Morning journal and courier., 1883-07-30
CORRESPONDENCE.
A Drive in the White mountains.
 BETHLEHEM. N. H. Julv 2G

Drive In the White mountains. BETHLEHEM, N. H., July 26.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL and COURIER:
 Monday morning, July 23rd, 1883, we, { party of six, left the Highland House, Beth lehem, for long drive through the noun tains We had one of MT. Clark's large four horse wagons, under the charge of "Chris cne of the most genial drivers in Bethlehem Passing through Bethlehem street we soor came in view of the Twin Mountain House rendered famous by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. Turning to the left we passed around Cherry mountain and in another hour reached Jefferson. We had beautiful views all the way, seeing the village ot Whitefeld and Cherry Pond in the distance, while back of us the mountains of the Presi- dential range rose into the clouds. Jefferson is beautiful spot and is preferred by many tourists to all other points.
 After dining at the Plaisted House where we were very well entertained, we resumed our journey toward the Glen House. The drive to the glen was even more charming than that from Bethlehem and every bend in th9 road presented new and wonderful views to our eyes We drove along the base of the Presidential range, leaving Gorham away on our left and reached the Glen House for supper. Mine host Milliken gave
 
 lent supper and good rooms. We passed the evening very pleasantly in studying the scenery and in listening to the sweet strains of music discoursed by the Glen House orchestra We had magnifi- cient moonlight night and were much inter estsd in watching a rainstorm on Mount Washington. We retired to our rooms at an early hour, feeling much fntigued after our forty mile drive
 Tuesday morning we ordered up our wag- on and after visiting Glen Ellis Falls Crystal Cascade, Emerald Pool and other points of interest near the Glen House, started up Mount Was hington. The distan from Glen House to the summit is only eight miles, but it takes wagon four hours to make the ascent The road is a triumph of engineer ing skill and is nearly as broad and smooth as our own Farnham drive The average grade is twelve feet to the hundred, but at tho steepest point, two and half miles from the base it is sixteen feet to the hundred. In two hours we reached the Half way House rough little building where the roadmen lire Here We ordered lunch, and were soon fur nished with all the house afforded, coffee, apple pie, ginger cakes and bread and butter. We were surprised to find the viapds so well cooked and so palatable. The Halfway House is above the timber line and there are no trees of any kind above. After our lunch we resumed Jour upward journey, reaching the summit about o'clock. Here, 0,293 feet above the level of the sea, we found the Summit House, an excellent hotel accommodating two hundred guests, the United States Signal Service station and tho old Tip Top House, now occupied as 8 printing office by Burt's Among the Clouds" newspaper. This is said to be the highest newspaper office in the world. T he weather on the summit was extremely cold, the lowest temperature being 3+0 and the highest 460 during the day. For about two hours after our arrival we had exceptionally clear views of the surrounding country. At however, the clouds closed in around us and it was impossible to see over fifty feet from the house. We secured very nice rooms and enjoyed good nights rest. At o'clock Wednesday morning we were aroused by the ringing of an immense gong and all sallied forth to view the sunrise. We were much amused by the following notice which is conspicuously displayed in the Sum init House: "Guests going out to see the sunrise are particularly requested not to take he blankets from the beds with them" When we had gathered together in front of the house we were indeed picturesque com pany. Here were straw hats and linen dus- ters alongside of heavy winter overcoats and freezing point and the blanks were covered with frost. We had grand sunrise and glorious views. On the southeast we saw Sebago Lake, near Portland, and beyond the ocean itself. Directly south we saw North Conway and Lake Winnipesaukee, with it's islands. In the west the Fran conia Mountains and beyond them the Green and Adirondacks were visible. Immediately beneath our feet yanned the great "GuIf of Mexico"
 At seven o'clock we started down the on the railroad: By the judicious investment of some small change in the way of fees to engineer and fireman we secured seats in the tender. The views on our down. ward trip were sublime. One can get much better idea of the steepness of the grade by riding in the tender than is possible from the car. "The maximum grade is 1,98O feet to the mile or a little more than one foot in hree; while the average grade is very nearly l one foot in four" Upon reaching Fabyan's | xe changed cars for Crawford's, where we 1 'pent couple of hours, returning to Fab | fan's for dinner. Our driver, who, after eaving the Summit had returned to Glen House and then driven around to Fabyans, net us here and drove back to Bethlehem, reaching that place early Wednesday night All voted that we had most delightful trip
 J. Fl. N.