New-York tribune., 1874-09-07
MOUNT DESERT.
AN IysIuAR SUMMER RESORT.

WITH EffEMlNAC1s
lFRoM AN OCC AsIoNAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TR1BUSB
BAR HARBoR, MOUNT DESERT, Me-, Aug. TO-
Mount Desert has become q general Summer resort
only within few years notably during the last eight
or ten 1t Is not as the name would indicate single
mountain but mountainous island, Is miles long ana
IA wide, on tho coast OF Maine. forming portion OF
Hancock County In all probability IL was once part OF
the mainland from which 1t is divided but by narrow
strip of water bridge connecting 1t Herewith and
rendering it accessible by stage or carriage-a great
desideratum to persons susceptible OF seasickness'
THE LAND AND WATER ROUTES.
Tn Frenchman's Bay ITO miles northeast OF Portland
Desert is reached by steamboat running regularly from
that city during the season. or by pleasant drive OF
some 80 miles from Bangor Each route has It's special
attractions the former outweighng the latter with
those having no for physical or mental apprehen
sion of the From the mouth OF Penobscot River
the sail on clear day lat everything depends on
clear day, is extremely enjoyable account of the
islands large and small varied in structure and pre-
sentation which you pass and wind In among. The
sunlight ransfgures them changing thelr appearances
and color as you them at different angles aEe dler
emf distances One might think that the Atlantic along
the Maine coast had caught terrestrial fever ana
broken out in a rash OF picturesque Islands, so pro-
fusey scattered are they from GoudsbOrough Harbor
to Penobscot Bay. They are delightful Introduction
to Desert ITSELF literally paving the way to It's pictorial
intimacy
The aland Journey pleasurable too, the road from
Bangor lying through diversified region, ana being
lust about long enough to escape wearness III Dest
however to go way and return the 0ther There is
little difference In time, and then you have the inter
mixture of travel by rail- stage and boat without tirng
of either Always provided you arc impervous to ma
rne maadies for which, sufferers say. there are no or
dinary eompensations The inexperienced, 1t Is as
serted have no conception of the horrors OF the disease
which is represented as painless pain that surpasses
any form OF pain; which, while 1t lasts. renders lire IN
sunnorable and the idea Of death bssul TO be
allied. have known hundreds of wonderland men
also-who though ceaselessy longing for the Ola
World could not the courage-it needed TO be
heroic in their case-o endure the corporal erros OF
the deem They have told me that If Paradise lay be-
vond the sea- and Purgatory In the Republic. they
woud prefer to remain here forever TO undergoing the
agony OF abdominal anarchy to which they must iney-
itaby be subjected.
HISTORY AND SCENERY
Desert like every part of gland. has an inter
estng history. As early 1909 the French planted
colony and established a mission this island. One
OF IFS early residents Nicholas dAuor q priest,
whom De Monts, French adyenurer Cue had obtained
from Henry w. a charter for half the Atlantic coast
south from Cape BretOn), landed in this vicinity IN
obedience to his request while sailing westward. his
curiosity to explore the island was rewarded WIN
starvation. For than fortnight he lived on roots
and the few berries he able to nd ana would nave
pershed had he fallen in with Of the aborgnals
OF the country His inability to get anything desirable to
eat ia declared to be wise remarkable. Many SUM-
mprers even now make tho same complaint. Any such
deficiency ought remedied In more than two and
half centuries. The fact that 1t has not been woniu
seem to show some chronic derangement OF alImental
supplies. The French colony was planted near the VII
lage now known somesville. few years later
Jesuit missionaries arrived giving TO the island the
ngG O. gat, arr N Manspl.
reared cross. built fort. and were getting along COM
fortably as could expected under so
primeyal when they expelled by an expedition OF
Englishmen from the colony OF Virginia. The English
did not stay long When they had gone the Jesuits re-
turned fresh missions following them, and establishing
themselves throughout the whole neghoorhood. This
is said to have the first land discovered by the
Massachusetts, emigrants in but the earliest
manent settlement Of AngoSaxon kind was In l76l.
earliest minent settler was Abraham sones
who built house at the head OF the SOUND now chrls-
tened after him. grandson OF Abraham Is az present
the proprietor Somes House. and has beenior so
yearsan example Of rooted conservatism rarely TO be
found outside of this section
Mount is usually called by the natives Desert,
albeit the inn and keepers place the
cent as strangers do the last syllable thus relieving
the place from association with barrenness and DESC
ation that could hardly fail be preudical to its
popularity. As 1t has more merit than sterity the
urban pronunciation appears to be the tter certainly
the more deserving. So far from bearing resemblance
TO a DESERT the island is noted for the beauty and
grandeur its scenery Nearly the whole OF its sur
face is covered by granite mountains the highest OF
which, Mount Adam, Mount Green 0he latter the
general te, 1890 feet, while the others range
from 1000 to 1000 feet The altitude of Green Is d.
versey estimated Those who ascend It, have noticed,
think ofter than those who content themselves with
looking at it, while stout persons confident after
liberal estimate IL INADEQUATE,
Men Of slender build and muscular development meas
ure the mountain at the figures have given; and when
mans arithmetic and wind" agree, the former Is apt
to be correct. High up among the mountains are
dozen or more charming lakes the largest several miles
long One of the most picturesque Is Eagle Lake, be-
tween Dog and Green Mountains fully liOO feet above
the sea- The shores noted for variety and beauty
and have been sketched by artists hundreds OF
All the lakes and the streams flowing thence abound in
trout which are in active demand from innumerable
anglers in particular and the hungry haunters OF this
region in general The southeastern coast OF Desert
bordered by vast towering cliffs from 300 to 400 feet
high Great Head and Schooner Head being the most
conspicuous On the east side are the Porcupines five
high rocky islands and miles to the SOUTH open
oceaD Mount Desert k0cK inc site OF tne well known
lighthouse.
Desert overfows with landandwaterscapes Every
change Of the sky every graduation OF light, presents
them afresh. Under clouds they do not look all as
they look under the blaze Of the In the morning
they are very different from what they very
different at from what they are toward evening.
The mountains perpetually varying. Sometimes
they are cold gray hard at others they warm pur
pe soft-darkened at hour with the shadows and
bathed the next with flood Of gold Their outlines are
not abrupt but gently unduating and extremely grace.
full running, they often so down TO the very margin
Of the sea- The lakes shining like silver among the pic
torla peaks singularly attractive, while cult
waited FARMS the fragrant woods, the beetling cliff. the
pebby beaches the romantic creeks, the castelated
crags the solemn furnish irresistible temptations
10 excursions without end.
RECREATIoNs OF THE VISITORS.
Rambes and drives orses and vehicles can be had at
all tmesl here take the place OF piazza lounges and
inane dawdngs at the more fashionable resorts Boat