The Republican journal., 1870-07-28
GETTING DOWN EAST.
Correspondence of the Journal.
Departure From Boston---The Excessive Heat
---GIances and GIimpses by the Wayside-
Arrival at PortIand---The City Of Richmond
EASTERN MAINE. July %, 1870.

Boston, but so far started on my journey
eastward as to be seated in the Boston and
Maine Depot, duly waiting the departure of
the six o'clock train to Portland. I had al
most written patiently waiting" but deem it
too griev0us a sin to commit such q state
ment to paper,-the overpowering, indies
cribable, intolerable heat having put me into
a state about as remote from patience. as
Boston is situated distant from the North
Pole 70 be sure, the fury of the heat had
somewhat abated from the previous twenty
four hours, but still seemed bent on remind
ing us that its visit to the high ATTITUDES was
an extended one and that it wasn't to be
coaNed, tattered or caioled into shortening
the time of its st ay. or returning to its
torrld home, before it got ready. In vain
my fellow travellers attempted the upright,
decorous position of society. Heads would
droop and limbs seek recumbent attitude
In vain the latest war news from Europe
was folded into fan-shape and waved languid-
| ly back and forth-the current of air pro
duced scarcely disturbed the ''shoo fly that
willully persisted in " boddering" Even
the tones OF the depot master rang out lower
and lazier than usual, rs if the tubes leading
! from throat to lungs had suddenly become
! demoralized, under the high range of the
thermometer The eXclamations of the in
coming and outgoing passengers seemed as
heated as their appearance. and consisted Of
-"Whew ! what a hot day" Mercy was
ever such weather known belore," dear
me. when shall we get out Of this ?"
We got out of this" at six O'clock But
alas for human calculation, and the sutferings
of our own body we were reminded of the
scriptual allusion to the man possessed with
devils when the ''last state was worse than
the first" The engine crept out of the de-
pot and slowly proceeded on its journey, and
the smoke, without sufficient energy to lift
itself alott, drfted lazily and uncomfortable
in at the open easement. A short distance
on our way, and we had fine view of the
spreading, up-leaping forks Of flame
from the burning oil factory in CharleStowM.
We had soon passed the yard Of the Mas
sachuscts State p rison. and left Boston at oul
back-certainly with warm regret And
thence onward. through wood and vale, past
farm-houses and village, with occasional
halt and varying incident until we reached
the city of Exeter, N. II.
This was our first considerable stopping
place, and here we were given ten minute,
for refreshments. A large circular counter
occupied the centre of the saloon upon
which was placed eatables and drnkables OF
all kinds. Upon these, u part of the famis4-
ING passengers eagerly seized another poI
ton literally patronized Il soda fountain up
on 4 side table, whilst 4 few struggling be-
levers in the intensified Maine Law sought :
Promote corner and clung closely to two dip
lpcrs chained to a tank, labelled lice water
lSouth Berwick with its famous spon@e-cak,
still doomed away to the eastward and upon
this delectabe food had alone lctermincd
that the keen edge of my appetite should Be
Idulled, and so comforting my hungry soul
Ipassed by with silent dislain the eXcclcn
provisions of Exeter. Alas for human dis
appointment. Alas for the humiliation of ~
lprlng ambition, and still alas for the unsat
lslled longingsot an empty stomach-the cars
whlstled past Berwick and the sponge-caE,
with only stop Of sixty seconds
:, Leaving Exeter route seemed to SWEEP
nearer the oceans side, and an occasional
! puff of wind famed in at the partially un-
closed windows, as we moved onward Pass
lplacid ponds, and softly murmuring brooks
we pursued our way, catching quick glimpse
TOT the quaint pictures that mlrorcd them
selves on their surface, and of the distant
f herds vending their way homeward Tho
| day was about to die and eagerly the eve
watched the dusky forms move over tn,
northern hills and marshall themselves in til,
: long stretches of wood and vale One by
one the glittcring stars came out, whilst the
+, fiery, passionate clouds that Tapped the
western horizon, like crimson bars. sunk
closer and closer into the embrace of ninht
How the passions and purposes of life fade
away into the gathering gloom of eternity
only TO wake upon taircr brighter morn
4 Very soon the familiar names of Saco and
Blddelord struck upon the ear, and in a few
moments more we We're standing upon the
wharf in Portland, with 4 most refreshing
salt water breeze striking delightfully."- upon
lchcck and brow This, with the evident
prospect of 4 cool and comfortable night :
rest made the cleaning lights Of tie Rich
mond seem like the portals Of paradise
Lest Mr. Gushing should be ovcrrun with
demands for tickets this hot weather | hasten
to add that found no angels ON board and
therefore conclude that she is only a coy,
comfortable boat after all, with descrvedly
popular Captain, Clerk and corps of officers.
As we steamed quickly out from the harbor
the lights from the city flashed us y parting
adieu through the silent gloom; the Northern
Lights shot up with Il ftful, tremulous
motion, and darted zenithward in their fan
tastic flights, whilst
''Swcctly cleaned the stars.
And sweet the yapor hroidercd blue.
At last all was still and quiet, save the
measured tread of the watch, the deep. rcpu-
lar breathing of the engine, and the Soft
FLASHING of the waves. Aud
Closing caves of wearied eyes,