Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-01-14

and of the still higher enjoyment Of con
stantly unfolding beauties in both near
and distant landscapes, and you will
count the descent on the tender of the
locomotive as one of the rarest events of
your life.
On reaching Tabyans, the great center
of White mountain travel, we took train
for Bartlett. mountain hedged village
about eighteen miles doa n the Crawford
Notch. The Saco valley, through which
the road runs, is bordered on both sides
by lofty mountains, which are ranged like
sentinels around the southern base
of Mt. Washington. The railroad is built
against the side of one of these ranges,
around whose slopes it winds in and out,
so high above the trees in the valleys.
that their tops seemed like a green car
pet beneath us; and being in observation
cars. there was no obstruction to the pro-
spective and retrospective views which
succeeded each other with rapid and con-
tinual changes; among the most impress
sive of which was grand view of Mt.
Washington peak Unframed between
these high southern spurs.
A night of quiet and rest at the CON-
Portable old-fashioned inn at Bartlett at
forded a delightful interval between the
stirring experiences of the last forty eight
hours and those that succeeded.
We returned to Tabyans by the same
route. Looked again into the faces of
the mountains scared and scanned by the
action of land slide and avalanche;-list-
ened to the story of the sad fate of the
Wiley family as we sped over the fatal
spot; and strained our eyes to get a
glimpse of the house in the valley be-
neath;-leaned far over the side of the
car to look into the black depths of the
Frankenstine Gulf; peered upwards into
the dark entrance of the Devils Den: and
finally dashed through the gate of the
notch where the railroad splits into the
mountain from which we emerged to
make rapid run to Tabyans, where we
again changed cars for
TOUR TO THE FRANCONIA OR PROFILE
NOTCH,
several miles southwest of Mt. Washing
ton. The mountains of this group are
less lofty than those of the Presidential
range, but what they lack in gloomy gran
deur, is fully compensated for by their
rich covering of green forest, their gothic
outlines and an air Of exquisite picture
squeness.
Among the wonders of nature in this
place, are the Plume, the Profile, and
Echo Lake. The Profile, from it's eleva-
ton of about three thousand feet, look
out upon the world with Sphinx like
solemnity, and the great why of life
comes naturally to mind as one looks up
into the awe-inspiring face.
think the most beautiful spot in all
the White Mountain regions is
ECHO LAKE,
whose crystal surface reflects on every
side the spires and cliffs and forest-cover.
ed slopes of mountains from three to five
thousand feet high. 1t was just sunset
when we visited it, and clouds and shad-
ows and sunset colors seemed intent on
clarifying the scene. And though our
| cup of enjoyment seemed already full, it
suddenly brimmed to overlooking as, from
boat IN the middle of the lake, the
strains of cornet burst upon the even
ing air, and "set the wild echoes flying
till every crag and peak and twig and
leaf seemed vocaliZed
We spent the night at the Profile
House, and in the evening went down
into the grand parlors, where a fashion
able hop was hopping. At once assumed
my P. A. and P. I. propensities and made
close study of the beaux and bellies as
they passed through the changes of the
German, and of the chaperones and wall
flowers as they yawned and gossiped in
their luxurious seats.
On the following morning we took up
our line of travel gain with the feeling
that we were leaving behind US a region
though accessible to the outer world, not
of it.
At about noon was obliged to part
with the companion of all my joys and
exploits She turned her face toward
the great city again, while turned aside
into
VERMONT
where the remaining days of my vacation
were spent in renewing old friendships
and establishing new ones.
My letter is already too long to admit of
description of the lovely Green Noun
tain scenery. In effect, they are the
White Mountains on smaller scale, and
really more beautiful. because of their
luxuriant green covering. One feels as
he roams through the lovely valleys, and
over the hills and in the shady woods
now lingering beside some singing noun
tain brook, or picturesque cascade with
its environments of rocks and trees and
moss and ferns and rainbow tinted mist;
and now gazes away off at the majestic
outlines of Mts. Mansfield and CamePs
Hump-one feels, l say. that the Green
Mountain state is indeed one of natures
most beautiful picture galleries.
II. A. s.
W. fin1 tho fn1law;nr i, <ho M;rroo