The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-06-29
SAVE sMUGGLERs' NOTCH.
One of the Most Splendid Scenic Spots
In Vermont.

One of the Most Splendid Scenic Spots
In Vermont.
There is no spot in Vermont more de-
serving of preservation than Smugglers'
Notch. 1t is part of that wonderland
of Stowe scenery, always glorious and
made more so by the Interpretation OF
| it given to the world in Edward Martin
| Taber's posthumous volume of notes. lt
nestles almost directly beneath the high
! head of Mansfield. 1t seems possessed
of the very concentration OF the Green
mountain atmosphere and feeling. Inc
winding road from Stowe to jefferson
vile is a path of magic. 1t winds end
lessly between green Vermont hills ana
toward blue Vermont mountains and at
| its most remote and awe-inspiring point
| finds its way through deep defile be-
tween two mountains where the shade
is broken only in midday and the forest
trees grow Qreener than elsewhere.
In the heart of the notch is the most
extraordinary spring in Vermont. Clear
as crystal, and pure as only mountain
spring can be. it throws up a great
volume of water which tumbles must
cally into a bowl in the earth lined with
quartz sand, particles of which dance
perpetualIy in the whirlpool. Then the
spring slips away in the guise of a
mountain 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 Vermont
spot actually alive with magic, it is
this intensely green hollow where the
clear water pours endlessly up from the
earth, and the shadows over moss and
ferns are undisturbed 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 rock as big
as a church which fell from its place
in the mountain side few years ago,
fell clear OF the mountain for a hum
bred feet or more, rolled and bounded
along for perhaps a mile, grinding great
forest trees literally into nothing and
here and there sparing q clump of tall
beeches or naples by leaping over il.
1t is possible to see perfectly the place
in the overhanging mountain-side in
which the stone fitted and from which
it fell. The patch 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 resist
less force To see a forest trodden down
as though it were standing grain to
think of the still, relentless work of the
frosts year after year prying loose such
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 mountain
region. A good trail to the top of Mans
field leads from it, On the other side
the trail TO the summit of Sterling
mountain winds up by way of Sterling
pond. IL is beautiful II is romantic in
aspect and fairly breathing with tradi-
ton. Vermont ought to possess it for
a park. Even as an investment, as a
part of the forest reserve, it ought to
pay the state. And as one OF the fore
most of our scenic attractions it's preser-
walton would be doubly worth while. If
it is not preserved it will have TO go the
way of other timberland. The axe is
already at work there and in a short
time in place OF the green forest clad
slopes which are its glory will remain
only naked ground and aching stumpage
The people of Vermont ought to pur-
chase Smugglers' Notch by subscription
and present it to the state Then the
state ought TO improve the road through
il to make il more accessible to automo-
bilists. Who will be the first to under
take this work.