by Miss Larcom:
81 scarcely know whether to climb were more
sweet,
Or 10 lap me in beauty spread out at my feet"
The summit once reached. the doubt van
lshes, for II climbing is less sweet than
rest It's reward, In this case, at least, is far
greater.
The view from the summit Is Immense,
much superior 10 that obtained from Whlte
Cap or other ne!ghborlug mountains. Far
below you, New EnglAnds mlghtiest cata.
ract appears like torrent OF silver. Beau:
tifni valleys, eullyered BY sheets OF spark.
l!dg water and dotted With field, farm:
house and village complete the foreground,
while beyond, "a sea OF mountains" stretch
ing 70 the utmost vision, meets the gaze
whichever way It may be tnrned.
This mountain, we thluk, deserves q
better name than Black; and as It Ia the
fourth mountain known by that name IN
Oxford County, we would suggest, In clos.
ing this article. that It be re-christened as
Mount Tourmallue.
E. NJ. BAILEY.
Andoser, Ne. Aug, 81.