Daily Kennebec journal., 1875-09-22
- " 4ffGO1N RINE..

SHELBrRSE, y. H., Sept. l1th, 1879.
Nv easy rides. We have reached this far into tie
interior. The broad and beautiful irtcrvaIes nat
lie .ong the Andtoscoggin as II Winds through
the town of Bethel, connected as they are with
fine farm, and the appropriate buildings, and sur-
rounded on every side by mountain scenery, never
showed to better advantage than they did on this
occasion. Though far into September the yerdare
is as bright and fresh as in June. The haTesteIs
were busy gathering in the fruits of their seasons
labois Bethel village, though seen so often be-
fore, impressed us anew with its beauty of situa-
ton and surroundings. The forests and hill sides
are as green as in summer, save here and there a
rare and exceptional shrub or branch, exhibiting
signs of coming autumn. The waysdc flowers
are in full bloom and luxurisnee, and the fragrant
perfume waited on the air all along the forest
roads as we sped on our way, combined with the
freshness and purity of the air itself, to charm and
captvate.
West Bethel is small but growing village
where the manufacture N oflumbcr is carried on to
considerable and increasing extent. 1t hes ui-
rectly on the line of the Grand Trunk railway
and in fact this railway is in close and somewhat
annoying prox unity to the route we nave Deeh
travelling from Bethel up the Androscoggin.
Although our horses are far from being skittisi'
vet VIC would willingly dispense with the thunder
ing of the frequent trains and the scream OF me
locomotive alongside of our way. The 1iand
Trunk ought to be prospering, with its numerous
and heavy freight as well as passenger trains.
Glcad is the border town in Maine, and lying
along on both banks Of the Androscoggin, shut in
by mountains and wooded hills on both sides OF
the river, leaving but limited space for cultya-
ton. vet it shows marks Of thrift and prosperity
The scenery on either bank is diversified and
picturesque IIelc and thelo the hill slopes re-
cede from the river, leaving broad meadows and
fields for cultivation whilst further on the woody
or rocky heights advance near as to permit little
but the roadway between them and the channel
of the winding stream. Following the torsuous
road we cross lid river bridge, which spans the
rocky bed of rushing stream coming in from the
wild hills and forests to swell the waters of the
Androscoggin.
Passing the stone monument that marks the
boundary line between Maine and New Hamp-
shire we enter the town Of Shelburne, the scenery
of interyale, river and mountain heights being
very similar TO t1at OF Gliedu fIHaSS!
where VIC are stopping, consists of some dozen Oh
more scattering farm houses, with couple OF
small stores, depot, hotel ard boarding house
for city boarders. The hotel and boarding house
are the most pretentious buildings. and both have
been well filed with city people the prcseLt sea
son, of whom a dozen or more are still here.
Their homes are in Boston, New York, Detroit,
etc. Some of Them arc very pleasant and inlelii-
gent people. Besides the buildings we have men,
toned, there is school house Of modern cons!ruc-
ton, with Boston seats and benches, and all need
full appliances yet apparently neglected, and left
| open and exposed to storms and ntruders. There
| is also what remains of a meeting house, IN the
style of twenty years ago. built Of good lumber
and pretty well constructed and arranged ystwith
almost every pane of glass broken out, sashes,
doors and pews out of rerair, ciapboards partly
stripped Of and the whole rendered unfit for use,
sad index to the habits of the neigEborhoed.