"Not an ultra-fashionable, but a quiet, secluded place where weary body and overtaxed brain may find a sweet retreat during the heated term, is the beautiful Village of Cooperstown. Beautiful for situation--at the foot of Otsego Lake. With a green mountain background, the sloping Otsego hills and winding river, by nature favored and by art richly endowed. A place of historic interest, of capital; and in olden days called one of aristocracy. Its beautiful, costly homes, with fine, well-kept grounds, large hotels, good schools, many churches, classic minds, general intelligence and learning are justly its pride.

"Then, too, it was the home of J. Fenimore Cooper. In his infancy his father removed thither, settled and named the town. There be was reared, trained, educated, lived, worked and died, and is buried in the old Episcopal church yard, a plain marble slab covering his grave, beside that of his wife. " The lake, seen from any point and at any time, is always delightful, and a drive along its banks reveals a constant -succession of lovely views. The western side is a country partly open, partly woodland, the hills having that graceful, wavy outline which is characteristic of the Susquehanna. Most of it well cultivated and has all the signs of peaceful and prospering farming. The eastern side, where the hills rise much more abruptly from the water, is chiefly a dense forest; the rich foliage of oaks and elms mingling with the darker shade of evergreens, and the whole recalling that old time described by Cooper in 'The Deer-Slayer 'and 'The Pioneer,'when Indian and white man waged war on the wild beast and each other. Both Indian and wild beast disappeared long ago, having yielded to the persevering energy of the superior race; and the quiet forest is as safe as the town. In the distance, forest-covered like the rest, lies 'Mount Wellington,' closing the view. This mountain was named by the grandfather of the present owner of the property in honor of the great Duke of Wellington, who was his schoolmate at Eton.

Cooperstown has many charming walks and drives, and is a good center for excursions. The lake supplies good boating and fishing, and there is a good steamboat service.