The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-07-02
Summer Rambles in Maine.

:
have already become famous. The islands of
Portland harbor, the cottages of Cape Eliza
beth, Scarborough Beach, Mount Desert, &c.
have each their admirers and regular visitors.
Their attractions are not to be despised. The
advantages they offer, of fresh air, scenery,
water views, sailing privileges, bathing and
hshing, are not excelled anywhere. Some day
they will become fashionable, and spoiled tor
those who are looking for the real thing in
recreation. But the coast of Maine is very
long, and very varied, and will always afford
quiet hooks and spots that have not been de-
veloped into grand watering places, for the
genuine pleasure seeker to take his ease in.
The resources of the interior of this State in
supplying all that one goes tor when he takes a
summer in the country cannot be enumerated.
The sea does not reach inland, of course; but
in its stead there are lakes without number.
trout brooks and mill streams, offering water
views OF Infinite variety and loneliness, and all
tull OF fish. Hardly anywhere in the State is
one out Of sight OF some considerable BODY of
water. Hardly anywhere is he halt mile
from his dinner, if he can make a dinner of
fish, and knows how to catch them HAtt
linen there is perpetual change in the land
surface Mountains and plains, hills crowned
with barren rocks, and rich valleys bearing
crops that make farmers laugh, occur in close
luxtaposltIon; woods that seem never to have
been penetrated 10y man since the Noachian
waters retired from the surface of the earth.
anu meadows that appear as clean and CLOSELY
shaven as a Hudson villa lawn. One NAV
make himself part of busy keen trading
population, or he can dwell among mapufac.
turers, or he can place himself in village of a
Well-to do people, who have little of the cares
and much Of the enjoyments OF life; or he NAV
bury himself IN comparative solitude and lead
lie OF his own, where he will not once a
week bear oil anything that is going on out
side OF the neighborhood he is in. 1t is not
country where one can ramble OF ride day
after day, and have to complain that he has
seen only the same old things over and over
again; not that is, il he has eyes and the ca
paclty to know variety, and appreciate it when
he sees it. -
ATTRACTIVE TOWNS
10 enumeiate the spots in Maine which
have attractions 10 draw one TO them and
keep him there, would be very much like
making an inventory of the towns. 1t is the
present purpose to note only a few points on
the railroads, promising that these are only
the gates which open to the glories OF the
country which lies further back. The people
who 90 TO the White mountains think they
are acquainted with the Grand Trunk Rail
road. They regard it as an extremely rough
and lll-manaSed road, passing through a very
stupd-looklbg country. But the country is a
very interesting one to those who are acouaint.
ed with it, and who know where to look for
its prominent features. The road leaves the
sea and its ships at Yarmouth, and runs along
a valley where handsome farms ascend the
slopes of the hills. Each one of these hills
commands such view as people living in
level country would travel miles to see.
AT New Gloucester there is a Shaker vii
la2e, or rather there are two villages, the seat
OF one of the five Or six Shaker communities
in the United States. The brethren are very
hospitable, glad to see all who come in proper
fashion, and are held in high repute through
all the country around he villages are most
conveniently reached from the Empire Road"
station, which is halt dozen miles beyond
New Gloucester station, or from Lewiston.
There is mineral spring near the Shaker
village, III Poland, which has gained a reputa-
ton so far OIL as Chicago for the curative
properties of its waters. The people who re-
sort to it have implicit faith liz it. which is
apparently justified by the stories thew tell of
what it has done for them. The surround
lnG are such, together with the qualities of
lhl 'alers, that If proper boarding accommo-
dations were afforded, this would soon be-
come very popular resort.
AT Mechanic Falls one NAV no.e the oroutb
OF thriving manufacturing village, which has
sprung up from nothing within dozen wears.
Beyond are the hills of Buckfeld They are
Vely modest in comparison with the imposing
glahis that swell over in New Hampshire.
put they bave beauties of their own which
VIII make them some day known to the pub
nc. AT Paris the aspect is forbidding enough.
But Paris is crowned with honor by men of
science and connoisseurs in precious stones.
For here IS situated that famous hill where ma
lure seems to have poured out a cornucopia
OF crystals, OF tourmallne, and garnets and
amethysts, and the like, of graceful forms, and
clear lustre, and bright colors, so delightful to
the eye that regards beauty. It is said that
there is no such richness and variety of min
erals anywhere else in the United States, ex-
cept at Haddam, in Connecticut. The surface
crop OF these semijewels is pronounced ex.
.auSted. Bot there is no telling what the So
Journer OF patient, investigating turn of
mind may not accomplish by digging.
Many who go to the White Mountains have
learned 10 stop at Bethel. Here they find
good accommodation, rides and drives. and
mountain views, reaching TO Mount Washing
ton range. Bethel is taking q rank on one
side OF the mountains like that which North
Conway has on the other. 1t is the starting
point TOR the Umba9og Lake, where are the
head waters of the Androscoogin, and much
ilsh. A great part of the journey thither lies
through the wilderness, and there is no lack
OF opportunities of testing the romance of
camp lite in the forest. The railroad, from
the region OF Bethel TO the White Mountains
runs along the valley OF the Androscoggin.
there is but one opinion concerning its
beauties. az
The Maine Genital Railroad DIVORCES from
the Grand Trunk at Danville Junction, thirty
miles from Portland. 1t runs TO Bangor.
throuSh one of the best settled districts in
tiie 'otate, ana commands, by means of its
s se a9u other connections, the access to
some OIL The inf n
New England. Lewiston and Suh1rn ;ts
hrst stations, constitute a two-headed mann-
featuring city, with a mile line of b, icl. co.ton
mills and sLoe shops to match, which hos
grown up within Il few years from a country
and store. Winthrop is placed be- |
tween two lakesoD which the hand ofimprove-
ment has already begnn its work in providing
pleasure poals and hotels and invitations to
the amusement-seeking to come and epiov
them.
Hall dozen miles from Winthrop is hill
which is entitled, on account of lis scenery
ana surroundings, to be counted among the |
cholce spots of the land. Its base is washed |
by Jour lakes, all of which are within an hours |
walk OF the top. 1t commands a prospect
winch IS little inferior 10 a mountain view.
ana there Is none Of the trouble of climbing |
The mountain. 1t is the seat of a Methodist |
one of the three Oldest in the Init
iiNii lHO bUp VI Tie seminary i
building one may look across the Kennebec |
IN one side, and to the White Mountains. 60 |
niles of, on the other. In another direction. |
,he valley OF the Sandy River is displayed for |
nearly 80 miles. The view is closed by Blue |
Mountain and its neighbors, the most prom- |
1ent peak in this section of the State. And |
away over the hills will be indicated the place |
where lie the Rangely Lakes, where jay Cooke |
las acquired title and established his s1Im- /
ner fishing ground. The landscape in the i'm
mediate vicinity is gemmed by seven distinct
axes. Mr.. Torsey, the Principal of the Sem.
nary, knows every nook and corner of them
md can tell, if 50 disposed, where and how the
most and the best fish may be caught And
lis disposition is OF the best. The name of
his place is Kent's Hill. 1t is reached by
tage from Readfield station, the next beyond
Winthrop.
Waterville, on the Kennebec, is an ideal
Jew England village. The streets are wide
nd outrageous, the houses are old fashioned
nd cosy, and there is very little show of bust
ess. Yet the town is growing, and every
ody is well off, and the society is of highly
cultivated character. The secret is that those
I the people who are not wealthy are en-
aged in thriving business in the neighbor-
fOihE TTpit ;et ~ e 4