The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-07-30
Letter From the Hill Country.
MOUNTAIN HOUSE.

Lake MemphTemaSog, July, 1904.
TO The Editor 81 ihe Press
In our early days, Lake Memphremagog,
and the straits of Michilimacanak II not on the
outer rim of the earth, were certainly out
side the region of civilization. But now, as
with touch Of Ithuriers spear, they have
stated into common and public observation,
and become fashionable resorts for lovers Of
pleasure and the weared sons of our too busy
life.
In nook, on the western shore of this
beautiful lake, nestles the Mountain House,
at the foot of "Owl's Head" mountain rising
from the very margin of the lake, to height
of 5000 feet. From the summit the view is
grand beyond the power Of description to con-
vey. The glittering domes and spires OF Mon
treal, the smooth surfaces of lakes Champ
lain, Willoughby and numerous others, the
lofty mountains OF Oxford on the NORTH Mans
field on the west, the White Mountains on the
east, the beautiful level French territory
spread along the southern banks OF the ST.
Lawrence. the charming vallies of the Pasum-
sic and Connecticut and the delightful scenery
of this charming lake at its feet, form a CON-
bination of gentle beauty and lofty grandeur,
rarely to be seen, even on the mountain top.
The lake is so miles long, and from one to
three miles wide; it is adorned with numer-
Gus islands and islets covered with a native
growth, as are the frequent projecting prom
ontories, which break the monotony of its
shore line. These headlands are often bold
and PERCEPTIONS, indicating great depth of
water 10 their front. The village of Newport
in Vermont lies at the head or near the head of
the lake, which is reached by the Pasumpsic
railroad, and is 2J9 miles by rail from Boston.
You leave Boston at o'clock in the morning
and at Ia in the evening you flnd yourself
at very spacious and comfortable hotel at
Newport on the southern end OF the lake.
The present fare at the lately increased rates
/ is as 20. There are two routes from Boston !;
You reach Concord, either by the way Of
Lowell and Nashua, or by Lawrence. At
Concord you have your choice to follow the
Merrimac river, passing by the Southern
shore OF lake winnepisseogee through Ply
mouth, to "wells river junction, on the Con
neeticut river. or a more southern route to
"whiie river junction. near Hanover aud
then up the valley OF the Connecticut to Wells
river where both roads unite in the Pasump-
sic. The traveller from Portland has also =
choice of routes; be may take the Grand
Trunk road 10 Island Pond, and from that
point coach will take him to Newport by the
way Of Derby distance OF % miles. or he
may continue on 10 Sherbrooke by rail aud
there take q stage to Magog at the outlet Of
the lake 10 miles, or IL be prefer the rail all the
way, he may take the cars for the Newmarket
junction OF the Boston 4 Maine road, and
proceed TO Concord, where he may take
either OF the routes above suggested At any
rate II he is fond OF variety, he will 20 one
way and return another and II he is a wise
man and no grumbler, he win lind ample
fia4ss~a whichavar -anta his fancy may
prompt him to move. Aud if he is fond OF
quiet and is seeking repose from the cares and
vexstions Of our too hurried, busy life, he
cannot fail TO be grstiied nay charmed, by
the sweet scenery and retirement of the Sc
Guided spot from which my letter goes forth.
The hotel Is reachedonly by water no dus-
ty road or common beaten pathway, has yet
invaded its privacy. The little steamer
Mountain Maid" makes her visit twice a
day, morning and evening, as she plies her
daily tour from Newport to Magog, touching
on going and returning, at various points on
either side of the lake. But little skiffs or
wherries abound and supply the place of
horses and carriages. The visitors here go
out a rowing, both ladies and gentlemen and
boys and girls, touching at the beautiful is
lands, and refreshing themselves in the pure
water. The fishermen also are busy in their
wineries, taking the lake trout, which are
served on our table three times a day, delic-
here weighing 80 lbs. A few days ago, one
was brought TO this house weighing A lbs.
"Credat Jutldes," yet it is true.
The only villages upon the shore of the
lake are Georgeville and Magog in Canada,
and Newport in Vermont, five miles south of
the boundary line. Stanstead township is
bounded on the lake but the village is four
miles distant.
The English Interpretation of the Indian
term applied to this lake is pheasant Wa
ter" which is not inappropriate. A similar
meaning j: given to the Winnepisseogee, a
lake as beautiful as this, "Smiling Water
The native inhabitants of our country were
as apt as they We're simple in the application
of their names to various localities They al
ways expressed some peculiar feature or quail
ity OF tho place, which was distinctive and
characteristic. / cannot doubt that we should
be deeplytimpressed by this appropriateness If
we could clearly understand the force OF In-
dian terms. From the very imperfect knowl-
edge which we now have, both of the con-
struction OF the words and the Interpretation
OF them, we cannot but perceive that il we
knew them better We should appreciate them
more. The euphony, the sweet cadence of
the language, as 1t now falls from these rude
children Of the forest, Is as sweet as the
strains OF the Grecian or Italian muse.
This Mountain House is kept by Mr.. Jen-
nings, who first opened the hotel at Island
Pond. The honse is neat, quiet, well kept,
and the table is excellent, without the garnish
ings of city hotels. The furnishing is simple
aud comfortable, and the whole arrangements
are much more genial to my taste than the
fashy and ornamental decorations of what
are called first class hotels. The house is
visited by persons from Canada. as well as
the States, and it has been my pleasure to
meet here Mr. Gait, the Finance Minister of
Canada, and his family, as well as other per-
sons OF note from that Province. | could not
but wish that our Minister of Finance would
seek in retirement as calm and beautiful as
this, the recreation which his exhausted sys-
tenn SO absolutely needs. 1t is the misfortune
of men of distinction, especially if they hold
office, to be utterly denied the grateful privi-
lege Of privacy and repose.
"lll fares the head that wears crown.
w.
FIRES. - The Bangor Times says there are
ayf 70 u.