The Portland daily press., 1873-09-03
The Seaside.

OCEAN HOUSE,
OLD ORCHARD BEACH Sept. l, 1878
An ocean view of sunrise involves a perpe-
tration of the folly of early rising, but really
! it is gorgeous spectacle, and L was not sorry
that woke up to greet the great orb this
morning as he shone out in the armament
SIS owly, in all his spendors Digit"
For quiet enjoyment of sea side rest this is
the right place to come to. for nothing disturbs
our peace except the hum of the locomotives
| We are promised camp meeting this week,
which will no doubt brig multitudes of visit
ors, but as have never attended one of those
assemblages, my curiosity SO far prevails over
my desire to be tranquil, that welcome the
disturbing element
Speaking of camp meetings reminds me of
the fact that on Friday, the 22d day of Au-
gust, between the hours of 2 and 8 p. M. there
| landed from the steamer Franconia of Port
land, on the wharf at Martha's Vineyard, two
solitary travellers 1 was told they were on
their way to a camp meeting in that vicinity.
Ordinarily when the Portland boats make that
landing, the pier is crowded with people to
welcome the coming, speed the parting guest :"
1t is sort of gala day, and spruce looking We
horse wagon to the Concord coach, are there in
abundance. But on this occasion not an indi-
cation of vitality presented itself. Our hearts
warmed toward these lonesome passengers,
cast ashore upon such inhospitable SOIL A
meeting of sympathy was hastily organized on
board, and but for the alacrity with which
Capt. Bragg cast off the lines, we should have
made, I think, a vigorous effort to rescue and
bear them away.
Curious speculations ensued as to their prob.
able fate, and eager lorgnettes were leyelled at
them as long as the shore was in sight to see II
there were any indications of succor. Until
they receded from our view, they still remained
in that awful solitude, and as our good ships
company discussed the chances of delivery, the
story of Robinson Crusoe and many another
tale of adventure and shipwreck beguiled the
afternoon and evening and dried up our tears of
compassion.
Capt. Bragg intirnated that the managers of
the camp meeting at Martha's Vineyard had
established rigid moral and ecclesiastical quar-
antine, whereof these latest corners were the
earliest victims. But our captain has such
propensity to chaff his passengers, and is, like
most other old salts, so full of yarns, that did
not place implicit confidence in this statement.
I rather attributed the desertion of the landing
to the fact of our having arrived long after we
were due, and during meeting time.
Nevertheless was greatly relieved to hear,
through the columns of the Press, that they
had found shelter; and L can readily under
stand with what accomplishing docility they
submitted in their strait to exorbitant charges.
hope they have by this time returned. If so
and you will send one of them here to take
notes of oar camp meeting he need have no fear
of repetition of bis Martha's Vineyard expe-
rience, which may have moderated his sense of
the enjoyment of these spiritual gatherings.
The "Orchard" gives cordial invitation to saiuNs
and sinners of all ages and colors and both sexes
and especially to newspaper correspondents
who are popularity supposed to be above all 9TH
ers in need of saving grace. YARMOUTH.