The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-03-30

cago, III,
rod now seems to bring an inspira-
tion-an added charm. A breathing
spell is allowed along short ridge.
One notices distinctly the clearer,
cooler alr The view to the north
east through an opening in the trees,
gives one the first intimatlon OF the
panorama TO be seen from above
Continuing. the path proceeds up the
broad slope OF the mountain itself
among the already stunted spruees, to
"a small clearing in which stand the
remains OF large house anG barn.
a comfortable, two hours walk from
the main road, In this clearing IL To-
Gated the large spring spoken of
above, This ola hotel and barn, in
their present condition seem almost
disgrace to the grand old mountain.
Several years ago the house was kept
open all summer to supply visitors
with food and warm lodgings. Now
decay Is evident everywhere. The
hedgehogs have done their share in
the destruction The wretched and
uniuhabtable condition OF this once
attractive house produces a harsh
contrast 10 the fragrant balsams
close by and the glorious mountain
view all about.
Forgetting this one disagreeable
spot, we VIII find sufficient in the
Dlissful solitude TO hold our gaze for
hours. Not a branch obstructs the
view. Wait, however, until we reach
the top, for careful observation OF
the world before us. This clearing,
only fifteen minutes from the top,
affords an ideal place to spend the
night. And only last September il
was my good fortune TO spend a night
there. Sufficient firewood is at hand
to cook the evening meal. The bal
sans provide a bed OF boughs. which
with only the starry heavens overhead
will insure a nights rest long to be
remembered. On that September
night the stars sparkled brilliantly
through the. clear cold air At eight
O'Clock the full moon rose directly
behind the peak Close by, on oui
right, the heavily timbered cone o.
Picos now suddenly relieved OF is
drowsy haze, loomed up clear In III,
cold night air, its every tree distinct
The film over Rutland vanished. Eacl
little light now shone forth brilliant
lly Chittenden reservoir, nestled
snugly among the hills, glisteninl
like a solitary jewel Even farthe
on toward the horizon, the huge darl
mountain masses gradually became
more clearly outlined. Yet, us tn,
eye plerces the mysterious realms o
fartherest gloom. beyond the enoT
nous tract of great, gray spectres
all becomes dim and finally dissolve
in the haze, There Is a charm In IN
Isilence and utter loneliness. Only tn
, mystical noise OF the wind playing
about the crags can be heard. HOY
; real are those lines OF Wordsworth
/, The sleep that is among the lionel
hills,
+, The silence that is in the. darkene
woods"
How frail and weak do our poo
beings seem when cOntrasted wit
this everlasting silent grandeur c
mature. During the summer months
this Incompatible revelation Is col
: tinually offered the hundreds who liv
ut the mountains very foot-but no
! many have actually witnessed IL?
? "The peak Is easily gained by !
|, minutes walk up a very steep br
? natural staircase In the rocks. TIL
= iscrubby, gnarled spruces at th
= height gradually diminish until
! the very top and for some dlstanC
: down on either side. we find only N
bare windswept rocks. On all sid,
!. there is very sharp descent f
= some distance. The summit rlde
: extends considerable distance ca
= and west Being higher on the we
!. the view from Rutland gives one n
y Impression OF a pointed peak. Viii
. from the Sherburnc side this poll
appears TO lengthen out for we haN
= broadslde view OF the summit ridg
!, From the top one can see distinct
= on n clear day the Adlrondacks vii
. Lake Champlain at their feet. I.ai
= st. Catherine appears plainly Earth,
', south. On Che east Mount Ascutn,
y seems but short distance away. ri,
y and Shrewsbury are, OF course. vel
~ close companions. Rutland lies
y our feet But perhaps the most /
= terosiing phase Of the view Is to trai
y the Sherburne, Plymouth. OFT
y Creek and many other valleys az IN,
~ wind In and out through yerltab
u labyrinth OF hills. From no SPOT
. the state, believe. can one obtain
y clearer conception OF the Green mo,
~ tain range One might here almo
y believe the statement made ahoi
y concerning the supremacy of Vermo
" In square inches A sunrise aud su
y !, set from this peak are far too graz
:, and superb for any amateurs pc
y Like that OF sunset on the Ion
- some prairie. a description only ,
, tracts from the grandeur"