134 



dom and independence may be expected to linger and retain a home, 

 if she should be put to flight in those parts of our country where, 

 among a crowded population, the low and stagnant air is poisoned by 

 avarice and sensuality. When driven from every other part of Eu- 

 rope, she took refuge in the mountains of Switzerland. Her flame 

 could not be quenched even among the glaciers of the Alps. It 

 burnt brightly in the bosom of the brave mountaineer, who, in look- 

 ing from his eyrie-nest upon the broad expanse below, above, and 

 around him, felt that liberty was the proper element of tlie human soul. 

 There, under this generous impulse, was raised that beacon-light of 

 liberty, which will serve as the signal of defiance and triumph to the 

 oppressed ones of the earth in all coming time. The county of 

 Berkshire is distiniiuished by a highly cultivated, intelligent, active, 

 enterprising, and truly republican population. They owe it to the 

 kindness of divine Providence, which has cast their lot in a signally 

 favored location, to encourage and stimulate to the highest degree, 

 among themselves, the spirit of agricultural, intellectual, moral and 

 social improvement. 



4. The Giant's Staircase. Among objects of natural, 

 curiosity, there is one in the south-western part of the county, but 

 little known even among the inhabitants, which will amply repay the 

 labor and time required to visit it. It is on Mount Washington and 

 is designated by a vulgar Dutch name, which no one who understands 

 it, must ever be asked to interpret. Until a more classical name 

 is invented it may be called the Giant's Staircase. It is a deep and 

 tremendous chasm or cleavage in the rocks on the western side of 

 Mount Washington, which combines much that is grand and ter- 

 rific ; and is destined to become an object of great resort to the 

 lovers of the wild and romantic in nature. In the spring of the year, 

 the waters, from the line of summits before described, collect in the 

 central area and uniting their streams force themselves in a torrent by 

 several successive leaps, and down successive steps through this tre- 

 mendous chasm in the rocks into the Kopeck valley. I visited it 

 late in summer when the water was low and the stream small ; but 

 it was then exceedingly striking and beautiful. The lower fall where 

 the silver cascade descends perpendicularly in a glittering pillar of foam, 

 about seventy feet, resembling the inverted plumage of a bird of para- 



