The Portland daily press., 1873-07-01
FROM THE MOUNTAINS.
DELIGHTFUL WATERING PLACE EASILY At
TANNED.
[From our special Correspondents


Correspondence from North Conway is old
to be sure, old, almost, as the everlasting hills
which surround the place. Yet thing Of
beauty isa joy forever, and this is classic
ground. The music of Handel and Haydn is
old, but being good thing is still presented by
artists to people of the present day. So your cor
respondent (also an artist let us hope) will per-
sist in presenting this ever beautiful mountain
retreat to appreciative readers of the PRESS.
But in truth there is something new to be
told of this locality, as heretofore at the begin
ming of each new season. The place has chang
ed some what, even within the past year, and
wonderfully during the last half dozen years.
Contrast the present mode of reaching here, for
instance, with that of six years ago, from Port
land and Boston, In former days the journey
was formidable one, especially so to the invalid
and aged, often taking the better part of two
days in its accomplishment. and attended with
such fatigue and Inconvenience as stage coaches
are capable of giving when they try for it. The
traveller of to-day from your city, possibly some
one to whom the journey was quite impossible,
formerly, now receives his ticket and baggage
checks, and arrives within two hours, instead
of two days, almost in the heart of the far off
mountain region; and that too, at nearly half
the expense of previous times. The Ogdens-
burg and Eastern Railway managers have done
much for numerous public in extending their
lines to this point and should be cordially APP
preciated for their enterprise. The former
company by the way, is doing everything in its
power in return for the generous assistance
given to it by Portland. Its time schedule is
made with view to best accommodate your
citizens. and its cars, excepting only the smok
ing cars chow L wish they would put on a
couple of first rate smoking cars-your cores
pondent is a smoker, you perceive) are models
of elegance, in charge of efficient and polite
conductors One week from to-day the passen-
ger trains on this road commence running to
Glen station, point six miles above here on
the way to the Notch, where the road to the
Glen takes its departure. AT that same time,
too, it is rumored, the Boston & Maine Railroad
will form a consolidated train with the Ogdens-
burg, running through from Boston to North
Conway via Portland in about five hours, or on
the same time and tariff made by the Eastern
Railroad between the same points via Conway
Junction and the Berwicks. Should this be
true, large increase of travel may be expected
at Portland hotels this summer The majority
of tourists and summer pleasure seekers west
of you desire variety when it can be obtained
easily.
By taking the Boston & Maine, therefore from
Boston to Conway, they get glimpse of the
sea shore, including Wells and Old Orchard
beaches, and may stop overa train or day, as
the case may be, lin Portland, which itself. has no
mean reputation among tourists, as summer
watering place, long since made famous by her
own gifted sou, as "The city by the sea-" and
thinking no small beer of herself. To them has
come also. knowledge of the interesting route of
the Ogdensbnrg road They have read in guide
books and the papers that its course is up the
valley of the Presumpscot to Lake Sebago,
theme skirting that beautiful water it shoots
over to, and up the valley of the Saco crossing
aud recrossing on splendid iron bridges till it
ends here or at Glen station in Bartlett.
Although the hotels and boarding houses are
open and ready for business, the season here
has not yet got into full blast. Immediately
after the Fourth, it is expected that the hot
weather and band of music will put in an APP
pearance at the hotels; and that with them will
come an avalanche of guests from all quarters,
Your correspondent can testify that the Nc
MILAN and the Kiarsarge are ready for the cam
paign, he having interviewed both places, Sew
eral needed Improvements have been made since
last year in the latter, and this house is now
first-class in every appointment, not forgetting
the price of board. The tables of both houses
are beautifully supplied twice a day with
the best of Portland and Boston markets,
and would delight the heart of Kenelm
Chillngly, who preferred to sing the
praises Of beefsteak rather than of love. But
there will doubtless be opportunities for the lat
ter theme long before the season closes, and
swans may be comforted. The great John
Mcmillan has, in addition to other things, the
advantage of that proprietor's genial self.
Inc objects of interest here and IN vicinity,
as Dianas Baths, the Lodges, Echo Lake, Cath
e eI Mt; kearsage, the Mote, Chocorua and
w nte mountain ranges. LovelPs Pond, ia
nous IN Indian annals, Frveburg, the grand
portal to this the vestibnle of tba mountains
and other places, are all too we'll known to re-
quire description now, and / NAV venture to
close this somewhat extended Late ,r;thont
further comment. To the visitor bovornr IN
tending to spend few days here wonlJ hint
that much greater enjoyment can he fonnd ~,
ring the middle of the day by remaining VIII tb-
in the cool galleries and verandas of the hotels
looking at the sublime scenery of the distant
mountains and famed by the beneficent breeze
coming therefrom, than by frequent excursions,
even though such excursions be no longer than
q trip to the adjacent post-office across the
wide. sandy and shadeless street leading there
to. Mindful of my brain and fearful of sun
stroke. you will not receive this letter in time
for publication tomorrow unless L shall find
some devoted slave-of money, to post it for
me. In its sheterless condition and present
temperature would soon'r take my chances
for safety by going dnder fire in respectable
skirmish than going and returning over that
street at this hour. / am otherwise, as ever, at
your service. VIAToR.