6 Mountain Scenery. 



often observed laboring on the farms, and even in some instances hold- 

 ing the plough and governing teams of horses. When we observed 

 them working vigorously in the gardens and at the wood piles, they 

 discovered no embarrassment at seeing strangers, and doubtless from 

 habit, they felt none. The Pennsylvania Germans are very indus- 

 trious and thrifty farmers, but with some honorable exceptions, they, 

 in general, undervalue education and knowledge,* and are quite sat- 

 isfied to go on as their fathers went before them, and they almost sys- 

 tematically shut their eyes against the lights of the age ; but they are 

 truly a stable population. 



Many mountain scenes engaged our attention, particularly as we 

 approached the gap in the Blue Ridge, through which the Lehigh 

 passes. This mountain range stretches for many miles, in a straight 

 line to the right and left, presenting a regular barrier, fringed with 

 forest trees, and wooded on the entire slope, v^^hich was as steep as it 

 could be and sustain the wood upon its sides. As we approached 

 the gap, the view became very beautiful, and as we entered it by the 

 side of the Lehigh and of the fine canal upon its left bank, the moun- 

 tain ridge, here cleft from top to bottom, and rising apparently a thou- 

 sand feet, presented, on either hand, a promontory of rocks and for- 

 ests, rising very abruptly, and forming a combination both grand and 

 beautiful. The passes of rivers through mountains are almost in- 

 variably picturesque, and it is always interesting to observe, how faith- 

 fully the rivers explore the clefts in mountain barriers, and impelled by 

 the power of gravity, wind their way through rocky defiles and pur- 

 sue their untiring course to the ocean. It is common to speak of 

 such passes as being formed by the rivers, which are often supposed 

 to have burst the barriers, and thus to have shaped their own channel. 

 This may have happened in some peculiar cases, and there are 

 doubtless many instances where the lakes, of which many must have 

 been left at the retiring both of the primeval and of the diluvial 

 ocean, have worn or burst away their barriers, especially when com- 

 posed, as they must often have been, of loose materials. But with 

 respect to most rocky passes of rivers through mountains, there ap- 

 pears no reason whatever, to believe that the waters have torn asun- 

 der the solid strata ; a more resistless energy must have been requi- 



* In the taverns they offered us cider royal ; it derives its title par excellence, from 

 the whiskey or cider brandy, which, in the proportion of three or four gallons, is 

 added to each barrel of cider. 



