JAY PEAK.

FOURTEEN miles west of Newport, at the head of Lake Memphremagog, is Jay Peak. It is 4,018 feet in height, and from its summit is a magnificent view, said to be one of the finest in New England. From it can be seen Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks in Northern New York, St. Lawrence River, Montreal, Lakes Memphremagog and Willoughby, the White Mountains, &c., while the valley of Champlain and the country lying near, makes a beautiful and pleasing scene. A good carriage road leads from Newport to the cabin near the summit.

Mr. H. W. Baker, the mountain pioneer, has erected a spacious log cabin on the mountain, just below the summit, where guests are provided for. His "latch string" is always out, and as the streams abound with trout, old fishermen find this a pleasant stopping place.

THE WHITE MOUNTAINS.

A PRELIMINARY VIEW.

On the northern boundary of New Hampshire are the most elevated mountain summits of New England, the rocky boldness and grandeur of which justly entitle that region to the appellation of " the Switzerland of America." The lofty peaks, the deep and narrow passes, and sublime scenery, touches the poetic nature of man, and he wonders at the mighty power that has shaped such vastness and beauty. The fame of the White Mountains is almost world-wide, although hardly a half century has passed since they were looked upon only by neighboring primitive settlers, or the more daring lover of the sublime in nature. A period of about thirty years will cover the time since the Mountains were first visited by any considerable number. Small the number at first, the tide of sight-seekers has gradually increased, until now not less than ten thousand people annually visit all or some portions of the various mountains.

Darby Field of Pascataquack, accompanied by two Indians, ascended the highest peak of the White Mountains, in 1642, but the first mention of the mountains in print did not occur until 1672. The first rude public house for occasional visitors was erected upon the Giant's Grave, in 1803, by Eleazer Rosebrook, five miles west of the present Crawford House. In 1819 Abel Crawford and his son Ethan Allen Crawford were

the first to clear a path through the woods to the rocky ridge, and in 1840 Abel Crawford, at the age of 75, rode the first horse that climbed the cone of Mt. Washington. The first house on that mouutain was built by his son Ethan.

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No conception of the grandeur of the view from the summit of Mt. Washington can be formed without a visit to the mountain itself. The most faithful description when placed upon paper is spiritless in comparison with the mighty scene spread before you from an altitude of more than six thousand feet! While the tide of travel to this wonderful land is increasing year by year, there are thousands who have no realizing sense the pleasure that they are depriving themselves of by remaining at home-toiling, perhaps, day after day in the never ceasing round of business, that a little more may be hoarded for a coming generation to squander. Oh! you man of toil! what will it profit you to wear your very life out in acquiring mere wealth while the finer instincts of your nature are blotted out or allowed to run to waste? The White Hills should be cherished by us all as the Mecca of America, to which it should be a religious duty to make at least one pilgrimage in our life time!

HOW TO REACH THE MOUNTAINS.

There are four routes to the White Mountains, but for tourists coming from New York and points farther south the nearest and most interesting is that through the Connecticut Valley. This is more than seventy miles shorter than any other. Many who have never visited the mountains and whose attention has not previously been called to them, set out to make their first trip with very little knowledge concerning them. To such a few words of explanation will not come amiss.

Littleton is the nearest point on the west side of the mountains that tourists can go to by railroad. From that place sixhorse coaches are run in connection with all the trains to the

THE WHITE MOUNTAINS.

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Profile and Crawford Houses. The former is situated 12 miles from Littleton in the Franconia Mountains, and the latter 22 miles distant, at the western entrance of the White Mountain Notch. In the vicinity of the Profile House are the Old Man of the Mountain, the Poole, the Flume, and various other points of interest. In the vicinity of the Crawford House are the White Mountain Notch, the Willey House, Mount Willard, Ammonoosuc Falls, the railroad to the summit of Mount Washington, &c. The bridle path to the summit of Mt. Washington commences near the Crawford House. The Glen House is on the east side of Mt. Washington, 8 miles from Gorham and the Grand Trunk Railroad. The carriage road to the summit of Mt. Washington commences at the Glen House.

In purchasing tickets for the mountains the tourist should call for one to the Profile House, if he wishes to go to that place first. If he goes to the Crawford House call for one to the White Mountains.

The Mt. Washington Railway, which is now in process of construction, is about 8 miles north of the Crawford House, on the west side of the mountain. A large hotel is to be erected near the Giant's Grave, (at the old Fabyan stand,) a few miles from the railway. With these brief explanations the reader is introduced to the details of the various routes:

ROUTE FIRST.

· From New York by cars to New Haven, Hartford, Springfield, Northampton, Greenfield, Brattleboro, Bellows Falls, Windsor, White River Junction, Wells River and Littleton. Thence by stage direct to the Crawford House, 22 miles, or 12 miles to Profile House in the Franconia Mountains and thence to Crawford House, 27 miles. The tourist leaving New York by the 8 A. M. Morning Express can stop at any point between Springfield and Bellows Falls over night, and proceed to the White Mountain region the next day, arriving there in the

evening, the Profile House at 74, and the Crawford House at 10. Distance from New York to Crawford House, 324 miles, to Profile House, 314 miles.

ROUTE Second.

From New York to New London by steamer, and thence by cars to Worcester, Nashua, Manchester, Concord and Weirs, on Lake Winnipisseogee. From this point the tourist can continue by cars through Plymouth and Wells River to Littleton, and thence by stage to the Crawford or Profile House; or he can take the steamer 10 miles across the Lake to Center Harbor, and thence by stage 30 miles to Profile House through the Pemigewasset valley; or 35 miles to North Conway and thence 28 miles to Crawford House, through the Saco valley. By this route the tourist leaves New York in the afternoon, and, by traveling all night, reaches the White Mountains in the evening of the next day, providing he goes by cars to Littleton. If he goes by steamer to Center Harbor and thence by stage via North Conway to the Crawford House, he reaches there on the evening of the third day, having remained one night at North Conway. Distance from New York to Crawford House via New London, Nashua and Wells River, 424 miles; to Profile House, 414. To Crawford House via Weirs, Center Harbor and North Conway, 395; to Profile House via Plymouth and Pemigewasset valley, 370.

ROUTE THIRD.

From New York to Boston, either by steamboat or railroad; from Boston to Weirs and Plymouth, and thence continue to Littleton by railroad, or by steamer to Center Harbor from Weirs, and thence by stage to North Conway and Crawford House; or by stage from Plymouth to Profile House. Distance from New York by railroad to Boston, Concord, Wells River and Littleton to Profile House, 432 miles; to Crawford