The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-07-30
A PEDESTRIANS PARADISE
James p. Taylor Speaks on New
England Trails

alton was one of the speakers and
his remarks were worthy of being
read by those who were not present
at the conference. He spoke as fol
lows:
To the lover Of outdoor life New
England is divided into two noble
regions, the Highlands and the
Shore. There lies to the East a
coastal plain bordered by the Allan
tic, to the West a great system OF
mountain ranges burdened with for
ests. Eastern New England has its
salty ocean line whose intrlcacies are
known to those who love to live upon
the sea or near it. Western New
England has its misty skyline
wrought into the nerves and muscles
of mountaineers who climb the
heights or follow steep trails into
deep passes.
the mountain skyline, are the sill
houettes of New England, the lines
of character, which interpret Eastern
New England, and Western New Eng
land. They are ours to have and to
hold provided we enjoy and capita
lie them.
We are company of Highlanders
gathered here near the skyline OF
New England to consider the develop
ment of our New England, the New
England of forest and mountain. We
are to study how we can best enjoy
and capitalize our possessions. We
have wonderful heritage. The
mountains of New Hampshire extend
southwark from the White Noun
tains, and are represented by scatter
ed peaks as far south as Mount Mon
adnock. To the west lies the Green
Mountain Range which extends
throughout the entire length of the
Green Mountain State South of his
range are the Housatonic and the Ia
comic Ranges of the Berkshire Hills
which cross the State of Massachus.
etts. And to the South of the BE k
shire Hills lie the Litch6eld Hills in
the northwestern corner of the State
Of Connecticut.
Ours is a mountain world of in
finite variety for each range has its
own individual character and associ
alton. 1t is one world, for the noun
tains are parts of great system, the
western New England Highland.
In entrusting to us these varied
mountain ranges, this mountain
world nature has given us Pedes-
TRANS Paradise. Walking is not for
the shore with it's horizontal
sameness. II is not for the
lowlands with its straight monot.
onous roads. and level horizons. The
pedestrian must have his landscape
set up on edge as upon an easel. lie
must rise and fall with changing
contour. He must turn in and out
with the winding road. The init
mates Of the forest road must be fol
lowed by thssweep of the view from
mountain top. The pedestrian
seeks a region where there is infinite
variety of stream and forest noun.
tain and valley, and where he is led
on mile after mile from one new at
traction to another. Thus he com
passes a mountain world and makes
it his own, won by its natural attrac-
tons and by the Inequalities of trail
and road. shelter and inn, which a
friendly and generous people have
provided
The Western New England High
land has always meant vigor and
hardihood. The region has produced
the Morgan Horse. famed for his
stamina and endurance. 1t has pro
duced the men from New Hampshire
and Massachusetts and Vermont who
fought at historic Bennington, and
generations of warriors who have
formed the fighting front in many
battle. II under the condition of
modern life these splendid tradi-
lions are to be maintained, 1t can be
only through a very systematic ex.
ploitation of our natural advantages
which can be used to invigorate and
harden men.
For experts along trails, in forests.
on mountains, such as would be need
cd in any possible operation against
Mexico. the War Department of the
United states ought to be able to
turn with absolute confidence to the
men and boys of the White Noun.
tains and the Green Mountains, of
the Berkshires and the Litchneld
Hills. If our business men should
use their mountains as they ought.
they would be the best-conditioned
men in the United States. Whether
for purposes of war or OF peace the
principal physical training of us
Western New Highlanders ought TO
be on our mountains. mountains with
n great system of trunk trails. north
and south. and a network of trails
radiating TO the east and to the
west. which connect every city and
village with the master trails of the
region
This is the supreme significance OF
our region as a playground for the
rest of the world Nothing could he
more Important than this in the DAYS
when men soften and faiten as they
are carried through beautiful valleys