The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-08-24
IN THE BY-WAYS AND
HEDGES OF NEW JERSEY

or fifteen miles in any direction presents
panorama of bewildering beauty in
which enter lofty hills. fiower-garden-
looking farms. fiourishing orchards. snow
white buckwheat fields and beautiful |
villages of from five to fifteen hundred |
Inhabitants, these towns along, two and
three miles apart. The farms spread out |
in picturesque precision in vallies. and
on hill sides contain from twenty-five to |
three hundred acres. Farms of fifty to
hundred acres yield plentiful support |
FOR large families, while 800 acres is a |
huge farm. |
Thrift. order-evidence of true economy, |
(where every inch of ground IS pressed
into service), and brilliant verdure are
the tones in such a drive in the hilly
regions of New Jersey.
An interesting ruin in the byways and
hedges of New Jersey two miles from
Clinton, is that of an old forge built in
1776, the first iron foundry built in the
United States. The forge where bullets
wei made for the Revolutionary war. 1t
was built of stone, and over the parts of
ruin walls which still stand. creeping
vines now spread their beauty. Near by
Is the old Axton mansion. where General
Stuart of General Washington staff
was in hiding once during the Revolu-
uonary war. In the garnet where he
was SeCreteO MS name can StllI De seen
where he wrote 1t on the wall.
Clinton was once nearly all owned by
Mr.. Leigh, Mrs. Eilenbergs father, who
founded the town and was its Mayor for
many years. Mem6Ss.j of his and his
wife's famiy-the Van Syckels-are very
much in evidence among the powers that
be in those parts now. Foster Voorhees,
nephew. few months ago ended his
second term as Governor of New Jersey;
Judge Bennett Van Syckel. a brother. is
now and has been since 1859 Justice of
the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Mrs.
Eiienberg's uncle. Mr.. Joseph Van
Syckel. is President and her brother
Mr.. Bennett Leigh, is cashier of the Bank
of Clinton.
One of the most interesting places in
Clinton is the old Leigh family mansion
of twenty apartments, where | had the
pleasure of being the guest of Mrs. Leigh.
one of a delightful house party of ten
or more guests. Among them Mr.. and
Mrs. Eilenbeg and Mr.. and Mrs. Will
liam Maxwell of Montgomery and Mr..
and Mrs. William Weaver of New York
Mrs. Weaver will be remembered as the
charming sister of Mrs. Eilenberg. who
visited her some months ago. Boating.
driving and delightful evenings at home
were the diversions. On one occasion a
musicale was enjoyed when all numbers
were rendered Dy tnlS WOnueTIuIIy muS1-
cal family Three brothers, Messrs
Walter, Frank and Robert Leigh, and
three sisters. Mesdames Robert Eilenberg,
William Weaver and Harry Angle. and
Mr.. Robert Eilenberg were the musicians.
each an artist on some instrument One
of the most enjoyed was Mr.. Eilenberg's
theme and variations, which has on sew
eral occasions given pleasure to Mont
gomery audiences
A remarkable feature of this entertain
ment was that with the exception of the
guests in the house, the entire audience
was composed of Leighs and Van Syck-
els and their husbands and wives, sons
and daughters.
Another number of which Montgome-
rians have right to be proud was the
singing of Fate" song by Miss Norman
Williams of Clayton. put to music by Mr.
Eilenberg for Mrs. Bennett Griffin. This
beautiful song was rendered on this oc-
casion by Mrs. Weaver, who has lovely
voice, which she did not allow her
friends in Montgomery to discover during
her visit here. She was for some time
| leading soprano in Grace Church, New
York
The greatest attraction for sight-seers
in this vicinity are the celebrated Ring
ing Rocks about fifteen miles from Gin
ton. just across the Delaware, in Penn
SylNanla. "A party or us went over there
and picnicked for the day. A steep climb
up the mountain. a lunch at the head of
the ravine, climbing over the Ringing
Rocks, and hard walk down the ravine,
filled the day. These ringing rocks are
phenomena. which have inspired mu-
sic, and of which the legend runs to the
effect that the devil, wandering that way,
with apron full of boulders. the string
broke and he spilled the lot in this basin
space of several acres consists entirely
of huge and small boulders. all in a heap
not a bit of vegetation thereon, but sur
rounded by beautiful forest. The pecu-
liarity Of the rocks is that they ring like
an anvil when struck with hammer. So
tourists go armed with hammers, and
when several station themselves some
what apart, each striking a rock, the diff
ferent notes given forth make weird mu-
sic.
Yes, Clinton Is on earth, and on a most
beautiful part of earth.