Year: 1865

This point may be considered the head Of foot
navigation of the stream especially for ladies,
though heavy pair OF boots and firm, though
sometimes nimble step enable the masculine
curious to penetrate further up, which South
and myself succeeded 10 doing, the rough and
slippery stones and fallen trees afordng con-
venent, though rather uncertain foothold, until
We reached the upper terminus Of the cut, and
emerged into the open world again. 1t is q
world Of forest, however, forest 80 dense that
above here its waters and its denizens have seen
but little sunshne--its thick and heavy growth
being n9urshcd by succession Of preceding
forests which have here arisen and declyod dur
ing tho long centuries Of the past eternity.


Many trees have fallen into the cleft, where
they still remain as they fell, adding wildnes3


10 the sceno while others have fallen over it.,
aliording convenient foot bridges for those who
have enough Of the Blondin deposition TO en-
able them to cross, and also another and dill
ierent view Of the yawning chasm beneath.
Altogether tins is q scene which for wild gran
deur and subllmity nature seldom surpasses.
There is picture gallery here, though the gal


cry is mostly out Of doors, the little shanty at
which my letter Is dated being used as d sort Of


laboratory or workshop by the Artist, vino fur
nshes a good steroscoplc view Of the tlume
with the purchaser in it, for the moderate sun
ot one dollar | had mind 10 have one taken,
but South thought that view Of the scenery
with Us left out would be preferable, and as
they had them ready made We concluded not to
stop Tor new ones.


A short distance below the Flume Is another
scene Of surprising beauty, known as The Cas-.
cade. Here the bed OF the stream widens out
to very respectable dimensions, and instead OF
the rough rocks seen above, is composed Of solid
granite which is spread out very level literally,
across the stream, but descends rapidly as you 60
down. and is as smooth as if hewei by q stone.
cutter for the base Of monument The descent
is not entirely even, the rock lying IN gently
undu!ating swells, like the slightly rolling pral'
ries of the Wes--oyer which the crystal waters
glide as gently and as sweotly Us ever sympa-
tbetic tear coursed down the human face. We
saw it at early evening, jus. as the setting sun
burst in with food Of golden light In which the
merry flood danced gaily on, reminding the
boholder Of Johns description Of the River Of
Life, as it ran through the golden streets Of his
New Jerusalem, its crystal waters sparkling in
the mellow light Of heaven.


There are many attractions in the region OF
Franconia, but like Pau!s Christian graces,
's these three " stand out prominently among
them all the Profile for marvel the + lume
for wildness and the Cascade for beauty.
Among the others may be mentioned the Baain
by the roadside in the river, two miles above the
Flume House and the Pool, also, in the Pc
migewasset no, far from the entrance OF the
stre4m on which arc situated the Cascade ami
Flume. Both are small basins in the rocks,
worn out apparently by the eddyiog motion Of
the water. which whirls within them still, but
a huge pile OF rock yet remains to be worn
away. Perhaps the greatest natural curIostes
at the Pool are the old man and his vile who
gain llying-aud | should Judge good one
by rowing visitors across it, and by selling pc
lures and books, though think the only book
they have for sale, Is small, crazy work on
d" The Philosophy OF Creation, written by the
old man himself, and which is curious spec-
men Of literature, although guess it sells well,
as they say they have sold over six thousand
COPIES at their stand. On the side Of the rock
opposite his boats he has drawn some diagrams
whch are enveoped IN mysterious letters and
figures, Ia the Plantation Bitters; and II you
ask him what they mean, he will propose to row
you over Tor a quarter of dollar, aud explain
to you the whole thing, and when be has done
so you know Just as much about it as you did
before, and probably just as much as he does.
lie also has several letters which he spppOses
were written by royal hands in Europe in ap'
probation of his Philosophy including one
from Louis Napoleon, and one from Victoria
and Prince Albert, which last was " signed 10
the Grand Culinary Department with q Royal
Goose quill" The truth is they were signed ~
} and written by some cute gentlemen who were
} stopping at the Flume House several years ago,
and who played It on the old man 80 oleverly
that he thought they were genuine documents,
and that he was really being eourIed by royalty.
So he had the letters printed, and keeps them
open at his stand to prove to visitors that he is
a man of consequence in the world Of letters
, and science. lie thinks he is playing the lion,
and that he has roared so as TO make the Duke
say &" Let him roar again; let him roar again.
The old man has been here for many years, and
is familiar with all this region, and is not alto.
gether unaequainted with the world, being a
r man of more than ordinary intelligence, but he
( made the mistake-though he is not alone in it
+ of trying to tell little more than he really
knew.


think have now mentioned nearly all the
{ objects Of interest connected with the Franeonia
t division Of the White Mountains. Mt Wash.
a ington and its immediate surroundings are some
Q Thirty miles to the northward. We intended
o to visit that section from here, but as my t:ay-
5 cling companions have gone home, am inclined
to go too, but hope to return and fnish the trip
t aud perhaps my series of letters, next season.
d ~ w. &.
u


y nj. r-.-.