[87913] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Save Your Smile
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Dentist)
Thu Sep 1 18:13:34 2016
Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2016 18:01:26 -0400
From: Dentist <dentist@rachels.stream>
To: <mit-talk-mtg@charon.mit.edu>
<html xmlns=3D"http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>=20
<title></title>=20
</head>=20
<body> =20
<meta content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dutf-8" http-equiv=3D"Content-Typ=
e" />=20
<title>Save Your Smile</title>=20
<style type=3D"text/css">#outlook a,body{padding:0}a img,img{border:none}=
table,table td{border-collapse:collapse}.footer a,img{text-decoration:none}=
body{width:100%!important; -webkit-text-size-adjust:100%; -ms-text-size=
-adjust:100%; margin:0}.ExternalClass{width:100%}.ExternalClass,.External=
Class div,.ExternalClass font,.ExternalClass p,.ExternalClass span,.Externa=
lClass td{line-height:100%}.backgroundTable{margin:0; padding:0; width:=
100%!important; line-height:100%!important}img{outline:0; -ms-interpola=
tion-mode:bicubic}.image_fix{display:block}p{margin:0!important}table{mso-t=
able-lspace:0; mso-table-rspace:0}.footer a{text-decoration:none!importan=
t}table{width:100%; clear:both}@media only screen and (max-=
width:640px){.preheader{font-size:12px!important; margin-bottom:15px}.sub=
header-links{font-size:12px!important}}
=09</style> =20
<!-- Start of preheader -->=20
<table bgcolor=3D"#ffffff" border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0" class=3D"preheader backgroundTable" st-bgcolor=3D"edit" st-sortable=3D"p=
reheader" width=3D"100%">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr>=20
<td>=20
<table align=3D"center" border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D=
"0" width=3D"600">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr>=20
<td>=20
<table align=3D"center" border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacin=
g=3D"0" class=3D"devicewidth" st-options=3D"edit" width=3D"580">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr>=20
<td>=20
<table align=3D"center" border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cellsp=
acing=3D"0" class=3D"devicewidthinner" width=3D"580">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr>=20
<td align=3D"center" st-content=3D"preheader" style=3D"fon=
t-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1px; color: transparent; l=
ine-height: 0; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; display: none; " vali=
gn=3D"middle"><span>Now you can afford quality dental care</span></td>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>=20
</table> </td>=20
</tr>=20
<tr>=20
<td height=3D"7"> </td>=20
</tr>=20
<!-- Spacing -->=20
<tr>=20
<td>=20
<table align=3D"center" border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cellsp=
acing=3D"0" class=3D"devicewidthinner" width=3D"580">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr>=20
<td align=3D"left" class=3D"subheader-links" st-content=3D=
"preheader" style=3D"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-siz=
e: 10px; color: #97999b" valign=3D"middle"><a href=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/539m8C6_45MfiLcbUhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW18a/patina-translated" style=
=3D"text-decoration: none; color: #97999b"><img alt=3D"Phone Number" hei=
ght=3D"13" src=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/60b7Ta-4gr62JcbThvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW8eb/newspaper-Fletcher" st-left-image=3D"iconphone" width=3D"13" />&=
nbsp; Call us at 1 (800) xxx-xxxx </a></td>=20
<td align=3D"right" class=3D"subheader-links" st-content=
=3D"preheader" style=3D"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-=
size: 10px; color: #97999b" valign=3D"middle"><a href=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/539m8C6_45MfiLcbUhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW18a/patina-translated" st-w=
ebversion=3D"" style=3D"text-decoration: none; color: #97999b">View in B=
rowser</a> | <a href=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/40dg86w4D60VcbAhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW638/sorely-starkly" st-unsubscribe=3D"" style=3D"text-decor=
ation: none; color: #97999b">Unsubscribe</a></td>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>=20
</table> </td>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>=20
</table> </td>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>=20
</table> </td>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>=20
</table>=20
<!-- End of preheader -->
<!-- Start of header -->=20
<table bgcolor=3D"#ffffff" border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0" class=3D"backgroundTable" st-bgcolor=3D"edit" st-sortable=3D"header" wid=
th=3D"100%">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr>=20
<td>=20
<table align=3D"center" border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D=
"0" width=3D"600">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr>=20
<td width=3D"10"><img alt=3D"spacer" height=3D"1" src=3D"=
http://www.rachels.stream/patina-translated/1207aI*i4I63gTcbRhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONWe14" style=3D"display:inline-block; margin:0; " width=3D"30" /></td>=20
<td>=20
<table align=3D"center" bgcolor=3D"#ffffff" border=3D"0" cellpadd=
ing=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" class=3D"devicewidth" st-options=3D"edit" width=
=3D"540">=20
<tbody>
<!-- Spacing -->=20
<tr>=20
<td height=3D"15"> </td>=20
</tr>=20
<!-- Spacing -->=20
<tr>=20
<td>=20
<table align=3D"center" border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cellsp=
acing=3D"0" class=3D"devicewidthinner" width=3D"500">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr>=20
<td width=3D"147.5"> </td>=20
<td width=3D"205">
<!-- logo -->=20
<table align=3D"center" border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" ce=
llspacing=3D"0" class=3D"devicewidthinner" width=3D"205">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr>=20
<td align=3D"center" height=3D"45" width=3D"205"><a hr=
ef=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/539m8C6_45MfiLcbUhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW18a/patina-translated" target=3D"_blank"><img alt=3D"" border=3D"0" height=3D"45=
" src=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/9cb7Ua-46s4gDcbzhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW639/sentinel-Nassau" style=3D"display:block; border:none; outline:no=
ne; text-decoration:none; " width=3D"205" /> </a></td>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>=20
</table>=20
<!-- end of logo --></td>=20
<td width=3D"147.5"> </td>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>=20
</table> </td>=20
</tr>=20
<!-- Spacing -->=20
<tr>=20
<td height=3D"20"> </td>=20
</tr>=20
<!-- Spacing -->=20
</tbody>=20
</table> </td>=20
<td width=3D"10"><img alt=3D"spacer" height=3D"1" src=3D"=
http://www.rachels.stream/patina-translated/1207aI*i4I63gTcbRhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONWe14" style=3D"display:inline-block; margin:0; " width=3D"30" /></td>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>=20
</table> </td>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>=20
</table>=20
<!-- End of Header -->
<!-- Start of main-banner -->=20
<table bgcolor=3D"#ffffff" border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0" class=3D"backgroundTable" st-bgcolor=3D"edit" st-sortable=3D"banner" wid=
th=3D"100%">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr>=20
<td>=20
<table align=3D"center" border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D=
"0" width=3D"600">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr>=20
<td width=3D"0"><img alt=3D"spacer" height=3D"1" src=3D"=
http://www.rachels.stream/patina-translated/1207aI*i4I63gTcbRhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONWe14" style=3D"display:inline-block; margin:0; " width=3D"0" /></td>=20
<td>=20
<table align=3D"center" bgcolor=3D"#ffffff" border=3D"0" cellpadd=
ing=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" class=3D"devicewidth" st-options=3D"bg" width=
=3D"600">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr>
<!-- start of image -->=20
<td align=3D"center"><img alt=3D"" border=3D"0" class=3D"banne=
r" height=3D"174" src=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/sentinel-Nassau/6fc7awy4tW*65WcbGhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW2b6" st-image=3D"banner-image" style=3D"di=
splay:block; border:none; outline:none; text-decoration:none; " =
width=3D"600" /></td>=20
</tr>=20
<tr>=20
<td align=3D"center" bgcolor=3D"#6ec042" st-bgcolor=3D"edit" s=
t-title=3D"postbanner" style=3D"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; =
font-size: 26px; color: #FFFFFF; line-height: 100%; mso-line-he=
ight-rule: exactly; padding-top: 11px; padding-bottom: 11px; " vali=
gn=3D"middle">Use Promo Code <strong>CODE</strong></td>=20
</tr>=20
<tr>=20
<td><a href=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/539m8C6_45MfiLcbUhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW18a/patina-translated" target=3D"_blank"><img alt=3D"" bor=
der=3D"0" class=3D"banner" height=3D"508" src=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/D89vx7aw46O_6FcbPhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONWbbc/patina-translated" st-image=3D"b=
anner-image" style=3D"display:block; border:none; outline:none; te=
xt-decoration:none; " width=3D"600" /> </a></td>=20
<!-- end of image -->=20
</tr>=20
<tr>=20
<td align=3D"center" bgcolor=3D"#00a7b5" st-bgcolor=3D"edit" s=
t-title=3D"postbanner" style=3D"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; =
font-size: 26px; color: #FFFFFF; line-height: 100%; mso-line-he=
ight-rule: exactly; padding-top: 11px; padding-bottom: 11px; " vali=
gn=3D"middle"><a href=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/539m8C6_45MfiLcbUhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW18a/patina-translated" style=3D"color: #FFFFFF; text-decor=
ation: none; " target=3D"_blank">Shop Online</a> or <a href=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/539m8C6_45MfiLcbUhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW18a/patina-translated=
" style=3D"color: #FFFFFF; text-decoration: none; ">Call Us at 1-800-x=
xx-xxxx</a></td>=20
</tr>=20
<tr>=20
<td height=3D"1"> </td>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>=20
</table> </td>=20
<td width=3D"0"><img alt=3D"spacer" height=3D"1" src=3D"=
http://www.rachels.stream/patina-translated/1207aI*i4I63gTcbRhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONWe14" style=3D"display:inline-block; margin:0; " width=3D"0" /></td>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>=20
</table> </td>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>=20
</table>=20
<!-- End of main-banner -->
<!-- Start of postfooter -->=20
<table bgcolor=3D"#ffffff" border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"=
0" class=3D"footer backgroundTable" st-bgcolor=3D"edit" st-sortable=3D"preh=
eader" width=3D"100%">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr>=20
<td>=20
<table align=3D"center" border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D=
"0" width=3D"600">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr>=20
<td width=3D"30"><img alt=3D"spacer" height=3D"1" src=3D"=
http://www.rachels.stream/patina-translated/1207aI*i4I63gTcbRhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONWe14" style=3D"display:inline-block; margin:0; " width=3D"30" /></td>=20
<td>=20
<table align=3D"center" border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacin=
g=3D"0" class=3D"devicewidth" st-options=3D"edit" width=3D"540">=20
<tbody>
<!-- Spacing -->=20
<tr>=20
<td height=3D"20" width=3D"100%"> </td>=20
</tr>=20
<!-- Spacing -->=20
<tr>=20
<td align=3D"left" st-content=3D"preheader" style=3D"font-fami=
ly: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height:16px; =
color: #a3acb6" valign=3D"middle">Add <a href=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/539m8C6_45MfiLcbUhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW18a/patina-translated" style=3D"fo=
nt-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height=
:16px; color: #54565b; text-decoration:none; ">promotions@dentalplan=
s-consumer.com</a> to your address book to ensure our emails reach your inb=
ox.</td>=20
</tr>=20
<!-- Spacing -->=20
<tr>=20
<td height=3D"10" width=3D"100%"> </td>=20
</tr>=20
<!-- Spacing -->=20
<tr>=20
<td align=3D"left" st-content=3D"preheader" style=3D"font-fami=
ly: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height:16px; =
color: #a3acb6" valign=3D"middle">Special promotions including, but not =
limited to, additional months free are not available to California resident=
s or on fully insured plans.</td>=20
</tr>=20
<!-- Spacing -->=20
<tr>=20
<td height=3D"10" width=3D"100%"> </td>=20
</tr>=20
<!-- Spacing -->=20
<tr>=20
<td align=3D"left" st-content=3D"preheader" style=3D"font-fami=
ly: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height:16px; =
color: #a3acb6" valign=3D"middle">Savings plans are not insurance and th=
e savings will vary by provider, plan and zip code. Please consult with the=
respective plan detail page for additional plan terms. Note ? not all plan=
s and offers available in all markets.</td>=20
</tr>=20
<!-- Spacing -->=20
<tr>=20
<td height=3D"10" width=3D"100%"> </td>=20
</tr>=20
<!-- Spacing -->=20
<tr>=20
<td align=3D"left" st-content=3D"preheader" style=3D"font-fami=
ly: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height:16px; =
color: #a3acb6" valign=3D"middle">This email was sent by <a href=3D"=
http://www.rachels.stream/539m8C6_45MfiLcbUhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW18a/patina-translated" style=3D"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1=
3px; line-height:16px; color: #a3acb6; text-decoration:none; ">D=
entalPlans.com</a>, Inc. If you would no longer like to receive promotional=
offers, please <span st-unsubscribe=3D""><a href=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/539m8C6_45MfiLcbUhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW18a/patina-translated" style=3D"f=
ont-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-heigh=
t:16px; color: #54565b; text-decoration:none; " target=3D"_blank">c=
lick here to unsubscribe</a></span>. Please note that you may continue to r=
eceive automated emails in accordance with the <a href=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/539m8C6_45MfiLcbUhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW18a/patina-translated" style=
=3D"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-=
height:16px; color: #a3acb6; text-decoration:none; ">DentalPlans.co=
m</a> <a href=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/539m8C6_45MfiLcbUhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW18a/patina-translated" style=3D"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-s=
erif; font-size: 13px; line-height:16px; color: #54565b; text-de=
coration:none; " target=3D"_blank">Privacy Policy</a>, whether or not you=
elect to receive promotional email.</td>=20
</tr>=20
<!-- Spacing -->=20
<tr>=20
<td height=3D"10" width=3D"100%"> </td>=20
</tr>=20
<!-- Spacing -->=20
<tr>=20
<td align=3D"left" st-content=3D"preheader" style=3D"font-fami=
ly: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height:16px; =
color: #a3acb6" valign=3D"middle">8100 S.W. 10th Street Suite #2000, Pla=
ntation, FL 33324<br /> <a href=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/539m8C6_45MfiLcbUhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW18a/patina-translated" style=3D"font-family: Arial,=
Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height:16px; color: =
#54565b; text-decoration:none; ">1-866-769-8277</a><br /> <br /> Copyri=
ght © 2015 <a href=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/539m8C6_45MfiLcbUhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW18a/patina-translated" style=3D"font-family: Arial, Helveti=
ca, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height:16px; color: #a3acb6;=
text-decoration:none; ">DentalPlans.com</a>, Inc. All Rights Reserved=
</td>=20
</tr>=20
<!-- Spacing -->=20
<tr>=20
<td height=3D"20" width=3D"100%"> </td>=20
</tr>=20
<!-- Spacing -->=20
</tbody>=20
</table> </td>=20
<td width=3D"30"><img alt=3D"spacer" height=3D"1" src=3D"=
http://www.rachels.stream/patina-translated/1207aI*i4I63gTcbRhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONWe14" style=3D"display:inline-block; margin:0; " width=3D"30" /></td>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>=20
</table> </td>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>=20
</table>=20
<!-- End of postfooter -->
<!-- Start of engagement pixels -->
<img border=3D"0" height=3D"1" src=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/629r7Va467UmcbNhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW368/elicited-potentiality" width=3D"1" />=20
<!-- End of engagement pixels --> =20
<div style=3D"font:normal 10px Arial, Times New Roman, sans-serif; col=
or:#ffffff; ">=20
<p>Save Your Smile<br /> DURING A pedestrian trip last summer, through o=
ne or two of the river counties of New York, I found myself, as the day dec=
lined, somewhat embarrassed about the road I was pursuing. The land undulat=
ed very remarkably; and my path, for the last hour, had wound about and abo=
ut so confusedly, in its effort to keep in the valleys, that I no longer kn=
ew in what direction lay the sweet village of B-, where I had determined to=
stop for the night. The sun had scarcely shone -- strictly speaking -- dur=
ing the day, which nevertheless, had been unpleasantly warm. A smoky mist, =
resembling that of the Indian summer, enveloped all things, and of course, =
added to my uncertainty. Not that I cared much about the matter. If I did n=
ot hit upon the village before sunset, or even before dark, it was more tha=
n possible that a little Dutch farmhouse, or something of that kind, would =
soon make its appearance -- although, in fact, the neighborhood (perhaps on=
account of being more picturesque than fertile) was very sparsely inhabite=
d. At all events, with my knapsack for a pillow, and my hound as a sentry, =
a bivouac in the open air was just the thing which would have amused me. I =
sauntered on, therefore, quite at ease -- Ponto taking charge of my gun -- =
until at length, just as I had begun to consider whether the numerous littl=
e glades that led hither and thither, were intended to be paths at all, I w=
as conducted by one of them into an unquestionable carriage track. There co=
uld be no mistaking it. The traces of light wheels were evident; and althou=
gh the tall shrubberies and overgrown undergrowth met overhead, there was n=
o obstruction whatever below, even to the passage of a Virginian mountain w=
agon -- the most aspiring vehicle, I take it, of its kind. The road, howeve=
r, except in being open through the wood -- if wood be not too weighty a na=
me for such an assemblage of light trees -- and except in the particulars o=
f evident wheel-tracks -- bore no resemblance to any road I had before seen=
The tracks of which I speak were but faintly perceptible -- having been i=
mpressed upon the firm, yet pleasantly moist surface of -- what looked more=
like green Genoese velvet than any thing else. It was grass, clearly -- bu=
t grass such as we seldom see out of England -- so short, so thick, so even=
, and so vivid in color. Not a single impediment lay in the wheel-route -- =
not even a chip or dead twig. The stones that once obstructed the way had b=
een carefully placed -- not thrown-along the sides of the lane, so as to de=
fine its boundaries at bottom with a kind of half-precise, half-negligent, =
and wholly picturesque definition. Clumps of wild flowers grew everywhere, =
luxuriantly, in the interspaces. What to make of all this, of course I knew=
not. Here was art undoubtedly -- that did not surprise me -- all roads, in=
the ordinary sense, are works of art; nor can I say that there was much to=
wonder at in the mere excess of art manifested; all that seemed to have be=
en done, might have been done here -- with such natural "capabilities&=
quot; (as they have it in the books on Landscape Gardening) -- with very li=
ttle labor and expense. No; it was not the amount but the character of the =
art which caused me to take a seat on one of the blossomy stones and gaze u=
p and down this fairy -- like avenue for half an hour or more in bewildered=
admiration. One thing became more and more evident the longer I gazed: an =
artist, and one with a most scrupulous eye for form, had superintended all =
these arrangements. The greatest care had been taken to preserve a due medi=
um between the neat and graceful on the one hand, and the pittoresque, in t=
he true sense of the Italian term, on the other. There were few straight, a=
nd no long uninterrupted lines. The same effect of curvature or of color ap=
peared twice, usually, but not oftener, at any one point of view. Everywher=
e was variety in uniformity. It was a piece of "composition," in =
which the most fastidiously critical taste could scarcely have suggested an=
emendation. I had turned to the right as I entered this road, and now, ari=
sing, I continued in the same direction. The path was so serpentine, that a=
t no moment could I trace its course for more than two or three paces in ad=
vance. Its character did not undergo any material change. Presently the mur=
mur of water fell gently upon my ear -- and in a few moments afterward, as =
I turned with the road somewhat more abruptly than hitherto, I became aware=
that a building of some kind lay at the foot of a gentle declivity just be=
fore me. I could see nothing distinctly on account of the mist which occupi=
ed all the little valley below. A gentle breeze, however, now arose, as the=
sun was about descending; and while I remained standing on the brow of the=
slope, the fog gradually became dissipated into wreaths, and so floated ov=
er the scene. As it came fully into view -- thus gradually as I describe it=
-- piece by piece, here a tree, there a glimpse of water, and here again t=
he summit of a chimney, I could scarcely help fancying that the whole was o=
ne of the ingenious illusions sometimes exhibited under the name of "v=
anishing pictures." By the time, however, that the fog had thoroughly =
disappeared, the sun had made its way down behind the gentle hills, and the=
nce, as it with a slight chassez to the south, had come again fully into si=
ght, glaring with a purplish lustre through a chasm that entered the valley=
from the west. Suddenly, therefore -- and as if by the hand of magic -- th=
is whole valley and every thing in it became brilliantly visible. The first=
coup d'oeil, as the sun slid into the position described, impressed me ver=
y much as I have been impressed, when a boy, by the concluding scene of som=
e well-arranged theatrical spectacle or melodrama. Not even the monstrosity=
of color was wanting; for the sunlight came out through the chasm, tinted =
all orange and purple; while the vivid green of the grass in the valley was=
reflected more or less upon all objects from the curtain of vapor that sti=
ll hung overhead, as if loth to take its total departure from a scene so en=
chantingly beautiful. The little vale into which I thus peered down from un=
der the fog canopy could not have been more than four hundred yards long; w=
hile in breadth it varied from fifty to one hundred and fifty or perhaps tw=
o hundred. It was most narrow at its northern extremity, opening out as it =
tended southwardly, but with no very precise regularity. The widest portion=
was within eighty yards of the southern extreme. The slopes which encompas=
sed the vale could not fairly be called hills, unless at their northern fac=
e. Here a precipitous ledge of granite arose to a height of some ninety fee=
t; and, as I have mentioned, the valley at this point was not more than fif=
ty feet wide; but as the visiter proceeded southwardly from the cliff, he f=
ound on his right hand and on his left, declivities at once less high, less=
precipitous, and less rocky. All, in a word, sloped and softened to the so=
uth; and yet the whole vale was engirdled by eminences, more or less high, =
except at two points. One of these I have already spoken of. It lay conside=
rably to the north of west, and was where the setting sun made its way, as =
I have before described, into the amphitheatre, through a cleanly cut natur=
al cleft in the granite embankment; this fissure might have been ten yards =
wide at its widest point, so far as the eye could trace it. It seemed to le=
ad up, up like a natural causeway, into the recesses of unexplored mountain=
s and forests. The other opening was directly at the southern end of the va=
le. Here, generally, the slopes were nothing more than gentle inclinations,=
extending from east to west about one hundred and fifty yards. In the midd=
le of this extent was a depression, level with the ordinary floor of the va=
lley. As regards vegetation, as well as in respect to every thing else, the=
scene softened and sloped to the south. To the north -- on the craggy prec=
ipice -- a few paces from the verge -- up sprang the magnificent trunks of =
numerous hickories, black walnuts, and chestnuts, interspersed with occasio=
nal oak, and the strong lateral branches thrown out by the walnuts especial=
ly, spread far over the edge of the cliff. Proceeding southwardly, the expl=
orer saw, at first, the same class of trees, but less and less lofty and Sa=
lvatorish in character; then he saw the gentler elm, succeeded by the sassa=
fras and locust -- these again by the softer linden, red-bud, catalpa, and =
maple -- these yet again by still more graceful and more modest varieties. =
The whole face of the southern declivity was covered with wild shrubbery al=
one -- an occasional silver willow or white poplar excepted. In the bottom =
of the valley itself -- (for it must be borne in mind that the vegetation h=
itherto mentioned grew only on the cliffs or hillsides) -- were to be seen =
three insulated trees. One was an elm of fine size and exquisite form: it s=
tood guard over the southern gate of the vale. Another was a hickory, much =
larger than the elm, and altogether a much finer tree, although both were e=
xceedingly beautiful: it seemed to have taken charge of the northwestern en=
trance, springing from a group of rocks in the very jaws of the ravine, and=
throwing its graceful body, at an angle of nearly forty-five degrees, far =
out into the sunshine of the amphitheatre. About thirty yards east of this =
tree stood, however, the pride of the valley, and beyond all question the m=
ost magnificent tree I have ever seen, unless, perhaps, among the cypresses=
of the Itchiatuckanee. It was a triple -- stemmed tulip-tree -- the Liriod=
endron Tulipiferum -- one of the natural order of magnolias. Its three trun=
ks separated from the parent at about three feet from the soil, and divergi=
ng very slightly and gradually, were not more than four feet apart at the p=
oint where the largest stem shot out into foliage: this was at an elevation=
of about eighty feet. The whole height of the principal division was one h=
undred and twenty feet. Nothing can surpass in beauty the form, or the glos=
sy, vivid green of the leaves of the tulip-tree. In the present instance th=
ey were fully eight inches wide; but their glory was altogether eclipsed by=
the gorgeous splendor of the profuse blossoms. Conceive, closely congregat=
ed, a million of the largest and most resplendent tulips! Only thus can the=
reader get any idea of the picture I would convey. And then the stately gr=
ace of the clean, delicately -- granulated columnar stems, the largest four=
feet in diameter, at twenty from the ground. The innumerable blossoms, min=
gling with those of other trees scarcely less beautiful, although infinitel=
y less majestic, filled the valley with more than Arabian perfumes. The gen=
eral floor of the amphitheatre was grass of the same character as that I ha=
d found in the road; if anything, more deliciously soft, thick, velvety, an=
d miraculously green. It was hard to conceive how all this beauty had been =
attained. I have spoken of two openings into the vale. From the one to the =
northwest issued a rivulet, which came, gently murmuring and slightly foami=
ng, down the ravine, until it dashed against the group of rocks out of whic=
h sprang the insulated hickory. Here, after encircling the tree, it passed =
on a little to the north of east, leaving the tulip tree some twenty feet t=
o the south, and making no decided alteration in its course until it came n=
ear the midway between the eastern and western boundaries of the valley. At=
this point, after a series of sweeps, it turned off at right angles and pu=
rsued a generally southern direction meandering as it went -- until it beca=
me lost in a small lake of irregular figure (although roughly oval), that l=
ay gleaming near the lower extremity of the vale. This lakelet was, perhaps=
, a hundred yards in diameter at its widest part. No crystal could be clear=
er than its waters. Its bottom, which could be distinctly seen, consisted a=
ltogether, of pebbles brilliantly white. Its banks, of the emerald grass al=
ready described, rounded, rather than sloped, off into the clear heaven bel=
ow; and so clear was this heaven, so perfectly, at times, did it reflect al=
l objects above it, that where the true bank ended and where the mimic one =
commenced, it was a point of no little difficulty to determine. The trout, =
and some other varieties of fish, with which this pond seemed to be almost =
inconveniently crowded, had all the appearance of veritable flying-fish. It=
was almost impossible to believe that they were not absolutely suspended i=
n the air. A light birch canoe that lay placidly on the water, was reflecte=
d in its minutest fibres with a fidelity unsurpassed by the most exquisitel=
y polished mirror. A small island, fairly laughing with flowers in full blo=
om, and affording little more space than just enough for a picturesque litt=
le building, seemingly a fowl-house -- arose from the lake not far from its=
northern shore -- to which it was connected by means of an inconceivably l=
ight -- looking and yet very primitive bridge. It was formed of a single, b=
road and thick plank of the tulip wood. This was forty feet long, and spann=
ed the interval between shore and shore with a slight but very perceptible =
arch, preventing all oscillation. From the southern extreme of the lake iss=
ued a continuation of the rivulet, which, after meandering for, perhaps, th=
irty yards, finally passed through the "depression" (already desc=
ribed) in the middle of the southern declivity, and tumbling down a sheer p=
recipice of a hundred feet, made its devious and unnoticed way to the Hudso=
n. The lake was deep -- at some points thirty feet -- but the rivulet seldo=
m exceeded three, while its greatest width was about eight. Its bottom and =
banks were as those of the pond -- if a defect could have been attributed, =
in point of picturesqueness, it was that of excessive neatness. The expanse=
of the green turf was relieved, here and there, by an occasional showy shr=
ub, such as the hydrangea, or the common snowball, or the aromatic seringa;=
or, more frequently, by a clump of geraniums blossoming gorgeously in grea=
t varieties. These latter grew in pots which were carefully buried in the s=
oil, so as to give the plants the appearance of being indigenous. Besides a=
ll this, the lawn's velvet was exquisitely spotted with sheep -- a consider=
able flock of which roamed about the vale, in company with three tamed deer=
, and a vast number of brilliantly -- plumed ducks. A very large mastiff se=
emed to be in vigilant attendance upon these animals, each and all. Along t=
he eastern and western cliffs -- where, toward the upper portion of the amp=
hitheatre, the boundaries were more or less precipitous -- grew ivy in grea=
t profusion -- so that only here and there could even a glimpse of the nake=
d rock be obtained. The northern precipice, in like manner, was almost enti=
rely clothed by grape-vines of rare luxuriance; some springing from the soi=
l at the base of the cliff, and others from ledges on its face. The slight =
elevation which formed the lower boundary of this little domain, was crowne=
d by a neat stone wall, of sufficient height to prevent the escape of the d=
eer. Nothing of the fence kind was observable elsewhere; for nowhere else w=
as an artificial enclosure needed: -- any stray sheep, for example, which s=
hould attempt to make its way out of the vale by means of the ravine, would=
find its progress arrested, after a few yards' advance, by the precipitous=
ledge of rock over which tumbled the cascade that had arrested my attentio=
n as I first drew near the domain. In short, the only ingress or egress was=
through a gate occupying a rocky pass in the road, a few paces below the p=
oint at which I stopped to reconnoitre the scene. I have described the broo=
k as meandering very irregularly through the whole of its course. Its two g=
eneral directions, as I have said, were first from west to east, and then f=
rom north to south. At the turn, the stream, sweeping backward, made an alm=
ost circular loop, so as to form a peninsula which was very nearly an islan=
d, and which included about the sixteenth of an acre. On this peninsula sto=
od a dwelling-house -- and when I say that this house, like the infernal te=
rrace seen by Vathek, "etait d'une architecture inconnue dans les anna=
les de la terre," I mean, merely, that its tout ensemble struck me wit=
h the keenest sense of combined novelty and propriety -- in a word, of poet=
ry -- (for, than in the words just employed, I could scarcely give, of poet=
ry in the abstract, a more rigorous definition) -- and I do not mean that m=
erely outre was perceptible in any respect. In fact nothing could well be m=
ore simple -- more utterly unpretending than this cottage. Its marvellous e=
ffect lay altogether in its artistic arrangement as a picture. I could have=
fancied, while I looked at it, that some eminent landscape-painter had bui=
lt it with his brush. The point of view from which I first saw the valley, =
was not altogether, although it was nearly, the best point from which to su=
rvey the house. I will therefore describe it as I afterwards saw it -- from=
a position on the stone wall at the southern extreme of the amphitheatre. =
The main building was about twenty-four feet long and sixteen broad -- cert=
ainly not more. Its total height, from the ground to the apex of the roof, =
could not have exceeded eighteen feet. To the west end of this structure wa=
s attached one about a third smaller in all its proportions: -- the line of=
its front standing back about two yards from that of the larger house, and=
the line of its roof, of course, being considerably depressed below that o=
f the roof adjoining. At right angles to these buildings, and from the rear=
of the main one -- not exactly in the middle -- extended a third compartme=
nt, very small -- being, in general, one-third less than the western wing. =
The roofs of the two larger were very steep -- sweeping down from the ridge=
-beam with a long concave curve, and extending at least four feet beyond th=
e walls in front, so as to form the roofs of two piazzas. These latter roof=
s, of course, needed no support; but as they had the air of needing it, sli=
ght and perfectly plain pillars were inserted at the corners alone. The roo=
f of the northern wing was merely an extension of a portion of the main roo=
f. Between the chief building and western wing arose a very tall and rather=
slender square chimney of hard Dutch bricks, alternately black and red: --=
a slight cornice of projecting bricks at the top. Over the gables the roof=
s also projected very much: -- in the main building about four feet to the =
east and two to the west. The principal door was not exactly in the main di=
vision, being a little to the east -- while the two windows were to the wes=
t. These latter did not extend to the floor, but were much longer and narro=
wer than usual -- they had single shutters like doors -- the panes were of =
lozenge form, but quite large. The door itself had its upper half of glass,=
also in lozenge panes -- a movable shutter secured it at night. The door t=
o the west wing was in its gable, and quite simple -- a single window looke=
d out to the south. There was no external door to the north wing, and it al=
so had only one window to the east. The blank wall of the eastern gable was=
relieved by stairs (with a balustrade) running diagonally across it -- the=
ascent being from the south. Under cover of the widely projecting eave the=
se steps gave access to a door leading to the garret, or rather loft -- for=
it was lighted only by a single window to the north, and seemed to have be=
en intended as a store-room. The piazzas of the main building and western w=
ing had no floors, as is usual; but at the doors and at each window, large,=
flat irregular slabs of granite lay imbedded in the delicious turf, afford=
ing comfortable footing in all weather. Excellent paths of the same materia=
l -- not nicely adapted, but with the velvety sod filling frequent interval=
s between the stones, led hither and thither from the house, to a crystal s=
pring about five paces off, to the road, or to one or two out -- houses tha=
t lay to the north, beyond the brook, and were thoroughly concealed by a fe=
w locusts and catalpas. Not more than six steps from the main door of the c=
ottage stood the dead trunk of a fantastic pear-tree, so clothed from head =
to foot in the gorgeous bignonia blossoms that one required no little scrut=
iny to determine what manner of sweet thing it could be. From various arms =
of this tree hung cages of different kinds. In one, a large wicker cylinder=
with a ring at top, revelled a mocking bird; in another an oriole; in a th=
ird the impudent bobolink -- while three or four more delicate prisons were=
loudly vocal with canaries. The pillars of the piazza were enwreathed in j=
asmine and sweet honeysuckle; while from the angle formed by the main struc=
ture and its west wing, in front, sprang a grape-vine of unexampled luxuria=
nce. Scorning all restraint, it had clambered first to the lower roof -- th=
en to the higher; and along the ridge of this latter it continued to writhe=
on, throwing out tendrils to the right and left, until at length it fairly=
attained the east gable, and fell trailing over the stairs. The whole hous=
e, with its wings, was constructed of the old-fashioned Dutch shingles -- b=
road, and with unrounded corners. It is a peculiarity of this material to g=
ive houses built of it the appearance of being wider at bottom than at top =
-- after the manner of Egyptian architecture; and in the present instance, =
this exceedingly picturesque effect was aided by numerous pots of gorgeous =
flowers that almost encompassed the base of the buildings. The shingles wer=
e painted a dull gray; and the happiness with which this neutral tint melte=
d into the vivid green of the tulip tree leaves that partially overshadowed=
the cottage, can readily be conceived by an artist. From the position near=
the stone wall, as described, the buildings were seen at great advantage -=
- for the southeastern angle was thrown forward -- so that the eye took in =
at once the whole of the two fronts, with the picturesque eastern gable, an=
d at the same time obtained just a sufficient glimpse of the northern wing,=
with parts of a pretty roof to the spring-house, and nearly half of a ligh=
t bridge that spanned the brook in the near vicinity of the main buildings.=
I did not remain very long on the brow of the hill, although long enough t=
o make a thorough survey of the scene at my feet. It was clear that I had w=
andered from the road to the village, and I had thus good traveller's excus=
e to open the gate before me, and inquire my way, at all events; so, withou=
t more ado, I proceeded.</p>=20
</div>=20
<hr width=3D"50%" />=20
<div style=3D"text-align: center; ">
<font size=3D"2">Change your options by visiting <a href=3D"=
http://www.rachels.stream/pillage-redisplaying/288I89qzW461AcbChvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONWcc9">here</a><br /> 2220 Meridian Blvd.,Suite #763, Minden, NV 89423</fo=
nt>
</div> =20
<img src=3D"http://www.rachels.stream/dc7i85l46Bkq8YcbzhvVdVKyxdhVtFMuKmji0hvV0ONW6b2/patina-translated" alt=3D""/></body>
</html>
