The Portland daily press., 1872-07-31

the boat and cast their cooling shadows on the |
tourist as he glides along. Now and then |
group of quaint farm buildings adds to the
of the scene. The pilot points |
out some of the principal features of interest,
which bear the euphonious titles of Sugar
Loaf" "Buck's Folly" "Ox-Bow'' and "Horse
Race" Five miles from the mouth, we come
to the Lock, and the passage through it to the
higher water above gives new interest to the
voyage. A mile further on, we enter the Bay
of Naples, a beautiful pond two miles long,
with few farms on its banks AT the head of
the bay, wo shoot through the draw bridge
across Chute's River, and enter Long Lake.
with the village of Naples close by us on the
left sitting on the bank, which slopes toward
the water-a village built in clusters surrounding
church with brown spire, and showing
neatness and thrift. A moments pause at the
wharf, and we run on nine miles up this river
like lake, by Long Point, Bear Point Lovejoy's
Island, Mast Cove Landing, Pleasant Point and
Mount Henry, to the Bridgton landing. Now
we see the two villages of North Bridgton and
Harrison, lying at the head of the lake, on
either side, mile apart. The view of each is
hidden from the other by a narrow point of
land running out into the lake. Both are de-
lightfully situated, and in years past were
places of considerable business. Harrison still
retains wooden mill, and some other man
ufactures, and good hotel. North Bridgton
has an aspect of having been finished along time
ago. In its palmy days, fortunes were made
here, and most of the present inhabitants are
enjoying the fruits of former industry and fru-
galty. Many of the stores that once were busy
are closed and have a deserted air. Old ware
houses on the bank of the lake are dropping to
pieces, and close by the landing stands the great
brick mansion of one of the early Inhabitants
a man of many eccentricities, who laid up
fortune and left his buildings to the ruthless
hand of decay and his money to be divided
among those who scarcely know the home of
their ancestor. North Bridgton Academy,
venerable institution that can point to long
list of honored graduates, stands in q pleasant
grove on the hillside, and retains something of
its old vigor. If one desires a quiet summer
residence he is sure to find it here. The village
contains many handsome residences and the
people are social and cultivated. There is a
hotel, the Lake Hotel, kept by George w. Hale,
near the landing. He gave me an excellent
dinner and supper and a cheerful room. Very
little pleasure travel l learn, has found its way
to this part of the State this season. but it GER
tainly has its attractions for those who like a
quiet home or desire the sports of the forest or
brook. Here stages take the traveller to the de-
lightful villages in Waterford.
Three miles back by stage to pass the night at
Bridgton Center-one of the chief inland towns
of this part of the State-a village of about 1900
inhabitants, with its wooden mills, tanneres
and numerous other industries thrifty,
busy, driving population, who welcome the
visitor warmly and tell him of its rapid growth
and solid prosperity. New houses are constant
~ going up, and rents are almost unpurchasa-
Bile. An hours ride around the village and on
the roads leading out of town repays one with
fine scenery and the view of elegant dwellings
and well-kept grounds. There are two hotels
here, the Bridgton House, kept by some MEM
Der of the Davis family for century or more
favorite place-and the Cumberland House,
with George H. Cummings as landlord. can
attest the excellence Of the last. The village
lies mile from the Lake, with a thick forest
in 'front.' A splendid four horse coach takes
you to the wharf. The ride is just long enough
to recall the pleasant recollections of old stage
times and add an additional flavor to the morn
ing's excursion. We find the beautiful side
wheel steamer .Sebago, Capt. Wales lat the
wharf, bound down. The morning is cool and
bright after the rain of thenight, and the north
west wind drives the ladies to the elegant little
saloon, but we find sheltered spot on deck
and drink in again the beautiful scenery around
AS we steer out into the lake we notice Pleas
ant Mountain looming up behind the town we
have just left, giving splendid background to
the picture in front.
Just before we reach the lock we meet the
Oriental in narrow bend of the river, and for
moment there is excitement among the pas
sengers. A collision seems inevitable but we
pass without trouble the steamers greeting
each other with their whistles. The tortuous
course of the Songo is traversed again, and as
we sail down the lake we lunch. AIshour later
and we are at Lake Station waiting for the
train to take us home.
If Sebago and Songo and the lakes above
were hundred miles away We in Portland
would hear their praises rung constantly by
tourists and travellers. But their beauty is the
same though they are within an hours ride
Our busy, driven merchants, Woodworking me-
chanics and weary shop-women, to whom a
summer excursion to the lake and mountain
region has heretofore been thing only to be
dreamed of, can enjoy all these beauties and
drink in the invigorating mountain air at a
nominal expense and in single day. A rail-
road ride OF sixteen miles, with sail of thirty
four miles across these beautiful sheets of wa
ter is afforded for a couple of dollars, with an
hour to dine and rest at the EXTREMIST point of
the route, and so home in time for tea The
attractions of the lakes have just been opened
to u.s.. Ought We not to take advantage of
them? IDJER