The effects of light and shadow are such as we have
never seen surpassed. This earth there seems made of gold or crimson
lights, of gray seas of mist, or of every imaginable combination of
beautiful hues.
These cliffs are reached by a charming walk through a beech wood, and
are distant about a mile from the Laurel House. A longer and still
somewhat rough path was opened thither last summer from the Mountain
House. But we should never end were we to characterize all the beautiful
spots, the entrancing walks and drives to be found amid these cool and
healthful slopes and plateaus. A difference of at least ten degrees is
felt between the mountain resorts and the villages on the river bank,
and the air is inexpressibly fresh and invigorating.
These mountains have also a very interesting flora. The oak, beech,
birch, chestnut, hickory, maple, ash, hemlock--pines, black, white, and
yellow--spruces, fir, and balsam, are among the most widely spread
trees; and of fruits, the blackberry, gooseberry, raspberry,
whortleberry or blueberry, and strawberry, grow in profusion and of fine
flavor. Violets, anemones, liverworts, the fairy bells of the Linnea
Borealis, the fragrant stars of the Mitchella or partridge berry, the
trailing arbutus, Houstonia, the laurel, honeysuckle, sarsaparilla,
wintergreen, bottle gentian, white and blue, purple orchids, willow
herb, golden rod, immortelles, asters in every variety, St.
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