The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-08-16

our harbor's natural defences, presenting to
the restless tides of the ocean barrier hum
bred or more feet high, against which the
waves have madly dashed themselves in every
easterly storm, during all the past history of
the ages. A day or two since it was our priv
iege, for the first time, to visit this lovely re-
treat, all in full view of the city, and yet so
far distant as to be beyond the reach ofits dust,
its turmoil, its noise its strife, its passions its
heat, its lust for gain, its unsavory smells, its
restless, joltling, busy population.
The Island contains from 300 to 400 acres, a
portion of it made up of excellent tillage land
the soil rich mineral formation-while the
crest and all the seaward portion of the island
is covered with a small growth ofspruces and
frs. On the apex, in view ofthe city and all
the attractions of the harbor, and in full view
of hundreds of vessels is the spacious OTTAWA
HOUSE, now under the popular proprietorship
of Messrs. JOB JENNEss & SoN, recently of
the Ocean House at Rye Beach.
The house is Of brick, three stories high, with
a spacious attic lighted by lutheran windows,
and contains nearly one hundred magnificent
rooms. In all its appointments it is equal
to the best houses in Maine. The stairs are
easy of ascent, the rooms are well ventilated,
neat and lastly furnished; the beds are sweet
and clean the parlors are elegant and elegant
ly appointed; the Office fixtures are convenient,
and the dining room and tables are of the most
spacious, inviting, satisfactory and attractive
character. The house is surmounted by Gu
pola from which fine view may be had of "all
the kingdoms of the surrounding world and
. the glory thereof" The cooking, washing,
etc, are performed ON the most approved plan,
with steam engine and other steam appliances.
Near the house is spacious laundry, and
also large building, the lower part for a bow
ling saloon with superb alleys, and the upper
part for dance hall. A fine quadrille band is
kept in attendance upon the house. A stone
stable is to be erected, and soon drives will be
constructed from the house to White Head
the extreme n. Z. point of the island, distant
three-fourths of a mile, and also in other direc-
tions on the island. 1t is one of the pleasant
est spots beneath the vault Of heaven.at which
to spend sultry day and to forget dull care"
1t was our privilege to make one of a small
editorial party at the "Ottawa" a few evenings
since, and to share in the hospitality Of the ac-
complished gentlemen who have charge of the
house, and who, at the present time, seem to
be well patronized by the people of this and
other cities. The register showed goody ar
ray from all parts of the free North and from
the Queens dominions. Thecompany pledged
the House as "the watering place Of Maine,"
and the landlords as gentlemen who know
how to keep hotel" and they washed down
these pledges with the best of-tea, coffee
and cold water. Further deponeth saith not.
When we left the Island, at ten o'clock, p.
NJ, a tide of beauty and of fashion was surg
ing back and forth in the hall over the bowling
saloon, which had set in from the city, and
nimble feet were keeping time to the sublime
touches of "the fiddle and the bow" That the
dancers had a good time we have no doubt
that we did is matter of demonstrated fact.