The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-08-27
Lake Winnipssaukss.
BY 4. S. WEED.


The custom of spending at least part
of the hot season in some attractive re-
sort, free from the heat and dust of the
city, seems to be nearly universal. The
question being decided to go somewhere,
It is matter of no little importance
where is the best place to go; for upon
this depends the pleasure and benefit to
be derived from the change. The noun
tains or the seaside are the objects that
seem to fill the fancy with pleasant an
ticipations.7 Long journeys are often
made to look upon scenes that are far
less attractive than some that can be
visited by few hours ride in New
England. DO all lowers Of the beautiful
realize that the ''Switzerland of Amer
lea" is SO near their own door ?
1t is only few hours ride from Bos-
ton to Alton Bay. The route is through
a fine country, abounding in thriving
villages and prosperous farms. That
excellently-managed railroad, the Bos-
ton and Maine, affords every facility for
comfort and pleasure. The cars are new,
spacious, and clean. Travellers at once
feel the ease and luxury of their own
parlOrs as they seat themselves on the
soft velvet cushions.
AtAlton Bay you catch the first view
of Lake Winnipesaukee, where the fine
steamer "Mt. Washington" is waiting
to convey passengers to Wolfboro' and
Center HarbOr. Should the day be fa-
vorable, as the steamer threads its way
out of this narrow bay, view Of the
White Face may be obtained some 10
miles distant, being one of high range
of mountains by that name, bounding
Sandwich on the north. AS you emerge
from the bay into the main body of the
lake, the eye takes in u much wider
range. The Ossipee Mountains form
the background in the picture on the
right, while great variety of hills and
valleys nestle between their base and
the eastern shore of the lake. TO the
north and south is spread out, as far as
the eye can reach, the clear waters OF
Winnipesaukee, dotted with its humid
reds of islands, of all shapes and sizes,
some lifting high their cone-like heads,
while others present surface but slight
" elevated above the waters crest.
New views of lofty ranges of mountains
in the distance are constantly breaking
upon the vision; and, as the steamer
moves on, a changing scene of grandeur
and beauty appears on every hand. 1t
is difficult for the pen to describe the
varied transformations in the landscape
as seen from the lake. 1t is not strange
that even the unciviliZed red man felt
the inspiration of his Surroundings, and
named these waters t'The Smile of the
Great Spirit" Goethe has said that
nlakes are the eye of the landscape"
Men of culture and genius have looked
upon these scenes from this "eyen of
the mountains, and have poured forth
| their eulogiums with no very stinted
pen. Starr King, who for many years
! frequently visited this locality, wrote:
I ga visit to Lake Winnipesaukee, q jour
ney to the mountains, if we have been
| hemmed within city walls, or chained
/ to prOsaic landscape most of the year,
ought to be made a vacation season, a
! jubilee for the eyes, which were formed
| for free range of the spleDdors which
! the Creator has scattered over space"
| Perhaps 10 one has written with
stronger emphasis than Edward Ever
! ett. He saws, "I have been something
/ of traveller in our own country, Though
I far less than could wish, and in Eur
/ Ope have seen all that is most attract
| i've, from the highlands of Scotland to
! the Golden Horn of COnstantinople,
| from the summit of the Hartz Noun
| tains to the Fountain of Vaucluse; but
my eye has yet to rest on a lOvelier
scene than that which smiles around
you as you sail to Center Harbor." The
poetry of Whittier and Percival has
often been inspired by visits to Winni-
/ pesaukee; and with few lines from the
/ latter, we close this article:
/ ''Oh, watched by silence and the Night,
| And folded in the strong embrace
/ Ofthe great mountains, with the light
! OF sweet heavens upon thy face,
| Lake of the NOrthland, keep thy dover
OF beauty still: and, while above
! Thy solemn mountains speak of power,
! BE thou the mirror of Gods love-"