The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-07-20

Late in the afternoon the train struck the
light bank of the Androscoggin, and near six
o'clock pulled up at the Gorham station
Here twenty coaches OF more were in waiting.
and soon we We're speeding along the road to
the Glen. AT this point of the expedition sew
eral speople thought it necessary to begin to
''enthuse' Along the road, prosaic enough
for the most part they broke into exclama-
lions of delight at beauties which Were not to
be seen. One woman insisted, much to the
yexation of the driver, on covering the floor of
the coach With very ordinary pebbles. An
other stopped the horses to pluck an alder
leaf, coarsest and ugliest Of all the leaves that
grow.
A half hours ride brought US to the Glen
House, where we met with a hearty Portland
welcome. 1t was near dusk that but little
of the mountains could be seen, and we were
all too hungry to much enjoy the picturesque
1t was enough to know that we were under the
very shadow of the White Hills After sup
per the great par'or was thrown open to the
dancers, and they tripped it on the light fan
taste and all that sort of thing until after mid
night.
Next morning the first upward glance
showed the Tip Top House standing out clear
under the cloudless sky. At eight O o'clock the
coaches were Under way for the mountains.
twenty mountain wagons, to each of which
six horses were attached, took 21S persons up
the winding road about the spurs of Mt Wash
ington. This is by far the largest number of
persons ever taken up in single day, and is
NJ q faa
PARALLEL in mountain travel. The Glen House,
with reason, prides itself upon its superb line of
stages, so well in keeping with the other ad-
mreble appointments of this excellent hotel.
One hundred and twenty horses are kept in its
stables, and sufficient teams to match are
slowed away under its carriage Sheds
For the first three miles the road lies through
woods, and little is to he seem though one gets
glinpses every now and then of deep ravins
which seem to run down to the very bowels of
the earth. Shortly before reaching the Half
Way House we get above the wood line, and
the noble scene for the first time breaks
upon the view. Far above, faint line, the
road doubles upon itself, like hunted hare
To the right the three great hills crowd in upon
the sight To the left wide expanse of coun-
try, hills, lakes, woods, spreads itself out much
like gigantic copy of map in the little phys
ical Biographies one studies at school. At our
feet the Glen House, looking no larger than a
dove cote, cuddes down among the hills, with
the Carter range at its back.
We forget to be enthusiastic, and just look
and store up memories. Indeed we dou't feel
at all enrapiured, but rather confused-.'iike a
cat in strange garnet, TO use a homely
smile. The truth is, one must get acquainted
with mountains to enjoy them To win their
hearts he must be a patient and obsequlous
wooer. They are prudish things, the most APP
proachable of them. We win the sea at first
sght. She opens her arms to us at once and
takes us to her bosom-and then strangles Us
If she gets a chance. But we must make oul
a Dproaches to the mountains cautiously. The
proper way is to sit at their feet for days il
some great hostery like the Glen, and pay
silent worship, sending little clouds of incense
up to them from the native tobacco pipe. BY
and by it will do to approach them nearer, aud
finally they will give themselves up to us. Ba
they are like a prudent Woman,-no to be
carried by storm
The coaches crawl up the mountain side
and every turn just above seems the highes
pont. At first everyone is willing to testify
on oath that Madison is the higher hill. The
driver says that is because it is the sharper
peak. One wonders if we are not deceived in
ike manner in regard to the mental altitude Of
men, thinking the sharpest minds are the
highest. Soon, however, we begin to look
NJ Il
Il deep wrinkle in its face, furrowed there by
mighty landslide. The noun ain shadows are
toDpliog down upon the massed evergreens IN
the valleys, and tiny cloud or two drift low
and lazily overhead. 1t is only by
looking at the line of coaches
thousand feet above us. and the line Thousand
feet below, that we can firm auy idea of the
progress we are m liking toward the clouds.
After four hours climb we reach the Til
Top House, and swing ourselves to the ground.
Some rush to see the railway train drop itself
over the brow of the peak; some fall to gather
ing mosses one or two wander off to the CARR
Of stones which marks the spot where poo
Lizzie Bourne met her death; others seat them
selves upon the nearest pile of rock, and pas
the hour in gazing about them.
1t was surely time to 'effervesce." The
day was one that may not be seen again in fiv'
Years. The sky nearly cloudless. Tit
mercury stood at sixty. The wind was blow
ing but ten miles an hour. Far away to thu
north Katahdin stood clearly outlined agains
the sky. In the middle distance, Umbagog,
mere drop, glistened in the sun. The valley o
the Saco lay before US, and beyond it we say
Portland harbor aud the Atlantic. To the rea
the Connecticut, silver thread, wound arount
it's villages; and far behind it the green noun
tains indstnctly barred the sky. On one sid
we looked down the three presidential
mountains; the other Lafs yette shut in tn
horizon. Over this scene one ought to wa,
enthusiastic. But it is too unfamiliar. Every
thing is a botch. The inexperienced write
must either crib from Starr King or drop tn
sub ect. Let us consider it dropped.
In two hours time We were once more within
the hosptable walls of the Glen House. TIL
Messrs. Milliken have proved themselves quit
as successful hotel keepers as merchants. III
house is one of the largest and best appointe
of its class, and it's owners are constantly max
ing improvements. Only this season gas ha
been introduced at great expense Five hun
bred burners are fed, and three barrels of case
lene consumed q week.
With the return from Mt. Washington tn
NJ. L. A excursion came to an end. Some G
the excursionists returned to Pc. tland SatuI
day, and others fingered about the mountain
for day or two. 1t was the most successfr
excursion in every respect that has ever bee
out of Portland, aud the old NJ. l. A. has rea
| son to congratulate itself upon another tr
umph The thanks Of the party are certaul
| due it for the great amount of pleasure affort
| ed and the eminently courteous manner j
| which the affair was conducted.
STREET SPsINKLING.--It is said that th
streets sprinked with the salt water were yer
| comfortable yesterday, Notwithstanding tn