BOSTON TO ALBANY. 113 



spondence. The afternoon was passed in a stroll 

 through the town, where I saw much that was of inter- 

 est and gathered some information concerning its early 

 history, progress and present condition. 



Of the fourteen counties of Massachusetts, the most 

 strongly marked and highly favored is Berkshire, with 

 its four cardinal boundaries, formed by four different 

 states. To one who sees, for the first time, the lux- 

 uriance of its vegetation, the beauty of its forest-cov- 

 ered hills, the broad shady avenues of its villages, 

 with their palatial homes, it seems as if Nature and 

 wealth had combined to make this spot a veritable 

 " Garden of the Gods." 



In the exact centre of all this loveliness, more than 

 1,000 feet above the level of the sea, lies the little 

 city of Pittsfield, containing about 16,000 inhabitants. 

 Its principal streets form a cross. North, South, East, 

 and West streets meeting at an elliptical grove of 

 stately elms forming a small park. Here in old days 

 stood one central tree, its height one hundred and 

 twenty -eight feet, its bare shaft ninety feet, with many 

 a memory of the French and Indian wars attached to 

 it. In 1841, it was struck by lightning. In 1861 

 it was cut down, even stern men weeping at its fall. 

 It was replaced by a fountain, whose stream may be 

 raised to the height of the old tree. This park also 

 holds a huge shaft of granite, upon -which stands the 

 bronze figure of a soldier, flag in hand. On the 

 granite are cut the words, " For the dead a tribute, for 

 the living a memory, for posterity an emblem of devo- 

 tion to their country's flag.'^ To the west of the park 

 is Pittsfield's large brownstone Post Office, it being 

 the first building on North street, a small business 



