The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-06-22
COMMUNICATIONS.


ses@ PORTLAND, June Is, 1868.
To the Editor Of the Press:
1t Is surprising to see with what alacrity
people will hasten to far off scenes of recrea-
tion, regardless of distance and expense, and
\ now they talk Of "the country" as if they only
needed to get to some place where a dilapidat-
ed yellow ark, denomnated stage, brings
two or three dailies three time a week, if the
driver does not forget it, which are passed
around among the stores quota of loafers and
perfumed with all the different grades OF smok-
Ing and chewing tobacco, to say nothing Of
accumulated grease and filth, before they can
possibly be seen by any one outside and when-
eyeryou ntanything, the shopkeepers arekure
to say, with the usual sidelong. professional
glance at the 6helves, that It Is sout,u to which
they might vury safely add that it never was in.
Fie upon . sumner in the country with its
musquito serenades and its frog choruses,
d when one can have all the pleasure with little
or no Inconvenience, and still inhabit the city.
Does one admire q prospect of the ocean?
There Is not ia New Englanda finer view than
1 take daily. with ever fresh pleasure, from
Munjoys Hill. And for boating, bathing, FISH
ing and picnic excursions generally, there are
the harbor and its lovely islands, affording at
once the pleasures of the country and the sea
shore without leaving the privileges of the
city. Such is Portland, and yet half its in
AA8UAt8uAS 0Ou knOW IL. nave met Win
those who had such q holy horror of "the hill''
that they have never seen the prospect from
IT, broad brow, unless they did happen to be
in the crowd who tried to see the Prince of
Wales, and who endeavored TO appease their
unsatisfied curiosity by watching the Hero out
of sight.
The view Of the city from where write,
leaving out the water with its silver enbroid-
cred blue surface, would amply repay one for
&ho IL ~l.~-l.s
TO ones enjoyment. But we who inhabit the
Promenade have come to regard the incessant
hammering of the Portland Company's en-
pioyes Is but an accompaniment Of the ~mu-
sic Of labor set to our own thoughts, and
the scent Of petroleum as the inseparable odor
Of the Victoria wharyes. But, spite of it all,
the city Of Portland .for me, especially the
Eastern Promenade. t
Normustone forgetthe attractions of"down
town." In many of our principal streets the
uninitiated would suppose themselves Just on
the verge Of a forest, SO thickly stand the en-
towering trees. Where is there another city
90 lovely In this respect? M
Then for those who cannot afford to travel
and yet would see the strange vagaries of ma
ture, shells, fossils, birds, plants, beasts and
snakes, the Natural History rooms offer their
attractions, not the least of which is the gen
tlemaniy polteness and modest readiness to
cApiaiu anu give nlOTiuatlOn, oI Mr.. Joseph
Batchelder Not being blessed with an over
abundant stock Of patience myself, have
caught myself wondering IL he did not get
tired Of replying to the many queries about
articles now become as familiar to him as
nursery tales; and fear, in his situation,
should sometimes give crusty answers and al
tcdys pray for rainy Wednesday afternoons,
neither of which sins has he ever committed.
And we are not without the natural and
beautiful In art also. Both painting and scnlp-
ture find q congenial soil with us, and Portland
has reason to be proud of both Brown and
Simmons, who have nobly wona reputation
that requires no foreign luster to insure its
lasting briliancy. sfb
Yet how many there are who pass needless
~ BY the manifold attractions Of their own
beautiful city, aud either leave its enyirons for
the recreations best found within or repine
that they cannot do so. Summer has come
To each 1t has the promise Of real pleasure, if
sought where it has been so layishly bestowed
near at hand. May we all learn to be wise
enough to appreciate what is good and excel
leat, even If i is within a stones throw of our
own homes. S.J.F,