The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-21

Correspondence of the In,an n ohr journal
SARATOGA, May ibid you ever hear Of
Mount McGregorl l never did till this morn
ing when It was announced in the General As
seInbfy that the session would close for the week
at noon, and ali who wished could 20 on the OK
cursion to the mocntain top at $50 p. Al. to
day. AS the season has not opened here yet,
and the twelve miles ride in the cars is only a
pleasure trip, no train HIS been run over the
limo since last summer, It was announced that
the company would send up train if fifty pas
sengers would 60 We went, 40 of us crowd
ing six cars and leaving two or three carloads
of anxious people standing on the platform, who
could find room in the cars. For the first eight
miles the ascent is very easy, up through
broad, fertile valley, the long stretch Of noun
tains on the right gradually coming into
view-the Green mountains of Vermont, a long
line of dark blue on the distant horizon. The
light shower of rain that swept down the valley
did not obscure, but rather increased, the beau-
tiful play of sunlight and shade on these far
away slopes of the mountain ridge. The last
four and half miles was a steady climb-2l2
feet to the mile-clinging now to the sides Of the
hills, now crossing ON trestle work the deep ra-
finally came out on an open space near the very
summit of the mountain. A little higher up is the
large new hotel, nearly completed, and from the
grounds and verandas we were charmed by the
sight of one of the most beautiful and magnlfi-
cent landscape scenes ever beheld Still more
enchanting was the view from the top Of
the tower which crowns the h0uel. The
farms in the valley below seemed like little
garden plats, the colors of plowed fields
and green grass, suftened by distance into an
indstinct Velvety smoothness that made the
whole broad valley seem more like the product
of an artists brush than solid earth. Far away
to the right the upper limb OF Saratoga lake
came into view, q silver sheen that seemed to
melt away into the blue sky beyond. Straight
before us, some fifteen miles distant re could
dimly the monument cornmem0rating the
surrender of Burgoyne. On the left, stretching
away north and south beyond the limit OF our
vision, the Green mountains of Vermont out
lined this splendid view, casting a dark misty
shade on the valley along their base, touched in
one place by the brilliant colors of the Hhoro IN
the cloud" lighting up the mountain crest in an
unearthly splendOr. l have seen q great deal of
mountain scenery in Europe and Asia on a much
grander scale than this, but seldom one having so
much delicate, exquisite beauty.
We ran down the mountain to Saratoga in
thirty minutes.
A little city of II 600 people, like Saratoga,
must have ample hotel accommodations to re-
ceive the fifteen to twenty Thousand guests that
come here every summer to drink from these
5i'i-iS INV 10y Va. S'y
this Mecca OF fashion. The city is ful
of them, large and small, quiet, clean
and pleasant hostelries, Some Of them
disguised by tho eWphonious titles of insta-
tutes of various names. The larger ones are
not opened yet, but win be ready for guests
about the LIST of June. ] have been told that
the Grand Union has 1900 rooms, that yield each
$40 day during the season. besides wine bills,
amounting to s., 600 OR $50, GOO a day, and the
revenue from several hundred more transient
guests. 1t must require large receipts
to provide for the wants of so many
exacting guests and pay for the 800 servants re-
qJTired for their service Judge Hilton, the
owner, has beautiful summer home and park
near the city. don't think he has yet bullt
synagogue the premises
The springs are numerous and refreshing.
Every morning you may see, between and
o'clock, large crowd of thirsty Presbyterians
gathered in the large room built over the
Hathorn spring drinking the water, hot or
cold, as they may prefer sitting about the stove
these sharp, cool mornings Guessing who Will be
the nominee at Chicago, or discussing the cur
rent business of the assembly. | met an old
classnate there this morning a fellow grad
uate at Princeton whom have seen but once
in thirty years There are also a large number
of ladies at these morning matinees who drain
their glasses with the air of old topers. ]
wonder if these pious disciples of Calvin and
Knox can cease this drinking habit when they
go home.