Year: 1859

From the Chicago Press and Tribune, July Al


The ride from Boston to Brattleboro had
been accomplished by your correspondent un-
der the most favorable circumstances, and for
the dweller on the prairics that lie with Chicago
IN theu lap, the ever-changing panorama of
mountain, hill and vale, that even the rapid
transit by rail could not entirely prevent one
from enjoying, possessed a charm that often
wins him from the scat within to the platform
where literally turning his back upon the COM
pany's rules to our certain knowledge, he rode
for hours Willing through the upper ten Of
counties in the Bay State, which, though they
do not show the best part of the old lady's
homestead, still abound with the marks of her
busy and tnrifty life.


Brattleboro is one of the most charming of
the valley towns of the Connecticut. With
many 1t bears away the palm from all Others
and every summer sees its hotels, water cure
establishments and private residences filled with
visitors from the South and our Northern cities
frequently to the number of upwards of one
thousand. Thus early in the season we found
those visitors cuning in. and IN s;des ebo,st
Brattleboro we frequently met gay equipages
and cavalcades of these health and pleasure
seekers, whose good taste had been so well dis
played in the selection of summer haunt
Brattleboro of itself is thorough going lively
place, with rich country about her, and charms
Of natural scenery rarely surpassed. Chester
field mountain looms grandly and boldly up on
the New Hampshire side of the Connecticut
its river front rich with dense forests, on slope
which at first glance would seem too steep for
comfortable or easy access. 1t is barrier
which cuts off Brattleboro from the dreaded east
winds of New England


The State Lunatic Asylum is charming re-
treat finely located on one of the broad plateaus
or terraces which are characteristic of this val-
ley and are now receiving the attention of
President Hitchcock, who has a work in prepa-
tion on this subject. 1t has now upwards of
two hundred of the unfortunates for whom it
exists. AT the upper end of Main street, at an
angle of two streets, stands the statue of Ethan
Allen, by young Mead, of this place. 1t is in
plaster, protected by coat Of paint. and is but
model, awaiting the acceptance the State,
think, can but choose to give it. 1t is work
of art highly creditable to the young sculptor.
whose name will yet occupy high place on the
roll of fame. 1t i-of the heroic size and rep
resents the hero of Ticonderoga in his custom
airy apparelling for the field, his sword in its
scabbard by his side his eye fixed on his COM
mand, to whom, with wave of his hand he is
giving an order. The work is universally COM
mended and If it passes the ordeal will give
young Mead fame as well as something that is
still better in this money-changing world.


Ii deserves to be mentioned that this same
young artist conceived and executed a surprise
and pleasure to his townsmen in the shape of
a snotc statue, which when the morning rose,
was found, from the same site as that now oc-
cupied by Ethan Allen, to be overlooking the
town. 1t was the Recording Angel" and was
universally wondered at and admired for some
days, until an envious thaw melted the angel to
tears and sent her back to the skies. So pleas
ing was the conceit, and so well executed the
figure, that it is satisfactory to be able to add
that Mead received an order from liberal gen.
tleman, and that the "Recording Angel" has
been restored in material more enduring than
"


AT Brattleboro we made one of morning
strawberry party among the hills, and your
readers to whom the face of Nature is plain,
very plain-praire in fact-would have enjoyed
ramble which steepness of the ascent at times
made scramble, over those green ill-sides, in
the bright summer dawning and there remains
no question that they would have joyed to share
the berries, the result of our labors, plump,
round, luscious, not large, but possessing fla
vor and richness that would make a Hovey's
seeding burst its pimpled sides with envy.