Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-08-16
FROM MT. DESERT.

So. WEST HARBoR, Mt. Desert, Aug. -.
DEAR JOURNAL: Taking the steamer at
Bar Harbor, we came back to this place,
distance of some 10 miles. Many persons
who have not been here form a very poor idea
of the place. 1t lies ITO miles east of Port
land, and so near the mainland as to be sep
arated from it on the north only by narrow
arm of the sea which is crossed by Trenton
bridge. 1t covers an area of one hundred
square miles, and is divided into three towns,
the southern being called fremont, the mid
die part Mt Desert, and the north eastern
part Eden. Its greatest length is IA miles,
breadth 8 miles. 1t contains Is mountains
and IL lakes. Green mountain rises 1900
feet above the ocean. There is a carriage
road to the top OF it where there is Tip
Top House." There are lakes two or three
miles long, several hundred feet above the
surrounding ocean. The longest lake on the
island is about five miles. There are many
places of interest here, such as these mount
aims and lakes, the "Devils Oven" sporting
Horn" 1.-The Gorge" "Otter Creek" and
many others. The poet has well said of Mt.
Desert:
"An island full Of hills and dells,
All rumple'i and uneven
With green rccesses, sudden swells,
Ana odorou, valleys, driven
So DEF and straight that always there
The wind is Graded to SOFT air"
This is not much of place for bathing
the water is too cold. We found that out by
rrho hor lop
We got up one morning before sunrise and
wandering the craggy shore, found suit
able place out of sight and hearing of the set
tlcment. Divesting ourselves of all supertlu-
tiles we dashed in to the briny Atlantic, when,
horror of horrors! how cold! 1t fairly
made us numb, took all feeling from our
limbs. You can get some idea of it by plung-
ing your hand and arm into barrel OF pickle
in your cellar. We made for the shore when
upon looking up we saw standing on crag Il
rod or two from our clothes, a stalwart In
dian We supposed no human being within
half mile of US early in the morning. AT
first Indian stories we had read rushed to our
mind; we thought to ourselves, what if she is
his morning meal. This was our last expert
ence at sea bathing.
We passed the lobster canning establish.
ment here again, to-day, but our appetite did
not crave for Holsters this time. The girls
here are employed in putting them up in tin
cans Seeing several of them standing idly
looking at us we asked them if they did not
wish to hire us to help them ''can" Holsters,
when one of them replied they thought we
would cause a saving of tin cans; judging
from what they had seen of us they thought
we could ''can" one boat load without using
any tin cans. We left them.
You may know this is healthy place, for
only after three days living here we tip 220
quick, which is nearly as much as both junior
editors of the Augusta Daily can tip together
after two weeks sojourn at Boothbay. Why
don't you come down here where the big folks
come, and 'become big" yourselves. This
reminds us of story l heard-the truth OF
which will not vouch for. The local editor
of a daily paper not hundred miles from
Augusta, lately visited Boothbay, where he
found the public house so full there was no
place for him to sleep excepting to take a
South American hanging bed, which is simply
piece of netting suspended at each end lie
got into this but being so thin and lank he
would slip through the netting. His next re-
source was the barn to sleep on the hay
NOV. In the night he awoke and found
it SO warm he thought he would go out into
he open air, when he found the doors fast