Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-04
A NASHVILLE MAN AT THE HUB.
Something About His Travels and
Explorations.

To the Editor of the Union and american:
BOSTON, July 2S, 1S72.-Your cores
pondent on the 4th of July inst. visited
WeitmiLer's Beer Gardens and after listen
ing to the reading of the declaration of our
independence, and to the merry
music and joyous songs of Columbia and
Fatherland, so well rendered by that most
useful and patriotic class of our fellow-eiti-
zens, the Germans, of Nashville, and hav-
ing the latent fire of '76 rekindIed in his
bosom, left on the 100 A. NJ. train in quest
of business, health and cooler atmos-
phere, being seized with desire not unlike
that of DR.. Livingstone, and Stanley, of the
New York Herald, the great African ex-
plorers, to take bird's-eye view of our ex-
IRENE Eastern territory and to explore the
great watersheds, not Of the Nile, but of
the States of Maine, New Hampshire and
Massachusetts,. Taking the great
cities of New York and Boston in route,
and leaving the latter named on the 18th inst.
by the Eastern Railroad, after a sharp run
of six hours found ourselves snugly en-
sconsed in that gem of American hotels,
the Falmoth, in the city of Pot and,
Maine, the commercial metropolis OF the
State. 1t is handsomely laid out on a pen
insula, bordering Casco Bay. The harbor
is one of the very finest on our coast, and
is well defended by Government fortifca-
tons. Its present population is near 10000
souls, Notwithstanding the great con-
fagration which occurred here July 4, 1866,
which swept away one halfof the business
portion of the city, destroying 100000
worth of merchandise alone.
As a summer resort Portland presents
many attractions 10 pleasure-seekers. The
view from the western promenades of the
White mountains of New Hampshire,
seventy miles distant, and the Islands of
Casco Bay are charming indeed.
Our eastern seacoast resor.s, within a
short and pleasant drive, are Cape Cottage
and the Ocean House, with excellent ar
rangements for bathing and fishing, and at
tract crowds Of visitors during the summer
months, who are now luxuriating en- green
peas aud strawberries. Only think of it.
Rye BEACH,
near Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is the
largest of the many on this coast. At the
lower end of this beach is the Ocean
House. 1t will accommodate comfortably
about 400 guests. At the upper end are the
Atlantic and Farragut; the latter named for
Tennessee's great sailor and soldier, Com
modOre Farragut. From this point you
have remarkable view of the ocean to the
north. The whole line of coast for forty
miles, extending far in the State of Maine,
is in full view, and here the late lamented
President Pierce had his summer residence.
His cottage is still standing, and in good re-
pair.
HAMPTON BEACH, N. H.,
or Bears Head, as it is called, is a famous
promintory, sixty five feet high, running
about quarter of a mile out to sea, and is
the exact shape of boar's head. At high
tide it is almost surrounded by water; is
seen from great distance in all directions.
On each side of this prefecture is fine,
hard beach, two miles in extent, making a
splendid drive at low tide. Forty teams
may be driven abreast. Near the center of
these grounds is located the Bears Head
Hotel, kept by that prince of caraVansaries,
Col. S. II. Duma. A fine livery stable is
connected with the house.
THE ISLE OF SHOALS.
Twelve miles distant from Hampton
Beach, in the broad Atlantic Ocean, | es the
Isle of Shoals. Nothing can equal the APP
pearance of this desolat:on when viewed
at a distance. They are composed
of white granite rocks, bleached by the
peltings of the ocean for centuries past, and
void of vegetation; but on the near ap-
proach of the steamer, which you reach
from Portsmouth, you discern signs of hu-
man habitations, and you soon forget the
turmoils and strife of the busy world which
you have left behind you.
NANTASKET BEACH.
Nantasket Beach, Mass, is the longest on
the coast that l have visited. IT'S eighteen
miles from the "Hub," by boat. To reach
it you pass Forts Independence ard War
rem en- route. The Rockland Hotel here,
kept by Ripley, is one of the largest and
handsOmest hotels in the country. The
beach at this point is FIVE miles long, with
good bathing and sailing. Many of the bu-
siness men of Boston, with their families,
spend the summer months here. In con-
clusion, let me say to those of our citizens
who annually pay tribute to Niagara Falls,
Saratoga and Long Branch, let them rather
see for themselves our eastern coast and its
resorts. B. II. G.