The Portland daily press., 1874-08-01
Old Orchard.
u ,,,.
Camping Grouad-A Romance in the
Dining Hall.

If 'damnable iteration can indelibly inn
press upon the mind of the visitor the fact
that Old Orchard beach is just ten miles long,
and is the smoothest and hardest in New Eng
land, he will never forget it, for the announce
ment stares at him from the face of numerous
posters stuck in every available place and from
the back OF nnmberless cards scattered on
every hotel and restaurant counter The beach
is fine one, and the testimony of the cards
and posters can be relied upon. Take it when
the tide is out and it stretches towards the sea
TOR many rods.
Old Orchard, in common with other summer
resorts, is suffering from the backward season.
The houses were not fairly opened until the
10th of July, and for the first week the attend
ance of visitors was very small. But now the
tide of travel has set in and most of the hotels
are reasonably we'll filled. AT the Old Orchard
House there are about three hundred guests,
and the long, pleasant piazza, fronting on the
sea and within distinct hearing of the sobbing
waves, presents an animated appearance to-
ward the close of the day.
People manage to amuse themselves without
much eXertion. The morning is devoted to
bathing. In the afternoon they play croquet
or its pretent;ous adaptation, "cEivalrie," and
saunter on the beach. Evenings are passed in
sitting on the piazza and watching the long
red wake which the moon throws on the waves
IN dancing to the music Of the band, in anna
teur theatricals ON the neat little stage which
Mr.. Staples has put up at the further end of
the great hall, or in surrepttious fiirtations in
the shades of Fern Park.
The houses close on the beach comm and q
large share of patronage because Of their fav-
orable location. Prominent among these is the
Orchard Beach House, cosy, home like place,
situated on the very edge of the sand drives
Its large, pleasant rooms, nice appointments,
fine table and reasonable rates, commend it to
the attention of visitors. Beyond it at Ferry
Beach, is the large, admirably located and fine
Iy furnished Bay View House. Altogether
away from the noise and hustle of the railway
station and the restaurants, commanding an
unsurpassed view of the ocean, its many at
fractions make it famous resort.
The majority of visitors at the beach this
year are Canadians, there being but little SUM-
mer travel in the states Several ha5itues are
registered at the Old orchard House, however.
Among them are Hon. Lyman Tremain and
family of New York, Judge Ira Eastman of
New Hampshire, Prof Church o. West Point,
Mr.. Charles Sheldon and family of Rutland
VT, Rev. E. H. Chaplin, Rev. j. M C. Blaney
of Albany, N. Y, W. W. Hill of Boston, Geo.
I. Stoddard and family of Boston. Among
the Canadians are Sheriff Thompson and FAM
lily OF Ontario, S. ID. Woodruff and family of
ST. GATHERINGS, and Henry Themes and family
of Montreal.
LIE great event of the season, and one looked
forward to with much interest, is the national
camp meeting which meets August 10Th. Very
extensive arrangements are being made, and
larger number of people are expected to gather
Gu the grounds during the ten days session
than were ever before assembled in Maine.
The grounds have been much beautifed and
improved since last year, and the spot is now
one OF the prettiest in the whole country.
Twenty-Five cottages have been put up this
summer, and there are now about fifty build
ings on the grounds. These buildings are all
supplied with water from the great tank on
the brow OF the hill. New streets have been
laid out and graded and convenient walks made
to the station and beach. a
The camp ground is now quite village. 1t
has its grocery and furnishing stores, and
Reeds large and excellent boarding house
furnishes facilities for those who do not care to
do their own kitchen work. There are now
about forty families living on the ground, the
majority Of them having been there some
weeks. Several new cottages are going up and
will be ready for occupancy by the 18th.
The great tabernacle, capable of holding
5000 people, has arrived and will be pitched
next week. Thursday Rev. DR.. MDonad, ed
itor of the ''Guide to Holiness" and Rev. Mr..
Inskipp of Philadelphia, visited the place in
behalf of the National Association, to make
the final arrangements. Some of the most en-
inent dvnes of the denomination are to be
present, and large and enthusiastic meetings
are anticipated. The speaking platform has
been greatly improved and bell of good size
and tone placed in its turret.
Old Orchard is busying itself over romance.
The son of wealthy Boston merchant has
been at the sea shore several weeks, and during
that time, it is said. has contrived to fall deep
ly in love with very pretty, modest and intel
ligent waiter girl atone of the beach houses.
The affair is said to be settled, and marriage
is on the cards. The mat ter creates much in
terest. and the handsome couple attract the at
tention of all.