The Portland daily press., 1870-06-29
Letter from n Maine Watering Plnce
ATLANTIC HOUSE, WELLS BEACH,
Tuna 90 1S7n

June ~, 1871.
Mr.. EDIToR,- The blazing sun of the past
week has made. the feveled dwellers in cities
turn their thoughts and feet longingly toward
the mountains and the sea. Yielding to the
force of that mysterious attraction which the
ocean has for those who once make its ac-
quaintance, we came to this shore. we'll known
to our childhood, rather than 60 to the more
distant and less familiar hills that rear their
heads in the northwestern horizon. OF the
seaside resorts IN Maine this is the western
most one at which any adequate preparation
has been made for the reception of summer
company; nor do we know of hotel any
where along the coast more favorably situated,
or combining greater advantages of beach,
boating, fishing and bathing. The house is
situated upon low bluff, with only the width
of the travelled road between it and the open
ocean that stretches away unbroken by any
island until it breaks upon its European
shore. The builder selected the extremity of
the point for its location, so that upon three
sides it faces the sea, and from the long piazza
raining around its two fronts is presented
the view of this wide eXpanse of water. Yes
terday, when we came here, the sea was as
smooth and glistening as molten glass, and re-
fected back the rays of the sun like mirror,
carrying the thermometer to higher point
than it was ever known to be here within the
memory of the Oldest inhabitant, to wit, six
years. Its effect was plainly seen in the ruddy
countenances of temperate people who had
vainly sought here refuge from the heat.
There is custom long prevalent throughout
York county-though we never heard of its
existence elsewhere, and its adoption in Cum
berand might be resented as an invasion of
the rights of this localty-of resorting to
beaches on the twenty-sixth of every June
for the purpose of bathing, under belief that
peculiar virtues are then impaired to the
waves, the benefits of which are universal and
not confined to the fortunate person who first
plunges into them. This day of the month
being Sunday this year, the attendance OF de-
vout pilgrims will be scattered over three days.
the more conscientious coming Saturday and
Monday, while the less scrupuous. or more
superstitious, are on hand to-day, their all
ments permitting of no postponement on ac-
count of the day, or of the weather, which is
raw and chilly, in strong contrast with the
temperature of yesterday. Last evening we
thought to take advantage of onr proximity
and be the first to step down into the troubled
waters this morning, but, aroused by the blasts
OF "old Bordc" las we have frequently heard
an unlettered friend style the rude north
wind), and seeing the dull sky and angry
flood, both looking cold and threatening we
revised that. opinion, and, rejecting in our
comfortable position upon the subject, con-
cluled it were better to bear the ills we have
than fly to others that we know not Of but of
which we shrewdly suspect the existence in the
shape of cramps and ague. When we finally
emerged from our room for breakfast we
found that other more robust natures were
not deferred by such fears, but the house was
filled with those who had driven ten and
twenty miles to be cleansed of their diseases.
There were beaux and damsels from all the
region round about; from the shadow of Ae-
amenticus, from the cities of Dover and
Portsmouth and from Great Falls: some of
them like the Holsters fa5 Dickens makes the
comparison) going into the water very black
and coming out very red. The rougher class
of visitors had no liking for our house and we
were amused at the method taken to exclude
them. One fellow dressed in the loudest
checked pants, rolled up in the legs and with
the most stunning vest and necktie staggered
into the office, and enquired the cost per day.
for, like Mr.. GiIpin, though on pleasure he
was bent, he had a frugal mind" The clerk
politely told him that they asked two dollars
day for boarders but twice that for those
who wanted to ''tear round" and make extra
trouble The sportsmen evidently desired to
indulge in the luxury of tearing round" and
yet pay only the price for modest behavior, so
lie evaded the issue by replying in indignant
zones and with look of injured innocence.
"hy' slr' I'm married man !' This fact,
however, was not conclusive in his favor. as
the clerk declared it to be the result of lono
observation and considerable experience that
married men away from their wives were ant |
to disport themselves in as unseeminsly a
manner as bachelors. The youth went awav
to seek cheaper hosterie
and less experienced bar-keeper-
1t was the first time we ever
heard OF decency being secured by high pro-
tective tariff on rowdyism, but it certainly
worked well in this instance. The Atlantic
House is kept by o. A. Frost, Esq, proprietor
OF the Great Falls Hotel also, and he is evil
dently acquainted with his business. Not on.
~ was his table well spread but, what is not
quite so common, his meats were tender and
all the food properly and thoroughly cooked.
After meal at this house and taking seat on
It's PIAZZA to enjoy the prospect and one of Abb
Oott's best brand OF cigars, we do not see how
person could take any other than rose-color.
Cd views of life. Everything conduces 10 that
lulet rest which is the object sought by those
coming to these resorts. The sleepy old town
IL wells, a mile off, stretches along its single
'treet Tor distance of four or five miles. with
l's pleasant feds, comfortable, well-painted
houses and neat little churches, giving proof
u 'ne thrift and prosperity of its inhabitants.
he IIDeralitV of a fnrnoro+:.o |