The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-09-05
LAKE MOREY.
Where shall we find In foreign land
So lone a lake, 40 sweet "A strand

~
Vermont is not always entirely happy in
the names which designate the beautiful
| sheets of water which in summertime mir
ror in their crystal depths their winding
| shores and the emerald hills that tower
around them. Lake Morey" may or
may not be an improvement upon "Fair-
| lee Pond" III the way OF nomenclature,
| but this body OF water, which the lines Wal
| ter Scott applies to Loeb Achray in Scot
land very apply characterize, might, in any
court having regard for the eternal fitness
OF things, obtain divorce from both titles
1t is regretabef If the lake was ever endowed
by the aborigines with one of their pictur-
| esque and beautifully descriptive names,
that IL has not survived the lapse OF time,
or, If it lives in the traditions OF the region,
the pond" ought to be allowed ito resume
its maiden name" But what's in a name?
There Is theory broached by some wild eyed
poet, that the rose il called "polly pod" or
by any other old name, would smell as sweet
and beautiful Lake Morey, or Fairlee Pond,
with its encircling hills, verdure clad un-
der any title would still be the very de-
lightful and picturesque feature it is in the
landscape OF caste Vermont
The setting OF the lake is very beautiful.
The green hills come down to its shores
and rise in majestic heights on the east and
west. Across the Connecticut "the cloud
capped granite hills" # New Hsmpshire
and in the south Ascutneys towering out.
lines give variety and scenic interest TO the
environment, immediate and remote. The
shores are entirely clean, not a marsh or
any uDsightly or unwholesome natural OBJ
ject offends the eye or any sense. The lake
lies, in direct line, hardly stones throw
from the track Of the Passumpsic railway,
but Is shut off from that thoroughfare and
the river by rocky rampant some hum
dreds of feet in height, which presents to
to the lakeside an abrupt but densely
wooded slope The locality, though hard
by the line of great railway sye ten, is
quite as secluded, quite as wild and unsug-
gestive Of this busy world, as if it were in
the heart of "some vast Wilderness
shining spot in "some boundless contiguity
OF shade SO unique resort, so lone a
lake, so sweet strand" one will hardly
find in this or "foreign land"
Two rather Indifferent hotels are open
here uring the summer. The great need
Of the place Is spacious hotel, comfortable
and well kept, adapted to the needs or
wants OF the visitor seeking rest or diver
sion. Along either shore are many summer
cottages, ranging in excellence from the
unpretentious "camp," where the occu
pants find shelter and relaxation from the
conventiODalites of life, up to "Cliff
Null Lodge" the delightful summer home
of Hon. j. b. Pickett and wife of Bradford.
The latter crowns a high wooded knoll at
the head of the lake. 1t is a spacious
"lodge," we'll furnished with the comforts
and conveuiences OF existence. From its
broad piazza, handsomely finished and fac
ing the south, the wide panorama OF water,
wood land hill and distant mountain is un-
rolled. labyrinth of shady walks leads
round among the growth OF OAK, pine, birch,
maple and native shrubbery A boat
house shelters steam launch and other
craft for pleasure or fishing It's second
story is hall for dancing or other indoor
| entertainment. In all its appointments
"Clff Null Lodge" leaves unsupplied no
wish of tired soul, no desire for rational
.njoyment, and its surroundings supply ev-
cry charm sense could crave. 1t is a sum-
mer paradise. Here Mr.. and Mrs. Pickett
spend the summer and early autumn, hap
lily content with nature in her varied
moods, and here with generous and unaf-
fected hospitality they make their friends
at homeland the circle is not small one.
1t is the custom OF the dwellers by the lake
to hold high carnival on some appointed
day. These annual festivities were recent
| ly observed. There were games on shore
| and boat and tub races and tugs of war on
| the water, and interest in these was stimu
lated by prizes. There was procession of
| the little fleet OF steam launches and other
craft, which were made gay with flags and
streamers and bright with golden rod, wild
| flowers and evergreen. In the evening the
shores blazed with huge bonfires, and red
lights CLEANED from every point OF display.
| The cottages were hung with Chinese lam
ternsand rockets and Roman candles lighted
up the scenery. Cliff Null Lodge, from its
prominence and position, is peculiarly ad.
spted to purposes OF display. The grounds
from the waters edge to the cottage roof
were ablaze with lights and the lodge"
loomed into the night like some ancient
castle blazing "irom tuIret to founda-
ton stone" Boats sailed the lake, masses
of light and cannonading the sky with rock
cts and Roman candles. The climax WAS a
reproduction of the battle OF Santiago. Ths
| Spanish squadron emerged from the cove
north of Middle Point and was promptly
taken in hand by the blocksding boats,
peppered witl ceaseless discharge of Ro-
man candles and other explosives, and the
| escaping craft were valiantly chased and
compelled to lower their colors. The nights
display was a spectacle Of great brilliancy
and interest, in which the cottagers Wed
| with each other.
The time will come when Lake Morey
will have no rival in Vermont as an easily
| accessible and a most delightfnl anmmar ra-