The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-07-08
MANSFIELD MOU NTAIN.
CHARMING DESCRIPTION
VI Night Passed on vermont's Drowning
feak-A Gifted Pen Tells the story of
What Delights the Traveller.


Peak-A Gifted Pen Tells the story of
What Delights the Traveller.
This wonderful mountain is said TO
derive its name from two sources:
First, from being situated in what was
once the town of Mansfield, in the state
of Vermont, which town has long since
lost its identity by having been divided
between several different towns and
given mostly to the township of Stowe.
Second, because, with little assistance
of imagination, it resembles the head
and face of an austere old man, who
seems to be lying prone upon his back,
forever and ever gazing heavenward
Shortly after leaving Waterbury we
recognized from among the distant
frowning giant Green Mountains His
Eminence, Mansfield. Extremely inn
posing at that distance, upon a nearer
approach it was quite awe-inspiring,
and filed me with anxiety as to whether
we could reach the great altitude in
safety; but a glance at the unusually
heavy harnesses and trappings in a
measure treasured me.
After leaving the Green Mountain
House at Stowe pleasant drive of five
miles brought us to the beginning of
the ascent, to which there was no end
ing until we alighted from our carriage
5000 feet above the village of Stowe
and when upon the chin ,457 feet above
sea level. Two miles and half of the
ascent was through beautiful forest.
During the other two-and-a-half miles
you could, from the dizzy height, catch
glimpses frequently through the trees
of cultivated valleys.
The forehead of this striking profile
is the southern peak. The middle peak,
or nose, is 100 feet above the forehead
From the side of the nose, which could
be seen from the hotel, to back around
the nostril, which was also in view
there were four profles discernable.
Near the point of the nose was the
profile of a woman with gracefully.
bowed head, as though in deep thought
Her nose proclaimed her native of the
Emerald Isle. Then two ordinary.
looking mems faces could be seen, and
after them, nesting in the curve of the
nostri, was the aboriginal face of 6
toothless crone-such as first history
describes as applying the lighted torch
to fagots surrounding captives at the
stake. The chin, the highest peak, i;
$40 feet above the nose and is called
the north peak. 1t is the highest Of
the whole Green Mountain range
From the chin the hills and spires o.
Montreal may be seen. The whole OIL
Lake Champlain, from Fort Ticon
deroga to the extreme north, and Owls
Head, on the shores of Lake Memphre
magog. To the south look for Camel;
Hump, Ascutney, Killiugton, and 9th
ers of the Green Mountain range. Ii
short, learned that on clear day The
view for hundred miles in any direc
ton is nearly unobstructed.
AT the base of the chin to the north
is small body of clear water, called
the Lake of the Clouds, and TO the
right of the path leading to the chin is
the Ice Cave. Our hostess at the Sum
nit House told US that on the Fourth
of July, 1894, large party of tourists
with torches and facilities for cutting
ice, penetrated far enough into the
cave TO procure a quantity of ice suf
ficent to wax melted maple sugar fol-
the great number of guests assembled.
A few moments past seven O'CLOCK
on the eve of our arrival, June 10, W.
left the side of much-needed fire and
wrapped in warm shawls, walked ant
climbed, with the help of heavy stalk
upon the nose to see the sun set. Hac
it been twice as far and much more
inaccessible we would still have felt
well repaid. What sight burst upon
our viewl Lake Champlain has many
little islands, and each one was crowned
with the SUMS halo, besides the path Of
red and gold that seemed to be slowly
gliding across the majestic Adiron
dacks and the "silvery Lake Cham
plain ~ to our very feet. Great boul
ders that had probably become de-
tached from their abiding-places on the
mountain sides centuries ago lay in the
valley, apparently Jumps of FURNISHED
gold. Surely, on that evening Dune
1g the solid basis of everything there
touched by the eye of God bore the
stamp of the yellow metal. 1t may
have been prophetic. Who knows
As the tnts OF beauty faded into the
gray twilight of evening, it was made
to seem more somber and weird by the
slow, sad-toned notes of some water
fowl. ! could not learn by what name
it was distinguished, but was told thai
its mournful notes were always hearC
at sunset and sunrise on clear days.
The evening hours were devoted tt
looking over the Old registers From
one page of that beginning in 1874
took copy OF the place of residence OF
those recorded there-Canton, China
New Olleans, La; Atlanta, Ga; To
| neka Kan. Amherst Mass. Paris