News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-09-10

ing the lapse of ages. In its
course there have been formed
two large basins some 80 feet or
more across, called Richardson's
Bowl and Whitney's Cup. Tray.
elers, possibly with some ex-
travagance of expression, have
pronounced it a spot as wonder
full as any this side of the Tyrol
Mountains of Switzerland.
MOUNT MANSFIELD.
1t has been we'll said, that
description of Mount Mansfield
belongs not wholly to the history
or geography of Stowe. It's
grandeur and beauty are a part
of the common inheritance Of the
people of all the region which
comes within the wide range of
view from it's summit. Indeed
its description belongs to the
history and geography Of Yer
mont. Fine views of Mansfield
are obtained at Jacksonville,
Cambridge Boro, and many
other contiguous places. But as
Stowe now is, and probably will
continue to be the point to which
most travellers will come to as
cend the mountain, and as twas
largely due to efforts put forth in
this town that the mountain be
came widely known, it seems pc
culiarly appropriate that the de
scriptiOn should appear in the
sketch of Stowe.
From Stowe to the summit of
Mt. Mansfield is ten miles, audit
is directly after leaving the vii
lage, that the finest distant view
is had of the forest monarch.
Six miles drive from Stowe,
through fine alluvial valley, on
an excellent carriage road, only
the last half-mile of which is as
cending, brings the traveller to
HarloW's farm house, near the
foot of the mountain. BY an
easy exercise of the imagination,
the mountain top is likened to a
grand human face, gazing sky
ward, and facing toward the
north.
The most prominent features
are the "NOse" and "Chin, "
great rock spurs a mile and
half apart. This resemblance
appears real only when viewed
at some distance, and on the
Stowe side. 1t is believed that
those who have made the ascent
from the east, or Stowe side,
have found their emotions al
together more pleasurable and
inspiring, than when they have
made their ascent on the west
side. For fully three miles the
road is a spiral archway, cur
tanned with a dense canopy of
foliage, and only occasionally
could one obtain a mOmentary
glimpse of the blue dOmes of
Worcester mountains with the
fertile valleys of Stowe in the
nearer foreground. The dense
woods curtain the pathway, so
that only a partial view is OBJ
tanned. But as the summit is
neared, the trees become smaller,
the view more open, the ascent
easier, until finally as thesummit
is reached the whole glorious
panorama of the surrounding
country, of mountain and mea-
dow, of forest and field, of lake
and distant village dOtting the
landscape, breaks all at once on
the enraptured vision. The effect
is indescribable; it transcends the
power of language. You realize
when looking back upon those
vast forests, bearing the rich
mosaic of autumnal foliage, a
new meaning in the forest hymn,
"The groves were Gods first
temples" In making the ascent
from the western slope the view
is gradually unfolded, constant
ly expanding, more towns, more
villages, finally the blue sheen of
the waters of the distant lake,
backed by the shadowy figures
of the AdirOndacks; a very de
lightful experience, indeed, but
not SO deep and over-mastering
an emotion as the other.
The ascent from the Stowe side
is quite gradual-just the thing
for lively jaunt for the pedes-
trian, as we can bear witness.
The Summit House stands Just
in front and to the north of the
"Nose," and it's eastern balcony
commands a view not easily for
gotten. By a natural rocky
stairway, not many rods in
length, but at some points quite
precipitous, the top of the Nose
is reached. Below its eastern
crest, a sheer precipice of hun
dreds of feet, frowning over an
abyss of splintered and craggy
rocks oraatc the 6aza6 and