Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 8.djvu/169

 The White and FranconiiX Mountains.

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�� ���GIANT'S STAIRS, BARTLETT-

Meanwhile, The sun in his setting, sent up the Inst smile Of his power, to baffle the storm. And, behold O 'er the mountains embattled, his armies, all gold. Rose and rested; while far up the dim airy crags, Its artillery silenced, its banners in rags. The rear of the tempest its sullen retreat Drew off slowly, receding in silence, to meet The powers of the night, which, now gathering afar. Had already sent forward one bright signal star.

A whole host of natural beauties and attractive scenes lie at hand near this great mountain caravansary. Turn in any and all directions, at e\ery point a view greets the vision which rivals the touches of an almost divine brush on Oriental canvas. Avenues lead through a perfect labyrinth of forests in all direc- tions, and many are the famous sights

��to be seen. Profile Lake lies close by at the base of Cannon or Profile Moun- tain and Mount Lafayette. From its shore can be seen that inspiring curi- osity known the world over as the "' Old Man of the Mountain," about which much good prose and passable poetry has been written. The profile is pro- duced by the peculiar combination of the surfaces and angles of five huge granite blocks, and when viewed from one spot the resemblance is, perfect. Colossal as it is in its proportions, be- ing seventy feet from chin to forehead, the lines are softened by distance, and the sphynx itself is not carved more justly. There it stands, calm, grand, majestic, wear- ing from age to age the same undisturbed expression of sover- eign and hoar}'^ dig- nity — the guardian spirit of the region. No wonder the sim- ple red man, as he roamed these wilds, should pause as he caught sight of this great stone face gazing off through the mountain openings into the distant valley, and worship it as the counten- ance of his Manitou. All are im- pressed with it, and its influence is magnetic.

To climb Mount Lafayette will be scarcely less interesting than the ascent of Mount Washington, though it is more tedious, as it has to be made wholly on foot. But the charming views Yrom its sides and summit -will repay the labor of the tourist. A fine view of the Franconia Mountains can be obtained from the summit of Bald Mountain, to

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