The Dickinson press., 1894-09-01
White Mountains.

AC inc CLOSE OF IL WHCm ivy spout
in lounging upon broad, c"ol piazzas,
we are having an early tea and plan.
ming drive to Bethlehem.
Our coach and four is ut the door
even hefore the meal is finished and
soon eight besides the driver are
slowed away in the spacious seats,
and away we go over the Ammon-
oosuc and past the Twin Mountain
House. aud then away to the left, fol-
lowing the Ammonoosuc closely.
Mount Washington aud its support.
ing peaks are behind us and entirely
new groups of mountains appear.
How different Mount Lafayette ap.
pears from different points; and yon.
der is Mount Cleveland; and u queer
projection on the mountain nearest
us they say is the Old Maids Thin.
BILE!
At Bethlehem Junction we cross
the narrow gauge road leading to the
famous Franconia group-where are
found Echo Lake. The Notch, Flume,
Old Man OF the Mountain, and ia.
nous Profile House. a long climb
past Maplewood farm brings us to
fair Bethlehem.
Between the AMmonoosuc and
Gale rivers is IL high ridge of land
surmounted Ivy Mounts Cleveland
and Agassiz. Upon a terrace-like
plateau of this ridge, 1889 feet above
the sea, fronting the Ammonoosuc
and backed Ivy the mountains. this
beautiful town extends for nearly
two miles along Il broad, smooth
country highway. Helen Hunt ntly
says of Bethlehem,
"Only Il little village street,
Lying along IL mount lin side;"
Yet its charm never pals.
Our driver has orders to drive
slowly and we will notice all the fine
hotels and pleasant cottages where SO
many find summer home.
Every year during the latter part
of the season, coaching parade
takes place here following the route
we are now taking from the Maple.
wood to the Centennial House.
Coaches come from all around and
the different houses have the same
co1orc voor ,ftnr voor
Bethlehem's erich man. does
much for the town and the unique
and beautiful Casino is a monument
to his generosity.
AS we turn and slowly retrace our
steps we notice names familiar to
frequenters of Boston's streets and
are aware that summer sojourners at
Bethlehem are supplied with Whit.
ney's linens and fancy work and
Huyler's candies.
Our old friends, the "Presidents, ~
are i'll view as we return. ....
BY the time we reach Bethlehem
Junction it is growing dusk; but the
moon rises early tonight, and adds
new beauty to river and mountain.
top. And now someone begins to
sing and the rest take up the strain,
"fairy moonlight"
Song follows song and here we are
ut home.
Yesterday we drove west to Beth.
lellem and to-day our route lies east
to its rival in altitude. Crawford's.
We shall follow the Ammonoosuc
again hut this time towards its
source. DO you see the rocks in the
bed of the stream yonder and along
the banks! They look rs if cut out
and piled by human hands.
We pass Fabyan's and soon begin
to climb, and we notice the char.
acter of the road changes and sand
gives place to rock much of the way.
Upon the height facing the grand
White Mountain Notch, stands the
aristocratic and exclusive Crawford
House.
We cannot bear to turn back with.
out driving down through the Notch,
and will defer our visit to this famous
lostelry until we return.
AS soon as we pass the hotel we
begin to descend, gently at first and
soon more rapidly. At our left is
Lake Saco. the source of the river of
that name; and above is beautiful
Idlewild. Below the lake see that
mass of rock projecting from the
mountain side. 1t is rightly named
elephants Head" for the likeness
is striking.
AT our right is the gateway of the
Notch; and did ever you see any
grander scenery! The tracks of the
Maine Central railroad wind along
Mounts Willard and Wiley at our
right, fully five hundred feet above
the saco riyeg.
There is a majesty and awe that
must he felt to he understood. Bay.
ard Taylor wrote, "As simple pict.
ure of Il mountain pass, seen from
above (Mount Willard view, it can.
not be surpassed in Switzerland
Something like it l have seen in
Taurus; otherwise ! can recall no
view to compare with it.''
The railroad and carriage road
were made and are kept in repair at
great expense.
| We are descending very rapidly
now, but we have confidence in our
driver, and must not lose the beauty
of these lovely cascades on our left,
first the Flume, or Crystal, and then