The Tomahawk., 1917-08-02

eled through the Berkshires,
that glorious range of hills
that stretches from Vermont
across Massachusetts into Connecticut,
long famous for their historical and
literary associations, what wealth of
pleasurable emotions is called up by
the very name.
The Berkshires! The name stands
for scenic beauties to be found no.
where else; life-giving breezes; strolls
to the homes of famous authors and
other historical figures; vast estates of
multimillionaires; scenes of battle
with Indians; and, withal, glimpses
Of many vast Industrial plants, says
the Boston Herald.
It means, too, that the person who
Is familiar with books may conjure
up Longfellow's 1.-THE Old Clock on
the Stairs,'' or Beecher's "Star Par
pers," or Holmes "Elsie Venner," or
the kindly faces of James Russell Low
ell, Doctor Claiming, Herman Mel
vile, and many other literary men,
who spent their summers among these
hills and wrote many Of their most
famous books in this enchanted re-
.giOn.
berkshire is the most western coun-
ty in Massachusetts. It touches three
states; Vermont on the north, New
York on the west and Connecticut on
the south. It is so miles long and con-
tains an area Of about $50 square
oil rI nf tho
Berkshires, however, do not stop at
the state boundary lines. They extend
to the Hudson river valley in the en-
pire state, to the Green mountains OF
Vermont and the charming rolling
country of western Connecticut.
In the early days this entire re-
gion was the scene Of struggles with
the Indians; it did it's full part in the
war of the American revolution, and
it is today a country of beautiful
homes, and noted for it's remarkable
manufacturing development.
Perfect Motor Roads.
It is covered with a network of
perfect automobiling roads, so built
that their grades are not difficult In
traversing the most mountainous Sec
lions. Jacobs ladder and the we'll
known Mohawk trail are the scenic
route for the tourist by motor; there
are trolley lines throughout the en-
tire region, and by-paths and trails
for the pedestrian or the horseman,
all of which offer a great variety OF
pleasures.
Pittsfield and North Adams are cen
tiers from which to start if it is the in
tention to make tour of the Berk-
:shires, although one may leave from
almost any point and find no difficulty
in reaching a destination. There is
one trolley line, beginning at Canaan
Conn.,, that traverses the entire region
passing through twenty cities and
towns in four different states.
The tour from Pittsfield to Great
Darlington, or further on to Canaan
is delightful. In Pittsfield one may
see the site Of the meeting house over
which "Fighting Parson Allen" pre-
sided when he Led the men of Berk'
shire to the battle of Bennington. II
was in Pittsfeld that the first agricul'
tural fair in America was held; and
here General Lafayette was royalty
entertained on his farewell visit to
America. In Pittsfeld, too, is the
house known to every reader of Long
fellow, that Of his father-in-law, in
which stood "The old clock on the
stairs"
On the road to Lenox is the house
occupied by Oliver Wendell Holmes
with it's famous Holmes pine," I'M
der which the poet often wrote. A
little further on is Arrowhead" the
home of the late Herman Melville
where the Indians used to rendezvous
Near here are the Canoe meadows on
the Housatonic, where the Indians
moored their canoes when visiting the
burial places Of their ancestors.
On every hand are the beautiful
summer estates of those who have
inherited or acquired great riches
Up and Over Jacobs Ladder.
Lee presents many points of inter
est. Here is the mill in which was
made the first wood pulp paper ever
used in America; here is the marble
quarry, now abandoned, from which
was taken the stone used in the cree
ton of the two wings of the national
capitol at Washington. From other
nuarries here were taken 100000 head.
stones purchased by the government
to mark the graves of its soldier dead
Lee was the scene of one of the num-
erous skirmishes Of Shay's rebellion
and is a very attractive village.
From Lee the motorist may enter
the popular Jacobs Ladder route to
Springfield and the East, route that