The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-08-16
PROSPECT HOUSE,

PROSPECT HOUSE,
BETHLEHEM, N. f., Aug. 10, 1876.
To the Editor of the Press:
For the information of those of your readers
who have never visited this place let me say
that complete circle of hills encloses the
town, and that the village, street half a mile
long composed of hotels and boarding houses,
lies at the foot of one of those hills known to
the tourist as Mt. Agassiz. The space en-
closed is from 10 to 20 miles in diameter, and
scattered about among the hills are the farms
which supply food for the many thousand
tourists who visit the hiil-country. The seen
cry is very pleasing, and to lover of nature
1t is delightful study 10 observe the charges
in light and shade produced by the sun as he
makes his circuit in the heavens.
Your correspondent at the Glen House adj
ministers deserved rebuke to those writer's
who compare the scenery of the "White Hills
of New Hampshire with the mountains OF
Switzerland. The two are as much alike as
the commotion produced by washing ones
hands in a wash bowl is like storm on the
Atlantic ocean. 1t is true that what in our
boyhood days was called "White Hills is now
by courtesy in these days of imitation called the
White Mountains; but for all that they are
only lofty hills, and very pretty hills they are
and well worth coming to see.
Beautiful for situation on the sides of the
north of Agassiz is the village of Bethlehem.
1t commands complete view of the circle of
hills, and the broad basin enclosed by them.
But our Prospect House is out on farm half
u mile from the village and faces Mt. Washing
ton and its neighbors. We see the hotel at the
top and the railway train as it creeps up the
rocky height and crawls down again.
Standing on our verandah and looking off
to the right we have the village of B. stretch
ing along the base of Agassiz, the hotals and
boarding houses, with the Methodist church in
the midst, standing out in high relief from the
hillside. Mount Lafayette looks down on US
through gap in the hills. A broad belt of
forest borders our farm and the adjoining
ones. Surrounded by all this rural beauty more
than seventy-fve guests are enjoying life as
well as we can. Here and there on the farm
are groups of trees which afford welcome
shade, and under them seats invite occupants.
The young people seek those shady places. and
very often only two at the same time-they not
of the same gender Could those trees speak
what story of heart secrets they would tell!
To those. who enjoy bowling there is an alley
on the premises for that amusement. Horses
and vehicles of various sorts are at hand for
those who wish to ride. For pedestrians there
are hundreds of acres of grass and pasture
land to walk over, dotted with wild flowers and
free from dust For children. of whom we
have dozen or 3d. this is particularly desira =
BILE location, as the house is placed we'll back
from the road and has a very large lawn in
front. on which they play presbyterian bill
liards," otherwise called croquet
Daring the day and evening whist is played
by those who enjoy it, and at night, when the
weather is not too warm, dancing is INDUCED
in, the grave mingling with the gay in this
pastime.
And then the means of grace are abundant
and varied. Sunday evening before the last
Rev. Mr.. Webster of Long Island preached in
the parlor of this house, and last Sunday even
ing we had an excellent discourse from Bishop
Cheney of the Reformed Episcopal Church AS
the evening was very warm, We had an open air
service. Chairs were placed on the lawn and
the verandah, the piano was moved up to an open
window and lectern for the Bishop was i'm
proyised on the verandah The gathering made
apicturesque sight, and the Bishops sermon was
greatly enjoyed. He will preach next Sunday
morning in the village church,
The Bishop of New Hampshire preached in
the parlor of the Sinclair house week ago Sun
day. That denomination is making an effort to
build meeting house in the village to be ready
for use next year. The Bishop of New Hamp.
shire will receive the offerings of any of your
readers. The village church will not hold a
third of the strangers who are to-day sojourn.
ing in Bethlehem and it is not fair thing for
strangers to come here and crowd the residents
out of their usual place of worship Let the
new house be built
Dropping from the sacred to the profane, let
me say that there was grand hop at the
"Sinclair" last night to which all visitors in
town were invited. Please imagine all the
pretty things Jenkins would say of the match.
less beauty of the ladies and the elegance of
their toilets. 1t was most enjoyable occasion
thanks to the proprietors
How do we fare at the Prospect house? We
have in abundance all the good things
which the farmers around us produce, and we
do not have to bride the walters to get enough
to eat Persons who come here expecting to
find such fare and such servants as they find
in hotels where they pay three or four times as
much for their board, will be disappointed, and
deservedly SO. The landlord and his family are
kind and attentive to the guests, and the un-
trained servants good natured and obliging.
Among the guests of the Prospect, are people
from half dozen states outside of New Eng
land. The army is represented by Major Rit-
tenhouse aud family, and the Navy by Rev,
DIR. Stockbridge and family. The Consul Gen
eral of Brazil has just left. A niece of S. S.
Prentiss is here. WILLIAM TELL.