Stretching before the vision in a glorious and beautiful panorama, with
the peerless WASHINGTON above them all. This approach to the mountains
affords the most comprehensive view of the principal range; and the
Westerner, who has always been accustomed to broad expanses of prairie,
with no greater elevations, perhaps, than the height of an ordinary
church steeple, will be peculiarly impressed with the grandeur of the
scene before him.
The first important station is BETHLEHEM JUNCTION, three miles from
Bethlehem village, the “paradise of hay-fever sufferers.” This lovely
hamlet enjoys the distinction of having the highest location of any town
in the United States east of the Rockies and north of the Carolinas; and
the remarkable purity of its atmosphere not only secures exemption from
the peculiar malady which drives so many to its protection, but
heightens the effect of the views to be had of the surrounding country.
Owing to its commanding position, and the remarkable clearness of the
atmosphere, the view of the mountains from “Bethlehem Street” is
confessedly the best to be had anywhere.
The village is rendered accessible to the traveler by means of a
recently constructed narrow-gauge railroad, from Bethlehem Junction to
the end of the “street.” About midway on the line of this road is the
magnificent hotel known as MAPLEWOOD, kept in superb style, and at its
terminus is the well-known SINCLAIR HOUSE, Durgin & Fox proprietors. In
addition to these palace hotels, a host of smaller ones, and a long list
of boarding-houses, furnish abiding places for the multitudes who “tarry
for a night,” or make this place their summer home.
Bethlehem is also the railroad connection for the famous FRANCONIA
NOTCH, by means of a narrow-gauge railroad, extending into the valley
and terminating near the Profile House. The attractions of this locality
are sufficiently important to demand special notice by themselves; and
we therefore keep straight on in our course, the next stop being at the
TWIN MOUNTAIN HOUSE, so named from its proximity to the “Twin
Mountains,” one of which is visible from the hotel. This house has for
many years been the summer home of Henry Ward Beecher, who addresses
large congregations of Sunday excursionists during the season.
[Illustration: SINCLAIR HOUSE, BETHLEHEM.]
Four miles further, and we stop at the WHITE MOUNTAIN HOUSE, one of the
oldest of the mountain hotels, a veritable “tavern” of the earlier days,
with less of style than its more pretentious neighbors, but with a
large stock of good cheer and hospitable care for its guests, at
moderate prices. Only a mile from the Fabyan House, the would-be guests
of the latter are sometimes compelled, from an over-taxation of its
immense capacities, to fall back on the resources of mine host
Rounsevel, who gives them the best his house affords, and bids them “be
therewith content.”