The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-05-21
THE MISSION OF THE GREEN
MOUNTAIN CLuB



that this is one OF the grandest pro
jccts ever put forward in the histor!
Of this commonwealth II is the plaI
Of the Club 10 build a first-class con
meeting foot path on the mountain
from the Canadian border to Mt
Greyloek in Massachusetts. The mar
or men who conceived this idea anc
first gave il definite form by eoncret,
action will certainly go down in his
tory as among our real benefactors
The success Of the plan now seems
assured, and II only needs concert.
ed action by the public-spirited eiti-
zens Of Rutland and Bennington Coun'
ties 10 make that assurance doubly
sure. Will we respond 10 the call in
Bennington County? viii our people
who know that in the Green Noun
tains we have our greatest state asset
come forward Will those who are
familiar with the beauties Of those
heights sit supinely by and permit
this project to fail? Let us hope not.
As a rule, those who are familiar
with our mountains are more than
anxious that every man, woman and
child in the state shall know them
intimately. We know that such
knowledge will endear our people to
their homes and make them proud Of
their native state. We know it will
aid Vermonters in guiding visitors to
our scenic beauty spots and in show
ing the same off to best advantage
We also know that travelling our lofty
peaks and fertile valleys will make
us all better citizens in many ways
II will afford us clean, wholesome
recreation, far removed from the
haunts Of temptation and vice; it will
brighten our eyes, make our step
elastic and preserve our health II
will serve to keep our boys home
upon the farms, for when a boy be-
comes fond Of travelling these ancient
wilds in pursuit Of game or fish, or
for other amusement, he will be des-
perately lonely without them. Away
from them he becomes homesick and
will pine for them; his heart will
yearn to return to the old homestead
at the base of the hills Besides this
every boy of the village or city who
becomes enamored of the mour'ain
life, is thereby made strong, manly
and courageous, and the saloon,
gambling house and hrothcl has no
attraction for him. The clean
wholesome lure of the mountains is
much stronger than the vicious at
fractions of the city. In word, this
familiarity with the mountains will
restore that class and character of
citizenship which made the name of
the Green Mountain Boys" famous
throughout the land in early times.
But here may be permitted word
Of personal expression?
1t has always been a passion with
me to indulge in outdoor life. From
| have loved the forests,
fields and streams, and all the deni-
zens therein found Intimate study
of the phenomena of Nature is one
of the grand things of this world of
ours. II person once becomes in
terested in these matters, 1t soon
grows to passion, which can never
thereafter be wholly eradicated from
his being. 1t is the way Nature has
Of attracting and holding fast to her
votaries. Now, it has been my good
fortune in the past to have traversed
a part of the great Rocky Mountains
Df the West, and to some extent the
Sierras, the Alleghanies and other
of the country, but | do not
hesitate to say that the Green Noun
aims of Vermont, as institutions of
human interest, far surpasses them
ill. ! will tell you why. once
travelled over the Grand Canyon in
Nevada and on another occasion Pixies
Peak in Colorado, where the view is
me of indescribable grandeur. You
an see the lofty peaks in Colorado,
earring their great snow-capped
leads in every direction To me they
we're awe-inspiring and magnificent.
But that was not all. They were also
orbidding and terrible in their aspect
md immensity. In the Grand Canyon
looked over that wonderful preci-
nee and could see the rushing, roar
ng river thousands of feet beneath ,
ne, while an expanse of mountains
rand and distant---were plain on all
ides The impression these made
pon my spirits was frightfully de
ressing. ] at once realized what a
vretched little atom a human being
5 amidst it all, and feeling of ex-
RENE humility naturally came over
ne. But how is il with our own /.
No such thoughts ever .
inter- the visitors mind here. On the !.
ontrary, they are cheerful and invit-
lg. Let anyone stand in the streets
Arlington or Manchester Center. /,
or instance, and look off to our noun
aims, and what does he behold? He !
ees them, as it were, with arms out
tretched inviting him to approach. :
Winter or summer the call is the
ame. There is no season Of the year ).
hen the Green Mountains do not
resent an inviting aspect. And the :
lore one responds to this invitation !.
he more he will respond. Our noun !, !
iins are full Of beauty and charm. :
heir aspect is always warm, never
I'D and forbidding, and their sum-
hts and depths are full Of fascina- !
on. But to fully appreciate this you :, i
ust visit them often; you must =
avel them thoroughly, both summer I
nd winter; you must penetrate their !,
vamps and tangles, and explore 4
leir loftiest peaks. Everywhere : !,
~ go you will discover new attrac- :
ons to absorb your interest, and the ! !,
fort in climbing them will improve = Z
,ur health and spirits. This being ! !
ue, il follows that the thing to do is : !.
make our mountains more accessi. 4
e. make them more inviting TO wo :