The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-07-08
Fourth Of July above the Clouds.

sspivotnI point''-BeauiifaI villages and
model hoteIs-Mt. Pleasant and the new
hoicl-An enchanting view-'IsIcs of
auid Iight"-A battle among the elements
etc, etc, etc.
BRIDGToN, July 5, 1873
To the Editor of the Press:
1 have passed "the day we celebrate" upon
the summit of Mount Pleasant, one of the no.
best mountains of Maine. More than 1000 feet
above the level upon which you were swelter-
ing in your patriotic cndeavors to "keep" the
GLORIOUS Fourth"
IL o'clock July 3d. and an hour after that, we
were shipped upon the little steamer 'Sebago'
on Lake Sebago, and proceeded with great en-
ergy to interview the young and CHEEKY Cap
tain upon all matters of interest pertaining to
the Lake and its woody surroundings; fortu-
natey we found captain Wales not only thor
oughly acquainted with his immediate business
but entirely familiar with every thing that a
curious Yankee wants to know abont the geog-
raphy of the Lake and of this vast tract of
couatry which forms the vestibule to the White
Mountain region. Here we are at its very por-
tai at the foot of the Lake and at the East of
it there is nothing but tame level country, but
as we pass up, by Frye's Island with its 500
acres, we can see, at the extreme southwest,
and 40 miles away, the rough, ragged Chicorua
range of hills, whose peaks are all angular and
broken, and entirely unlike any of the other
mountain ranges in this part of the country.
To the Northward the whole White Noun
tain rangeis now coming into view, with the
Green Hills in front, over which Kiarsarge
stands as a sentinel; and foremost of all is Mt
Pleasant which seems to command the whole
position. The Capt. WILL if we choose put the
steamer round to the other side of Fryes
Island and show us Rattlesnake mountain, aud
let us sail past the "Images;" but we are impa-
tient to be in Songo River, and we press on list
ening as we sail to the old Indian legends that
cl ng to the memorable places which we pass.
But am not going to tell any of these old sto-
ries to you because many of the readers of your
| valuable paper have heard them; and be-
sides, you would say that am calling up these
!, records of the past in order that might get
dignity to myself, by assuming to be an exceed
ingly old person. 1t is IA miles across the Lake
to Songo River, and then we enter a stream
that is so famous and so written up that
cannot get heart to undertake description,
We go more than three miles to get over one
mile in straight line. The boat is necessarily
turning, using its bow as pivotal point and
keeping its stern in a chronic state of swaying
round. 1t draws but little more than three
feet of water, and is managed SO skillfully by
her pilot, Mr.. Abram Shaw that she has been
innocent OF snag or rock all through the season.
Abram would make Palipurus die of envy by
the way he swings that boat round the bluffs
| and sharp bends;-but Palinurus was not in oul
| party-he is dead There is a stump standing
near the shore about mile from the mouth Of
the Songo, upon which you may stand in the
spring time, as / am credibly Informed, and see
the logs floating down river in eight different
directions, all within half mile of one anoth.
crit is a delightful sail from Songo Lake to Ma.
| pies Village, little hamlet nestled in among
the hills o. the left at the head of the Bay Ma.
| Piles, called in ante-prohibition times Brandy
Pond.
The story goes that a cask of brandy was
spilled in the pond years ago. We have been
across that pond many times and seen many an
eye fill with tears over the memory of that
| long gone beverage; and yet it was not all lost
for the natives are said to have thronged the
shore for weeks afterwards with their noses in
the drink in such posture as would have spoil
ed them for Gideon's Band
1t is only half hours run over Long Lake
to the landing opposite Bridgton Centre. This
is one of the oldest villages in Cumberland
County and is the the trading center of large
tract of country. To the left of it lies the
beautiful lake which they abuse by calling il
"Crotched Pond" There are four islands in
this pond that look in the distance like places
of enchantment. Bridgton is becoming one of
the popular resorts for the summer-as indeed
it should, for here are to be found streams of
trout and woods of game within few hours
walk; the access from the cities is easy by
| lake or rail; and Mr.. Marshall Davis, of the
Bridgton House, keeps one of the best hotels
that l ever saw outside of metropolitan
town. The house is large one with airy, COM
modious rooms and good beds The house has
| been in the Davis name father and son-near-
| ly all the time for So years.
| On the morning of the Fourth we take up
our line of March by coaches to Pleasant
Mountain, eight miles away. We pass through
+" SOAhCA VI GiJCpuiS ny u1OOSo L Ouu, IOuuu
the base of the mountain, to Denmark, in
which town its summit lies. We catch a
glimpse of Jockey Cap two or three miles to
the west near Fryeburg village This is the
largest boulder, think, that has been discov-
| ed in this country; it rises up abruptly nearly
100 feet above pine plain that never knew a
harsher indigenous rock than pebble stone.
When we get to the Halfway House, q mile up
the mountain, many of us prefer to walk or
ride horseback the remainder of the ascent. 1t
is only mile and half from here to the top.
by good mountain-road which is we'll cleared
of stones but which, scorning to zig-zag round
| in search of an easy climb, takes straight,
| honest course along the bank of ravine to
the top and to the very door of the new hotel.
All the way up the road which is shut in by
thick growth, we have caught only one
glimpse of the outside world At a turn in the
road above the half way station Kiarsage
doomed into view across the intervening valley
but was soon shut out of sight. We had heard
much OF the view from the top of the noun
tain but were in no wise prepared for the Won
derfnl extent and variety of the scene. On the
eastern side towards the South lies the broad
expanse of Lake Sebago cleaning under the
summer sun with its green island apparently
! in the centre. On the nearer shore of Long
Lake Bridgton shows white with its houses
half Swallowed by the trees. Further up on
the other side we see Harrison Village at the
head of the lake and beyond, to the North,
Paris and Streaked Mountains. Almost all
Oxford county lies spread out before us.
Nearer the base is Crotched Pond, beautiful
Lake worthy sweeter name. Moose river
winds about the foot of the mountain its source
hidden behind the northern peak. The green
fields and cultivated lands are shrunken by
distance into little patches no bigger than
squares on a checker-board. The forests lakes,
and rivers seem to be almost without number
On bright day the view must be endless.
Portland can then be seen, fifty miles off,
as the crow flies. On the western
SIDE the White Mountain range in its whole
,en.'n stretches in lofty beauty across the whole
noinon' kiarsage stands in front looking
worthy OF the company into which he seems to
NC on,v"n' nearer we see the quiet CLEAN of
Lovelrs Pond and wonder what manner of men
were the heroes who fell in that 1o,v,v obt on
its banks century and half ago. Nearer to
us still are the Kezar ponds and ,,+1o a;-o,,,or
pond lying almost at the base SO snrrou',N
L