Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-10
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington. ID. c.. Sent. G, =

Washington, d. c., Sept. 6, 'S4.
Finding the Capital very dull, with
the government distributed around
amongst the various watering places,
your correspondent took flying vaca.
ton last week and saw more sights
than are to be seen in Washington Just
now. Everybody has heard, late years,
Of Watkins Glen, but everybody has
not yet seen it, though Judging from
the stream of travel in that direction at
this season Of the year, everybody will
have seen it some Of these days. Hav-
ing had my interest aroused by the en-
thusiastic accounts Of friends who have
been there, concluded | could take
just time enough to make trip TO the
new wonder, and | have never taken u
similar journey which proved more ell
joyablc or more replete with interesting
fcaturcs-not even excepting my first
trip to Niagara.
Watkins Glen is one of the greatest
natural wonders on the continent. !
have spoken of it as u "ncw" wonder
because its fame has but recently gone
forth, but that great crevisc in those
vast lodges of rocks with its wonderful
caverns and beautiful cascades was
probably there when Columbus dis
covered America. There is no telling
how many centuries Of time the cle-
ments have been employed in working
out the grand aggregation Of wonders
and beauties which are here presented.
Fifty years ago, only on the more COM
pletc maps of New York could be found
the little town of Jefferson at the head
OF Seneca Lake. Later the name was
changed to Watkins, and the Northern
Central railway pushed its line down
the Chemmg Valley, touching the
town on its route to Canandalgua.
Soon after this the Glen began to al
tract attention, and now palatial steam
crs pillow thro Ugh the blue lake where,
within the memory Of man, bark can-
oes tossed on the waves or darted into
the shadows of dropping trees. Groves
until lately the dark retreat of night
birds, unvisitcd save by the hunter. are
lhronged with daily picnics, while ev-
cry jutting point, where once the timid
deer stole to the waters edge, is now
the site of summer cottage or gay
with the tents and banners of camping
parties. Not the least OF the attrac-
tons of sojourn here, is the elegant
Glen Mountain House, picturesqucly
situated on the mountain top and sur
rounded by lovely groves. 1t is de-
lightful retreat. cool at all times, and
provided with every facility for COM
fort and amusement PlONo.
ST. NICHOLAS is an attractive num-
Der, containing happy combination Of
those features which 20 to make up
successful child's magazine. Among
the stories are one of Frank p. Stock
toms inimitablc fancful tales. entitled
"rhe Queens Museum" with four Of
Bcnsclls characteristic illustrations
the first half of 'The Dalzclls of Dali
sydown," a fresh and breezy study of
boy and girl life, by f. Ninton Blake ;
and "Benny's Horse" an exceedingly
and naturally told story, by
Mary Catherine Lee. Besides the us
ual reading Charles Barnard contrib
utcs a comprehensive account Of u New
York Kitchen Garden, in the form Of Il
story, and George b. Bartlett tells of
a new amusement for summer nights
or winter evenings.