The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-06-20

in Edward Martin Taber's postum
nous volume OF notes. II nestles al.
most directly beneath the high head
of Mansfield. II seems possessed OF
the very concentration OF the Green
mountain atmosphere and feeling
The winding road from Stowe TO JEFF
fersonville is a path of magic. II
winds endlessly between green Yer
mont hills and toward blue Vermont
mountains. and at its most remote
and awe-inspiring point finds its way
through a deep defle between two
mountains where the shade is broken
only in midday and the forest trees
grow greener than elsewhere.
In the heart OF the Notch is the
most extraordinary spring in Yer
mont. Clear as crystal. and pure as
only a mountain spring can be. q
throws up great volume Of water
which tumbles unsteady into a bowl
in the earth lined with quartz sand
particles OF which dance perpetually
in the whirlpool Then the spring
slips away in the guise of a noun
tain stream. One can watch the
dance of the water and the sand and
listen to the music of it for hours at
a time. II there is anywhere in Yer.
mont n spot actually alive with magic
II is this intensely green hollow
where the clear water pours endless.
ly up from the earth. and the
shadows over moss and ferns are un.
disturbed for days at a time
From the depths of the Notch not
far from the spring may be seen the
swath cut through the forest by a
rock as big as church which fell
from its place in the mountain side
a few years ago, fell clear of the
mountain for hundred feet or more.
rolled and bounded along for per-
haps "A mile. grinding great forest
trees literally into nothing and here
and there sparing clump OF tall
beeches or naples by leaping over it.
II is possible to see perfectly the
place in the overhanging mountain
side in which the stone fitted and
from which it fell The path itself
may be seen and the rock itself
which looms up not far from the
road. Not even Niagara can be more
suggestive of awful. resistless force.
To see a forest trodded down as
though it were standing grain. to
think of the still, relentless work of
the frosts year after year prying
loose such a monster of solid stone,
awakens the most dormant sense OF
wonder and calls up thoughts too
deep for comfort.
The Notch is central to the noun.
tain region. A good trail to the top
of Mansfield leads from it. On the
other side the trail to the summit of
| Sterling mountain winds up by way
of Sterling pond. 1t is beautiful. II
is romantic in aspect and fairly
breathing with tradition. Vernon
ought to possess il for a park. Ever
as an investment as part of the fo
l w iNoNiNNs IL VuSlii pay iilC OldNt
And as one of the foremost of GU
scenic attractions its preservation
would be doubly worth while. If /
is not preserved it will have to go tn
way of other timberland. The ak
is already at work there and in
short time in place of the green, fol
est-clad slopes which are its glor
will remain only naked ground an
aching stumpage. The people {
Vermont ought to purchase Smu:
glers Notch by subscription and pr,
sent it to the State. Then the Stat
ought to improve the road through
to make 1t more accessible to autt
mobilists. Who will be the first {
undertake this work?-Burlingto
Free Press.
Children Cry