nt
succession, until the peaks vanish in the distant horizon. It is indeed
a sublime sight, and may well inspire feelings of deepest reverence for
the Power that controls those mighty forces that produced these
everlasting hills.

Though loth to leave this grand pinnacle, we must not tarry longer upon
Greylock. Let us now take a trip down the Housatonic valley, close
beside the Taconic range. This forms an almost continuous ridge across
the State, and its summit is nearly upon the line between our State and
New York. There are no peaks of consequence until we get south of
Pittsfield. The range is bold and precipitous on its western side, and
fine views may be obtained from almost any part of the ridge. The
highest point of the old stage road between Pittsfield and Albany
affords a good prospect, though a view from an old road between Hancock
and Lanesboro is perhaps more striking. On either side are the valleys
of the Hudson and Housatonic, the cities of Albany and Pittsfield, the
distant Catskills and the Hoosac range. A little south of Pittsfield is
a spur from the Taconic range, parting from it at Egremont. The various
portions have received different names--the northern being called Lenox
Mountain, the middle Stockbridge Mountain, and the southern Tom Ball.
The last named is the highest part of the spur, and is located in the
township of Alford. The view from Tom Ball is very fine. A perfect
panorama of hills, with handsome towns and villages nestling in the
valleys, is spread out before the eyes, while the southern horizon is
filled by the giant piles in the township of Mount Washington.

Going still further south we find just north-east of Great Barrington a
vast mass to which the ugly name of Beartown Mountain was applied by our
forefathers. Its altitude is nearly equal to that of the other great
hills of Berkshire, but being quite gradual in ascent, and much rounded,
does not impress the traveller as much as it might, and there are no
peaks from which a good view is obtainable. Just west of this is a hill
that deserves mention. It is called Monument Mountain, and was so named
because of a great pile of stones found at its southern extremity, and
supposed to have been placed there by the aborigines to commemorate some
important event. This hill rises only about five hundred feet above the
plain, but its eastern side presents an imposing appearance, being an
almost perpendicular wall of quartz. From the top there