Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-10-04
OUT IN THE COUNTR \.

high brlck walls all day, ana All night preath-
ing the close and poisoned air which has sup
piled the wants of thousands of human beings
no one knows how long! l am glad / have
got away from the cares and the routine of
business in the city for few days, SO like in
its monotony and sameness to what we read
of the convict in the tread-mill
If you ask when l escaped from prison, it
was only yesterday. l suppose feel some
what like a bird let out of its cage, when it
first feels its liberty, and stretches its wings
for flight into the groves and fields. Perhaps
the same bird, later in its experience, might
be glad to return even to its cage when 1t dis
covers that freedom has its discomtorts, and
confinement its compensations.
We started yesterday, and with all needed
preparations for comfort on our way. quit the
city for few days of wandering in the pleas
ant country. l suppose these western re-
gions of Maine are to many of the jewellers
on the Kennebec a sort of terra incogn,ta,
peopled with savage beasts and more savage
men, where roads are almost impassable, and
the wilderness an inhospitable maze. Moth
ing can be farther from the truth. The roads
along the rivers and streams are as good, and
often better than in Kennebec, wild beasts
are scarcely to be found even in the deepest
forests, the people are as intelligent and hos
pitable as in any part of the State, and instead
of bowling wilderness, we find the most
beautiful, romantic, and variegated scenery.
Our route yesterday lay through Manches-
ter, Readfeld, and Fayette. The sky was
overcast, but the air was balnly and sweet.
Passing Kents Hill, crowned with the Semi
nary buildings, we thought, who but old Faith
er Kent would have thought Of locating a
large seminary for young aspirants for edu-
cation and college honors on the top of such
hill, and SO remote from villages, and espe
cially from the usual routes of travel? In
these days, the tendency seems to be to place
such institutions near large centers of popu-
lation. But Father Kent never dreamed of
the future greatness and success of the Semi
nary he founded. He never supposed the
humble school for poor boys, would prove to
be college resorted to from all parts Of the
State, and from distant States, and where so
many useful men and women would be train
ed for usefulness and eminence. Like many
others whose benevolence has laid, by sacri-
fees, the humble foundations of great insti-
tutions, he "builded wiser than he knew"
In skirting around the beautiful ponds
served some of the most lovely scenery we
have often seen. One pond, especially,
little beyond Kent's KILL extending north and
south, with roads along its margin, furnishes
an opportunity for one of the pleasantest rides
of five or six miles around it, that can be
found in the country. Dotted with wooded
islands, some larger and some smaller, it lies
in sweet repose, embosomed amongst waving
forests and fertile fields, with here and there
white or brown rural farmhouse with ac-
compartments to vary the scene. The bril-
liant autumnal hues which the forest has put
on, in honor of the advancing season, add
charm OF their own to the beauty of the land
scape. Why have not our American poets
devoted more of their attention to a descrp-
ton of the scenery Of autumn, which is said
by travellers abroad, to be in our New Eng
land forests unlike anything met with in other
parts of the world The deep verdure Of the
frs, pines, and other evergreens, mingled
with the pale yellow of the beach, the rich
brown of the oak, the orange color of one
species of maple, the scarlet hues of other
naples, and also of the sumac, with all the
thousand varying tints of ripening foliage,
furnish a theme on which the poet might well
expend his powers.
We reached this beautiful village on the
banks of the rapid Androscoggin, last even
ing. Here is a bridge and also several stores,
churches, and neat and pleasant dwellings.
There was mandatory Of condensed milk,
but it is now closed. The water in the An
droscoggin is of course low, but still it dash
es and foams over the rocks which give it the
name of Livermore Falls.
We had copous and refreshing rain last
night, which has laid the dust, and revived
the face of nature. Our motto this morning,
is Coward" You may hear from me again.
VACATION.