The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-17
IN THE BERKSHIRE HILLS.
An Old summer Resort to Which Many
Notable Persons Come.


Correspondence Of the indianapolis Journal.
LEBANON SPRINGS. n. ", Aug. Is
Let me describe to you a delightful sum-
mer resort. situated in eastern New York.
near the Massachusetts line, on the old
post road from Boston TO Albany. The elf
mate is cool and equable. The days are
warm enough to enjoy walks, or drives, or
a promenade on the broad v~erandas; the
nights cool enough for refreshing sleep I'M
der blankets. 1t has clear skies, bracing
breezes, picturesque scenery. a renowned
spring, historic associations and a hotel
that lives up TO its advertisements. How
could the scenery be otherwise than pictur-
esque when Lebanon Springs is aptly
styled THE Gem of the Berkshires?" The
landscape would satisfy the eye OF the
most rabid impressionist, for never were
skies bluer nor hiltops greener, and the
slopes are dotted with fields of b~uckwheat
white with blossom, yellow shocks Of
wheat, windrows Of new-mown hay and
patches of corn just in tassel. All this con-
trast in color is softened sometimes by a
soft white haze, again by a lavender or
purple haze that is most pleasing TO the
eye. The villages nestle at the foot of the
hills as though EMBODIED in the arms of a
loving mother. 1t is this lovely panorama
that the guest at Columbia Hall sees from
Ills NllluON VI lit several NCldlOdS, VIM
short walks to points of vantage give
views of the Shaker village, the far-away
Catskills. and, on clear days, across the
entire State of Connecticut To Long island.
One winding walk ends in a cemetery, both
ancient and modern. in which are many
curious inscriptions on the old grayestones.
This most pathetic one was copied from a
stone on which, in the crudest Of relief, is
represented a man partially crushed by a
falling tree and underneath these lines:
Myself promised to live fourscore;
Perhaps a hundred or something more,
Never thinking my fate should be
In bloom to die beneath a tree.
May his soul rest in peace. amen;
Erected by his wife and Michael Flynn"
The rhyme of ''amen" and Flynn is. at
least, unusual.
The historical associations of this place
are Of interest to all Americans. This is
the Observation-Disclosures season of this
oldest summer resort In the country, as
one wing of the Hall was built in 1892.
For many years after 1t was opened it
was the popular resort for men famous in
politics, I'm the army and navy and in liter
ature. as we'll as for distinguished foreign
ers; Several pleasant hours may be spent
ia looking over an old register which con-
tains the names of the guests from 1920 to
1880. This autograph album" is so valuable
that 81, 600 has been offered for it, but the
proprietor refuses 10 part with II.
Among the politicians are found the
names of John Quincy Adams, Martin Van
Buren,: De Witt. Clinton. Daniel Webster
and his antagonist, Robert y. Hayne: the
army and navy are represented by Major
General Scott, Commodore Isaac Hull, Nc
Donough. Dale and Biddle; among the
names famous in literature are Mr.. Long
fellow. Mr.; Lowell; as they styled them
and Aug. l6, 1922; Mr.. Andusaya, Spanish
minister, Sept. 10, 1922, and Marquis la
Fayette, June %. 1926. Joseph B~onaparte,
ex-King of Spain, is registered as Count
Survillius. and was accompanied by his
wife, two daughters, two sons, two counts,
a physician. two persons and a cook.
1fnA Antnfn nAnAr1z tAnf - AD,n UAA
used. But it is the La Fayette suite of
rooms that is still shown with much of the
furniture-massive mahogany-that was, at
register is interesting and is as follows:
Marquis De La Fayette and son, Gen. Sol
Spencer and Niia ady andi two two C Children ca mr.
Morton, wife and two children, Col. Blood
good. Maj. J. b. Vanschaack. Col. John T.
De Witt, Lieut.. Col. Knowlton, Maj. T. A.
Bridges. Capt; s; r; Blocker. Capt; Os-
born; Capt. HTengdrickson; Lieut.; Webster,
ard, Adjutant Brush. James dllegibleOl.
The above. with Capt. spencer's (of Col.
of the escort to the Massachusetts line.
General Ia Fayette did them the honor to
express sensible regret at parting with
them. The intention was for the escort to
have gone on to Pittsfeld. but a little
brief authority" deprived them OF the an
ticipated pleasure. Even In those days
49, ~ III III III
cleS.
More than one marriage was celebrated
here, but the most notable one seems TO
have been that of Judge HOLSTER of Fort
Meigs. o., who this day, Aug. 20, 1927, at
this place. married Miss Brown, of Pitts
field. Mass" Many distinguished guests
were in the hall at that time, among them
Daniel Webster.
1t is said that all these famous people
were attracted TO this place by it's reputa-
tion for exclusiveness, the exhilarating eli
mate, and the curative properties OF the
spring. which were first revealed by the
Indians in 1756, to n Captain Hitchcock. In
return for many kindnesses he had shown
them. II bubbles up from a great depth at
an unvarying temperature of 10 degrees
(Fahrenheit) the year round. flowing In an
u~nchanging. exhaustless stream and dis
charging five hundred gallons a minute.
According TO tradition 1t cures everything
and has no equal as a beautifer OF the
complexion" In fact, II is soft, tasteless
odorless and refreshes both the inner and
outer man. Is not this ideal when com
bined with the comforts Of n 1rst-class
hotel? It is Lotus Land" and the Indian
apolis party feels the JOY of a discoverer
and wishes It's friends 10 share I'm that 10y.
MARGARETTA DE BRULER.