the Dog Fall, and the brawling
Kauterskill. Directly opposite stands the wooded crest of Round Top. The
entire mountain side is visible, and the cleft is so narrow that the
trees can almost be counted as they rise one above another to a height
of 2,500 feet above the roaring stream, which here receives two slender
cascades that have threaded their way through the tangled forest. Toward
the east, the river is visible, and the sloping mountain declivities
frame a lovely picture of lowland country and far-away Connecticut or
Massachusetts hills. 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. John's wort,
wild turnip, Solomon's seals, wild lilies of the vale, fire lilies,
Indian pipe, with other flowers, ground pines, and varieties of moss and
ferns innumerable, border the winding woodpaths and secluded roads.
There are many regions in America more grand than that of the Catskills,
but none, we think, more easily and gratefully compensatory to a careful
survey.

* * * * *

Within Gethsemane's Garden kneeling,
Bends the Lord His s