Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-08-29
Gotal Skettbts,
A Sketch on the Ivay.


the sun rose without u cloud. The ain
was cool and refreshing. The outlines
OF the mountains we're very clear and
well defined, We. with few friends
from abroad, were in for q ride among
the bills of Oxford, in Me, and Coos, in
n IL. Our line of travel WAS hom Bethel
to Dixfeld Notch, by the way of Umba-
cog Lake, distance of fory-livo miles.
This route Is doubtless one Oi the most
delightful drives in northern New Eng
land. The road up tie beautiful and en-
chanting valley of Bear River, nom It's
outlet to It's source, is now smooth and
in fine order. This great thoroughfare
to pleasure seekers and business men, is
rendered exceedingly attractive by high,
unbroken chains OF mountains on both
sides The different peaks of the high
elevations, fail not to attract the atten-
ton OF all travellers alike, who have 4
taste for natures wild aud romantic
scenery. Mount Puzzle, on tho right,
claims special notice of the many noun.
tain gazerS. He towers high above his
immediate companions. His head is bald,
and his side locks are very grey, exhibit.
ing undoubted evidence that he was born
before the aged patriarch, Methusela.-
Near the foot OF this old patriarch, some
OF the family friends OF ) T. CorSer,
Esq, of Portland, have fine summer
residence, in the form of canvass tent,
InvalidS are there in search OF health. a
nice way this, TO recover their wOnted
strength Other families in the city would
do well 10 imitRte the example of that
once very popular Superintendent OF the
Grand Trunk Railroad, under whose nice
supervision the rolling machinery moved
with the system and order Of eloek-work
Probably about every man over the
whole line, from Portland to Island Pond,
would hold up both hands to have him
reinS,ated in his old position. Some two
miles above Mount Puzzle. Whiiecap rises
up in the SKY, on the lett. and claims 10
have long been contemporary OF his
neighbor Puzzle \ little higher up the
valley, Mount Speckle, on the left. He
claims greater favor lhaa all his numer
Gus companions. He was much larger
than all the others at his birth, and has
ever retained his unequalled might and
glory Opposite to him, on the right, is
Mount Saddleback. lie makes Il very
fine appearance, even by the side of old
Speckle, that often pricks the clouds with
his sharp points lie derived his name
from the form OF his summit, which re-
sembles very much q saddle. This sad
die, very grand in its structure, and made
O. finn material, exhibits the consum-
mate wisdom and almighty power of lis
Architect. Many pedestrians. after q
walk of three miles, through tug and
sweat, have mounted safely upon this
grand saddle, which has endured the
wear and tear OF natures destructive
fingers for vast ages. However much
the thousands Of visitors have admired it,
and however strongly they have coveted
it Cor man Is naturally inclined To steal
everything within his reach), no one. IS
vet, has stolen this except in feeling,
which IS only secret sin. The trouble
is. doubtless, il is little too heavy for IN
easy and profitable transportation. Horse
shoe Falls, arc TO pleasure seekers, wor-
thy of a visit The channel in the river
is now much filled up, and its beauty :
greatly married by the debris OF forests
and lumbumen. The falls are near tue
road, few rods above Walkers Mills"
They derived their name from a certain
excavation made in the ledge. in the form
OF a horse. shoe. The figure is well exc
cuted. There is deep beautiful basin,
finely wrought in the solid rock; some
person has called it Potash Kettle. -
Probably this is not proper name for 1t,
rs il was doubtless made millions Of years
before the art of soap making WAS dis
covered. Some ten miles above, on the
river, are the Screw-Auger falls, which
arc Of interest to the many people who
visit them yearly. They derived this
name from their resemblance TO screw
anger. Nature, with her mighty water
forces, has been at work very many cen.
turtles on this most wonderful auger, and
she is still on her work, exciting the high
admiration OF the multitudeS that gaze
upon her Stupeudous operations. One
hundred rods above these tails IS the Jail,
a most wonderful excavation in a ledge,
deep, broad and romantic, wrought back
in past ages, by Him who does all things
we'll \ part Of its walls arc smooth
and beautiful In this attractive house.
many visitors AIRY for while. and en-.
Joy together nOon-day pic-pic. About
ten miles above The Jail is 4 great ledge
charm, which excites much interest with
many visitors This is some seventy
rods from the road. on the right. Many
strangers fail To lind this plan of route,
a it Is in the Grafton Notch, tar nom
any house. We always give the same
directions toall strangers, whowi,h to Wis
it the wonder scene, which proves 10 them
sure. Ascend, we say, to the heighth of
land in Grafton Notch; then at Your
left You will see q beech tree. on which IS
cut the words, Moose Covo;" directly
opposite to that tree turn to your right
- -A..:..lL L.......,,.l Lnn-;r.. N ~ 1.