The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-03

81. Faui, July l0-Wny any american
citizen should go abroad without first
beholding the stupenduous grandeur Of
America-the greatest country ever
given to mani cannot understand.
Desiring to known more of our own
native land we propose to take another
trans-continental tour. After the
adieux were said on July 8. we stepped
aboard the observation car of our far
famed Cavity railroad leading out
Of Honesdale for a trip to the "Won-
derlands" Of America-and thus cele-
brate our twenty-fifth wedding anni-
versary, not on foreign shores-but in
our own beloved America.
In 1892 the writer. his wife and Mrs.
Swoyer left the same station the same
month. the same day Of the month.
with the same conductor for a tour of
9,7O0 miles. from Hell Gate to Gold Gate
and Pacific Northwest, Montery and
Seattle then being the western ter
minus. Now the extreme northwest
ern terminus of our present trip will be
Sitka, Alaska, the land Of the midnight
SUM- Going westward we shall traverse
the entire line of the Northern Pacific
railway from Duluth to Portland and
Tacoma, stopping off in Yellowstone
Park for ten days. From Puget Sound
We shall follow the inland passage Of
the Pacific to the ice fields Of Alaska.
Returning to Vancouver, Il. c., we shall
cross the continent eastward from
ocean to ocean by the picturesque Can
adian Pacific railway, through the Can
adian National Park and over the Sell
kirk Mountains, the glory of the
Queens Domlnions, a tour Of $4,000
miles. the greatest and grandest the
American continent can offer.
In our series OF "travel letters" Of
which this Is the Introductory one, we
design to give to our readers a brief
description of the country traversed,
the important places Of interest as seen
with American eyes," and impressions
received daily en- route. No systematic
order of arrangement will be expected,
as much will be written on flying trains
and therefore must necessarily be frag-
mentary and inadequate descriptions,
which a generous reading public will
excuse. We shall attempt no "fine
writing;" We shall avoid all fanciful
embellishments, but give only the plain,
| naked truth in the most concise man
ner. We invite our readers to journey
with us in our travels from the rising
to the setting sum-" and thus catch a
glimpse, at least, Of the marvellous
| scenes to be found on this continent
Later on our letters will be illustrated
with Photographic, views take en- route
by the writer, with the ''Lundelius
Camera" the latest improved pattern
In the market.
Leaving Ilonesdale.
AS our party of three ascended the
| gravity plane leading out of the beauti-
full Maple City, overlooking the valley
| of the LackafwaXen, never did the suns
| rays shine down more brightly upon
the beautiful town quietly resting in the
valley below, and our pleasant home on
Central Park. shaded by NAPLES and
elms, never seemed to US more sacred
than on this very morning. Even the
numerous churches, with their spires
pointing heavenward like the finger of
God" seemed more hallowed than ever
before. The noble Lackawaxen and
Dyberry rivers which surround the
| town, forming a confluence under the
shadows of Irving Cliff, never seemed
50 clear and sparkling, while the bold
| over-hanging rock, which towers over
| 800 feet above as If to guard the city Sc
curely from the hostile invasion Of the
elements, never appeared so majestic
and defiant. The verdant hills which
| encircle Honesdale and the landscape
generally seemed more and more at
| tiaotive from the observation car as we
sped around the Horse Shoe curve"
while Honesdale receded from our
sight. Many are the pleasant memo
| ries that cling and cluster around this,
our childhood home-this lovely dale
we leave behind us-and our hearts are
thankful in the enjoyment of so pleas
ant home, where the educational,
church and social features are the very
best.
We pass In quick succession the thriv-
ing villages of Blandin, Seeleyville and
Prompton to Waymart through Sec
tions Of fine meadow. pasture and roll
ing uplands, which lie outspread with
groves and miniature forests at inter-
walls, the foot hills climbing almost
within the shadows Of the MoOsic
range. the northern extremity Of the
Alleghenies. AT an elevation of 1,415
feet we ascend two planes, one of which
is over a half mile in length-to be
exact. $3.50 feet-when the summit of
Farview Is reached at an elevation Of
2.345 feet above sea level. the climax
for northeastern Pennsylvania.
The valley below. with its series of open
plains dotted with lakes which form a
grand interval between the gently ris-
ing hillsides and lOng-drawn-out noun
tain range of the Catskllls. forty miles
distant. never presented SO beautiful
and fascinating picture as on this
very morning. A 1O-mile run around
Shepherds Crook, the most picturesque
point on the line OF the Delaware and
Hudson, brings us to Carbondale, the
Pioneer City of the anthracite coal
basin. Reaching Scranton, we take the
noted Pennsylvania route over the AL
leghenies for Chicago. stopping off
daily, first at Harrisburg, then at Pitts
burg, the Smoky City, where a two
days sojourn satisfied us that the place
was appropriately named and that the
smoke and cinders from the shafts and
chimneys of Scranton and vicinity were
far mere preferable to Pittsburg's SCOT
and smoke.
Brief Glimpse at Pittsburg.
Still the city has very many attrac-
tions which were of interest ito us and
70 those Of our readers who have never
seen them. A Brief mention may be Of
interest.
Aside from Its great iron works, steel
plants, fine churches, public buildings.
school buildings, elegant residences.
etc., Pittsburg has a series of bold
cliffs. public parks. lakes. boulevards,
fine drives, which the visitor may en-
Joy, but tine most novel feature to us