St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-07-06
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
Notes of a One Hundred and Sixty Mile
Carriage Drive.

NOteS OF II OHc HHHuftH anu OiShty Af''N
Carriage Drive.
When one stops to think that it
would require eight 100 feet flag
stats, Joined one to the other, to
mark the altitude of Danville above
St. Johnsbury, he realizes that car
riage drive in the direction of Mont
pelier demands, for the first seven
miles at least, decided climb. But
it goes without telling that by the
time the traveller reaches that high
point in the air he can see something
worth going after. Scenery Of the
grandest sort greets him on every
side, and he does not wonder that
city people in such large numbers
gather in the vicinity of "Danvlle
Green every summer to drink in the
clear, pure air and feast upon the pic
ture which nature, that most gifted
of artists, spreads out for their de-
lectation. Surely, Danville is splen-
didly located as a summer resort,
and somebody who has the capital
and the requisite amount Of SNAP
ought to realize the possibilities
which there lie simply awaiting the
touch of the developing hand.
Our route lay along the shore OF
Joe's Pond and that other smaller,
though just as handsome sheet OF
water, known as Molly's Pond.
Both were throwing out silent but
urgent invitations to campers; and
certainly when it comes to camp life
in fresh water localities, there are
many desirable spots on the shores
of the larger pond that might well
be occupied by camping parties all
summer long.
Haying was well underway, but
the farmers with whom we ex-
changed word en- PEASANT did not
agree in their estimates of the crop.
A few held that grass would "aver-
age we'll with that Of year ago.
but others complained of light
crop, and we saw many pieces of
grass that, as one farmer expressed
it, were "short and thin" Rain has
been a scarce article this summer in
most sections through which we
passed, between St. Johnsbury and
Rochester, and that accounts for the
lack in the hay crop.
The dry season has left here and
there touch of humor which "the
wayfarer, though a fool, may not
err in approaching. In several To-
calities where once had been SUBJ
stantial trout brooks we noted sign
boards announcing that the "state
has stocked these waters" etc., and
limiting at a penalty for any undue
familiarity with the trout there de-
posted. But the angler is not
tempted, for not drop of water ex-
lists in these understanding but a
bed of hot dry stones, and the sign
boards only convince the passer-by
that the states effort in stocking
these brooks was but 'love's labor
lost" All signs may not fail in dry
weather, but these certainly do,
The next legislature should be
petitioned in behalf of reform among
sign boards. These indicators along
the highway should be brought more
closely into harmony with each other.
At present too many of them are
deceptive. When the traveller reaches
signboard that tells him it is sc
miles to D." he naturally believes
it (if he has never been that way be-
fore); but his faith in these public
informers suffers shock when, after
riding mile or two farther, he dis
covers by another signboard that it
is still 6 miles to the same place.
Within 25 miles of st. Johnsbury
there are several signboards that
need to be reformed if one is to con-
tinue his belief in the old saying that
Figures never lie"
Montpelier may well be proud of
her building boom. Quite number
of new houses are being erected there