Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-10-07
I'm THE OLD GRANITE STATE.

I'm THE OLD GRANITE STATE.
The Grafton Mica Mine-ssThe Big
BeryH, the Largest Crystal I'm the
worId-The Shakers.
West LEBANON, N. H., Oct. ga local
mineralogist invited me last week to ac-
company him on an excursion across the
country to the Grafton mica mine. We
started on Thursday afternoon in a one
horse business wagon, containing besides
our stone hammers, ETC., q well filed lunch
basket to support the inner man on the
way. Passing through Lebanon, a thriv-
ing town with 'cityfed" appearance, we
came to the Shaker village in the town of
Enfield. It is situated upon the west bank
of beautiful lake some eight miles in
length. Here, in three families" live a
colony of these people who follow the
teachings of stMother Ann Lee" They
neither marry nor are given in marriage,
and "have all things in common They
have buildings enough to accommodate
several hundred, but number now only
about twenty, having decreased rapidly
during the past twenty-five years.
Passed the night at Enfield at q typical
farmhouse. The farmers daughter was
exceedingly well-bred, with polished man
ners, and was cup" in English literature
The 'Chautauqua circle" is one of the
constitutions" of Vermont and New
Hampshire, furnishing an almost 'Hberal
education" to the common people. I do
not believe there can be found in the
world class of girls equal in education
and intelligence to these farmers daugh-
tiers. At the country inns young Mdies
wait on the tables where dress and man
ners would do credit to the best society.
The country hereabout is billy beyond
anything that can be found in Connect
cut. The land can almost be titled on
both Sides" It is set up edgeways.
This is the heart of the deserted farm"
region of New England. In the course of
less than twenty miles we counted twenty
three abandoned farms (some with good
houses and -buildings); six taverns,
six mills, two school houses, and two
stores, all deserted.
In one of the two districts where the
school has been given up there is only one
child stbetween the ages of four and six
teen," where thirty-fv or forty years ago
there were sixty scholars!
It is a sad sight, these deserted homes.
As passed here and there cellar filed
with the runs OF SOIuo Olu uOuioSGtdu3
Holmes lines are upon my lips:
"Tin naught remains the sadd'ning tale to
But homes last wrecks, the cellar and the
welli'
On one of the hilltops pass an orange
colored cottage, with quaint and fanciful
adornments. Inquire the way of the pro-
prietor, a bronzed and brawny farmer,
who takes summer boarders from Boston.
H. s,,e0 hot hn 10 h0r
himself, but came here twenty years ago.
s'Don't you find it change from Bostong
asked. Eyes," he replied, "but I like
it."
Reach the mine about p. m. Picnic in
a grass grown cow yard, where we eat our
supper seated upon water-trough. A kind
woman across the road sends pot of ex-
| cellent tea. None but those who have
| drank hot tea out of doors, after days
| journey, know what nectar it is.
Passed the night at the hospitable
| farmhouse across the road. For break
fast hot corn and buckwheat bread, the
latter most delicious and appetizing. Fol
| desert, squash pie! Pie at breakfast is
| At a worthy tavern in Maine found upon
| the breakfast table two kinds of pie and
| four kinds of cake!
The Grafton Mica mine has beer
worked for nearly century, netting some
years $4,000. 1t is upon the side of 8
very steep hill, mile or two in extent
Here and there is horizontal shaft, with
the necessary buildings. The mair
shaft snd has asort m St, am for engine san
| ing the stone out of the mine The
years and the machinery and buildings are
| going to decay. Mica-mining began to de
cline with the introduction of India mics
without duty. But now that the Mckinley
bill puts 30 per cent. duty on imported
mica there is no reason why it should moi
be mined with profit.
| The mica is found associated with quartz
albite, tourmaline, beryl and apatite.
am not sure that have spelled all thu
names correctly
| Of course we visited the ''Big Beryl" il
| one of the mines. 1t is the largest crysta
in the world. Think of beryl larger
than a hogshead, and weighing severa
tons.
The beryl, hardly need say, is a precious
stone of the emerald species. The Obi,
Beryp measures as follows: Height abov'
ground, five feet; larger diameter, thret
feet six inches; lesser diameter, two fee
| six inches; width of largest face, two feet
How much of it is below ground 1 coult
not tell. It ought to be in the Yale cabi
| net.
My companion is genius, playwright
a farmer, a photographer and collecto
of minerals. He showed me ''snap-
he took of the Inauguration of jeff Davi
at Montgomery, Ala, in 1861. He stand
upon the steps of the capitol, his hant
upon the Bible, in the act of taking tn
oath. By his side stands Howell Cobb
The hands of the capitol clock stand at
p. m. On vacant space in the capito
yard sits two '1ittle nigs," typifying tn
cause of the ''irrepressible conflict" 1t i
probably the only photo of that histori
scene.
Mr.. Culver is most judicious collecto
of minerals. Persons engaged in maxim
collections could not do better than to Sc
cure his services. His address is Yves
Lebanon, New Hampshire"