The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-07-10
LIGHTS AND SHADES.

Rugged old Sussex county, the
picturesque northern gateway of the
state, never looked more glorious than
it did on the Fourth Of the present
July. There is no county more promi-
nent in the civic history of the State
than Sussex, for here midst the wild
beauties of nature, the picturesque
grandeur of it's mountains and the
placid charm of its lakes, circulates
an atmosphere which breeds men
sturdy in physique and strong in mind.
Just now thoughtful persons whose
business days are spent without its
borders are giving Sussex much at
tention. Men of wealth are buying
land here and there with which to be-
gin vast estates. Attempts are being
made to acquire many of the famed
waters of the famous county for pri-
vate use, but this attempt will prob
ably result in failure.
Not the least attractive feature Of
this grand county is it's people. The
pure free air seems to widen and
broaden them to forgetfulness, or at
least to an ignoring of the small things,
the petty jealOuSieS which make life
in some communities so disagreeable.
In Sussex county an honest man is as
good as his neighbor. The gospel Of
fellowship of man seems to come
nearer to a realization there than in
most places. The stranger is taken in,
but not done for.
These may be some of the reasons
that make summer life in Sussex so
attractive to the outsider 1t may be
because OF these things that hundreds
OF people each year take their families
to the shores Of either Swartswood or
Culver's Lakes, and, spending the sum-
mer there, return to their places of
business benefited in health, and with
a more cheerful view of life in general.
On the shores of Culver's Lake are
twenty-Seven cottages and more are
building This section has it's quota
OF these twenty-seven, and others are
contemplating the erection OF cottages
there. Mr.. Clifford Rutan has very
pleasant summer home at Culyer's.
Mr. Dan. Losee is now building one.
Perhaps the handsomest cottage, the
one most complete in it's appoint
ments, and the one best suited to
catch the cooling breeZes on the hot
test days is that of Mr.. George ".
Muchmore, of Summit, but formerly of
this city. 1t is delight to the visitor
and to add to it's attractiveness, Mr..
Muchmore keeps an open house. His
family are there for the summer, and
Mr.. Muchmore is ably aided and abet-
ted in all his schemes for the enter
tainment of his guests by each of
them. On the Fourth he entertained
his brother, Mr.. Fred. Muchmore, of
this city, with Mrs. Muchmore and
Miss Muchmore, State Fish and Game
Commissioner D. P. Mcclellan, Mr..
Harry A. VanGilder and his son
Charles, and Mr.. William Rutter, of
Newark. Other guests were there
also from Summit and New York, and
the day was made one continual round
of pleasure to them. In the evening
Mr.. Muchmore treated his friends to
one of the greatest private displays of
fireworks that section has ever known.
A float was placed out in the lake and
there the display was made. Other
cottagers gathered around in large
numbers, some in boats on the lake,
others clustered on the wide porch of
the cottage, and still others occupied
the spacious boathouse balcony. They
witnessed one of the best of displays
and at once elected Mr.. Muchmore
mayor of Culver's Lake, a title cheer
fully yielded to him by Col. Price, who
has held it for two seasons.
Commissioner Mcclellan and his
party tished the lake on the Fourth
and had considerable sport with the
small-mouthed bass with which the
lake abounds. Mr.. Fred Muchmore
introduced new method of fishing
but as Mr.. Kipling says, that's an
other story.
The fish commissioner and his party
invaded Newton and were given a
royal time by the gentlemen Of that
place. They were caught in shower
on Swartswood Friday, and in this,
the best fishing lake Of Sussex, they
failed to make many startling catches.
They were more than pleased with
their trip, however, and returned to
Morris county filled with praise for
the hospitality and beauty of the
Sussex region.