nearly to the water's surface. On the opposite side of Holyoke, not far
from the road going to the summit, is another interesting example of
these greenstone columns. Professor Hitchcock named these respectively
Titan's Pier and Titan's Piazza; and any lover of geology is well repaid
for the labor spent in getting a view of them.

Holyoke, though two hundred feet lower than Tom, is more frequented by
visitors. The ascent is not very difficult, and the view from the summit
is both grand and beautiful. The river is of course the most attractive
feature in the landscape. Far to the north and south it stretches, like
a silver, sinuous thread, gradually becoming narrower until it is lost
in the distance. Owing to an optical illusion the river seems to ascend
in both directions, and at the points where it is lost to view, seems on
a level with the eye. It is one of the best examples of this species of
optical illusion to be found in this part of the country.

A half century ago the river between this gorge and a point about a
quarter of a mile north of it made a most magnificent curve, three miles
long; but during the flood in the spring of 1840 a straight channel was
cut across, and the water continuing to flow in the old bed as well as
the new, there existed for some years what may be called an island in
the river.

At least three educational institutions of importance can be seen from
the summit of Holyoke--Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in South Hadley,
Smith College in Northampton, and Amherst College. Of the towns seen
from here Northampton presents the most beautiful aspect. Its fine
public and private edifices and grand old elms show to great advantage.
One cannot tire of looking at the level plain stretching along on either
side of the river, its surface divided into rectangular plats, covered