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

which the mountains themselves loomed
up. At last we were in the midst of
mountain scenery, and it was all so new
and strange and picturesque, that 1t fairly
benumbed my power of ejaculation, and
Erode in silent delight on the platform
of the car, was SO unwilling to lose a
single sight. For miles the road ran
close by the side of the Connecticut river,
which wound like silver thread in and
out among the hills, sometimes dashing
down a rocky descent, and sometimes
lying almost motionless in grassy mea-
dow. Some times the train dashed
through deep cuts, where the rocky walls
arose 80 high that we could not see the
top from the car window. Presently it
would emerge from this into a lovely
valley, where the hills had receded far
enough for farm or two, or a village.
And one must see one of these Vermont
or New Hampshire villages to fully re
alize what is meant by village "nestling
among the hills" Again, we would dash
through thick wood, where the trees
grew down to the very track, and the
smell of birch and hemlock was almost
intOxicati0n.
One feature of great beauty in all this
mountain region, is the luxuriant growth
of moss and ferns. The most exquisite
carDeting and decorating every where
abounds. An immense rock or lovely
bank covered with rich soft moss and en-
bossed with delicate green ferns, is some.
thing to delight the eye, and if this be
overshadowed by graceful trees, draped
with hanging moss, and bordered by a
mountain brook, which breaks into fall
just as it turns the curve of the bank, the
effect is indescribably beautiful. We
were constantly getting gllmpses of just
such sylvan gems as we sped on through
the varied scenery of this "Switzerland
of America"
We were detained at Woodsville more
than an hour by an overturned engine
on the track, but the ministers were good
company, and we made ourselves happy
in exploring the wild beauty of the place.
Finally we were on our way again, but
no amount of speed could make up the
lost time, and we did not reach the base
of the mountain till nearly dark, thus
losing one of the most beautiful sunset
views of the season at the summit, as we
learned on our arrival there about nine
O'Clock. in the evening. We were kept in
a state of excitement the last few miles
of the way as mountain peak after noun
tain peak came into view and all were
eager to get the first sight of Mt. Wash
ington. We got our first good view of it
at Fabyans, from which point the entire
western slope is plainly visible. Here
we changed cars, taking observation cars
for the six miles ride to the base station.
My first impression of the mountain was
one of disappointment. 1t did not ap-
pear so much higher than the surround
ing peaks as had expected. This is be-
cause the other mountains are nearer,
and we are further from Mt. Washington
than we think. But during the ride to
the base, sitting facing it with our eyes
fastened upon its huge proportions, it so
grew upon US that by the time We reached
the base we were humbled into silence by
the grandeur and sublimity of our sur
roundings.
At Ammonoosac station we changed
for I'm rhi rI>
are narrow little coaches that seat only
thirty or forty persons. The ascent of
three miles is made in an hour and half.
The locomotives are queer looking pieces
of machinery. very chunky and have the
boiler elevated at the engineers cab and
sloping to the front. They perform
their duty by pushing the cars from be-
low and retarding their descent. The
brakes are SAID to be very complicated,
and besides, there is central rail fitted
with cogs and played into by cog wheels
on the locomotive.
1t was nearly dark by the time we were
ready to begin the ascent. A train con-
sists of an engine and one coach. There
were four such trains about quarter of
mile apart. We we're in the front of
the last train and by the time 1t came our
turn to start we could see the lights of
the advance trains we'll on their way up
the steep sides of the mountain. 1t was
a weird sight to see them winding back
and forth 80 high above US. The train
itself was not visible in the darkness, but
the sparks from their engines so lighted
up the smoke that they seemed like huge
torches or beacon lights guiding US on
our way. while the sparks of our own
engine were falling around US like a
meteoric shower As we toiled slowly
up in the darkness, with our eyes fixed
on the lights above US, l was reminded
of the pillar of fire that marked the path
way of the children of old.
While our ascent by night deprived US
of the fine views afforded by daylight, it
also concealed from us the frightfulness
of the way. Much of the track is sup
ported by trestles so steep and high as to
terrify many timid travellers, but l was
not to be numbered among that class, and
so chose seat affording as good view
as possible. The merry mood of our
company gave way to one silent awe ~
the darkness gathered around and we felt
ourselves being raised by some invisible
power, higher and higher above the level
we were wont to tread. How strange it
was to lean far out of the car window
and look back at the world beneath, made
visible only by twinkling lights that
seemed like reflections of the stars above |!
Darkness and stiffness round about us,
and the earth world seemed slipping away
from US as we thus drew nearer and
nearer the star world. 1t grew colder as
We assembled, but we were provided with
wraps and so did not suffer, though we