Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-08-17
WHITE MOCNTAIN NOTES.
Editorial Correspondence OF The Star.
MCMILLAN House.

0etting considerable dement, last year from
some pedestrian experiencesin this mountain
region, am here again, on the same errand
accompanied by q couple OF DR.. Welling's
college boys who need little roughing It OF
this kind for their physical good. We shall
make this beautiful village our base, ard
from here shall probably make two or three
pedestrian circuits; taking In the White
Mountains, the Francorta range, and tue
Lake country OF New Hampshire.
EQUIPMENT.
Leaving our valises with extra clothing
here, we shall start out In light marching
order, equipped with rubber satcheIs
strapped to go over the shoulder and which
ia ke the place OF the heavier and clumsIer
knapsack. This style OF satchel, procured
In Boston, is large enough TO hold spare
suit, toilet articles, and a hook or two, aud
is all that is needed, unless one proposes to
camp out in the wilderness, or to make An
extended trip without base of supplies.
Or course the first requisite in pedestrianiz-
Ing Is to have strong, serviceable, well fitting
shoes, but they need not, for our climate, De
SO very clumsy and stiff as are some of the
styles Of English walking shoes that have
come into fashion in Ills country Of late.
Last year met party of Harvard boys on
walking trip here, and one OF them who
had tortured his feet In pair of the most
approved English ''Waulken- fast" shoes
until he scarcely knew which leg to limp on,
was glad TO discard them for ordinary we'll
made Congress CATERS, and was surprised to
find that the latter, through the elasticity at
the ankles and the general adaptation of the
shoe TO the movements OF the foot Ia noun
tain climbing, was the just the thing for the
service, and also lasted very we'll. Our shoes
are an American improvement upon the
English walking shoes, now made In New
the English pattern. We are provided with
gray flannel shirts with rolling collars for
ordinary use; with linen shirt, collars and
we are forced to stop at q fashionable hotel
For 1t Is part OF our plan TO make the
excursion as inexpensive as may be, aud to
establish the fact, II possible, that health
ful, varied, interesting, aud quite extensive
trip through the Switzerland of America
may be made within the limits OF the aver
age college boys vacation pocket money.
NC MILLAN's.
Partly because McMillans is not OF the
high priced order that only shoddy men can
afford to patronize. but q good deal because
last year found the fare and home comfort
here rather exceptional in these days, am
here now. The house Is one OF the cosy, un-
pretentious, picturesquely attractive places
OF cheer for the traveller that Dickens would
have delighted to paint. A part of the build
Ing Is more than century old, and the place
has been kept as hotel by three generations
years ago when the trade and travel OF Yer
mont all came past here to Portland, NJ lame,
Like the Scotch Crawfords, who settled
above in the Notch, the Scotch Irish McMil-
lans must have been remarkable specimens
OF superb manhood. John Mcmillan, the
present landlord and representative of the
family. stands six feet two inches In his
stockings; has, though past his prime, an
eye Ike an eagle; and, without an ounce of
superfious flesh. has the muscular develop
ment OF an athlete. Like most men Of ex-
has the good temper OF perfect health, but is
SAID 10 be terrific when moved to righteous
anger. Anyhow he is held In grea: esteem
In al this part OF the country, aud could go
10 Congress or be made q judge IL he wanted
TO. he is wealthy, for this part OF the coun-
Try, but continues 10 act as landlord, for The
Oily and sensibly declines all the advice
heaped upon him to build q big modern hotel
70 take the place OF his present comfortable
medium-siZed establishment, surrOun fed by
spacious natural lawns, shaded by dozel
OF the most magnificent old trees (elms) tn At
hotel property was ever endowed with. IL
landlords will not die out; and also that the
Dan Stewart style OF unjeweled, ooliging
hotel clerks may be perpetuated. But tue
hope is probably vain one.
NORTH CONWAY,
seated on Its elevated terrace, above the
charming meadows OF the Saco, and situa-
ted at the best focal point for the view OF
Mount Washington and his Olympian
neighbOrs, continues to be the chief resort
and main headquarters Of pleasure and
health seekers, tourists, and artists, In the
mountain regions 1t reminds one OF Sara
toga In the number OF its charming cottage
boarding places, where family parties ind q
good deal OF solid comfort and enjoyment at
e moderate cost OF from IS TO $40 per week.
There are also several comfortable hot els,
like the Mcmillan House, where the rates
are nom $3.50 to SO per day, and from $40 to
Kiarsage House, with accommodations for
800 guests, and charging "a per day. But the
dull times are striking ali these big, high-
priced mountain houses; and while here at
North Conway, the boarding houses and
medium cost hotels are fairly full, the kiar-
sage House, with ell Its costly appurten-
seems comparatively deserted, with less
than q hundred guests scattered thinly
through Its spacious parlors and hundre Is OF
iSe iact inns SERVES 70 iTTiner
that the flush times of the shoddy people VINO
could afford to pay extravagant hotel charges
are past, and the hotel men must take in sail
accordingly, or 60 under.
UP KIARsAGE.
To break In our walking shoes and by way
OF preliminary training for more serious Pc
destrian work, we walked to and up Mount
Kiarsage on Saturday. The mountain is
three miles from McMillan's, and the ascent
is three more. Our way to the mountaia
was along one Of the charming country
roads Astounding hereabouts, bordered on
one slue Dy Tree sndu0u, pSlluclu Dr00K,
and on the other by q succession of cottage
residences, mainly boarding houses, judging
by the groups on the elm shaded lawns; tue
click of croQuet balls, and the why Jingle OF
much banged pianos. kiarsage has the true
mountain form, that Of u sharp symmetrical
cone, and on account OF It's smooth lodges aud
steep ascent affords pretty good test for the
muscular and breathing powers OF the climb
er. We, however, rejected with proper dignity
the hint Of the granger who keeps saddle
horses at the base OF the mountain, that we
hardly looked equal to the severe asceat on
30 warm q day without the aid OF q guide
(S2) and three Of his unrivaled, sure footed
sofI-shod horses, (s2 each.) We found the
path SO distinct except at few points over
lodges, that guide would have been per-
fectly absurd encumbrance; and the climb,
though rather fatigutng under the hot sun,
only served 70 give the proper appetite for
the plain, substantial dollar dinner OBJ.
tanned at tho small house on the summit. l
might add that We stopped occasionally to
pick blueberness OF which there was an
astoulshiLg profusion, Of the plumpast aud
finest favor, covering acre upon acre. One
third Of the way up = view Of great beauty
Is afforded ct point called Prospect Ledge,
overlooking an extensive area OF the rich
saco Valley and the various pretty villages
that line the baco. Near by, In the upper
part OF tie Conway intervale, was seen the