Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-11-04

and long shall we remember II; the early morn
ing ride down China Neck, along the cleaning
| lake under the elms of East Vassslboro, while
the bright sunshine, the pure cool air, the sing
ing birds, and even "the widowed flower that
simply blows" added to the charm of journey
through new surroundings and interesting scenery.
| We stopped at little house by the roadside, gray
with time aud weather stains, but bright with
blooming flowers, and knocked at the door, in-
| tending to ask to see the sea-shes and foreign
cuiiostes collected by Captain Macy on his voy-
ages, and now owned by bis daughters, but there
was nobody at home, except pretty white kitten
and demure maltese cat who sat washing their
faces on the doorstep; so we had TO mark that
collection off mental lists Of sights 10 be
that day. On travelled over road good as
our pixies n the west, half expecting to come TO
a toll gate where we must paw nickle for the
privilege of riding such smooth hard roads;
through whispering groves of pines and between
wall. of birch trees; catching glimpses of bright
clear lakes with evergreen islands in them, and of
steep sloping hsides set thickly with spruces
and frs, their dark-grecn pointed tops rising in
irregular tiers. one above another
We met several travellers, but not man on
two horses-commou sights on the road with us.
| Neither did we see a single farm wagon. The
most familiar sight Oh the roads leading into one
of our western towns is a two-horse wagon, loaded
with yellow corn, some other product of the
| farm. On the high spring seat is the farmer, and
often his wife sits beside him, holding the young
est child in her arms while three four older
children cuddle in the hay at her feet. If the
weather Is cold, the children are bundled up
that see little of them but their bright
ewes peerng above the edge Of the wagon bed and
the mother wears little red shawl pinned over
her head or white nubia wrapped around it, as
protection against the prairie winds. Finally we
came to a long steep hill with drinking fountain
for horses half way down its slope, and saw Au-
gusta not far off. A few minutes brought us to
the suburbs of the city, and we passed a stately
old time mansion with graceful elms and exquis-
itey smooth green turf, that looked if it might
date back to the time of the Revolution. 1t re-
minded me of the Chew mansion in Germantown,
near Philadelphia, famous for its Rev dictionary as
socatons. Another mansion similar in appear
ance and surroundings, stood on the opposite side
| of the street. They must have been residences of
Governors, at the very least, and looked worthy to
|
be cassed with the old colonial mansion house,
about which Hawthorne wove so many somber
and stately romances.
| Then we dipped into the deep, narrow valley,
which the Kennebec has worn for itself, and cross
ed the bridge, stopping at the windows to look up
and down the river, to peep at the iunumerable
logs in the stream, and to wonder how the origi-
nal owners found their property again, after
trusting them to the current. Our business er-
rands led to various shops and stores, and past
the door of the Kennebec Journal, where we long
ed to go 10 and shake hands with the impersonat-
ed essence of the paper but did not dare, being
fearful that the editor would consider call
intrusion on his valuable time and would hand us
over to the big dog the dark close. reserved for
newspaper bores and delinquent subscribers. Then
we srolled up the sloping street leading past the
Court House, meeting on the way group of
pretty girls, whose plump and rosy faces gave a
local denial to DIR. Hollands editorial about "thin
| living and thick dying" in New England Then
we visited he jail, fine stone blu ilding aud were
conducted through by the accommodating official
| in charge. We saw Scribner, the murderer of his
Children sitting moodlly in corner of bis cell,
and some poor wretches with q vacant, amess,
tired expression. walking about the main apart
ment or looking through the barred windows,
thinking, doubt, how they had missed il in life,
and perhaps longing vainy for the lost opportuni.
ties of their early years.
Then down the long shady street to the State
House We have the cspitos of nearly
twenty States, but none more handsomely situated
than that of Maine. Seen from little distance,
,rifi,
trees, aud backed by high hills, the view is fine
indeed. The high terraces either side of the
Kennebec afford admirable building sites and
picturesque locations. The view from one of
| these elevations over the city, the business part
| along the rver bank, its shady streets, bordered
with elegent residences and comfortable homes,
its stately public buildings its folds of high green
bills, and the cleaning Kennebec, is one to keep
in the picture gallery Of memory. l have q
strong attachment TO the Kennebec. 1t has exalt
ed my ideal of river. Our western rivers are
mighter in flood, but their waters are generally
coffee colored, and they leave deposits of mud
along their bars and their edges and their
banks are, with few exceptions, low and un.
picturesque. Missma Turks along them, and inds
expression. now and then, in chills and fever
Inc hennepec, thouBn narrower, Is bright and
clear; it has worn channel for ITSELF in ages
past, through a most picturesque country, and
now rolls between high hills clothed with ever
greens and fripged with birch and alder 1t was
an inspiration to see it it is pleasure to remem-
| Der it.
| We went to the Cony House for dinner and got
an excellent meal. No "thin living" there. DIR.
Holland. man who sat opposite to us at the
table, mistook the oil for the vinegar. and poured
a liberal supply of hWls d'oliye over his plate.
His expression, when he tasted it, shaded from
surprise to embarrassment, from embarrassment
to dislike from dislike to determination. He sent
his plate away. and began again, a wiser man.
We crossed the river again, and drove along
beautiful road past the Arsenal, to the Insane Hos
pita. This public building with its well ar
ranged grounds, shady drives and flower ordered
walks, presents a fine appearance. Remembering
the soothing and pleasing influences of trees and
flowers and grassy turf, we hoped that the poor
unfortuDates no looked from the barred window
above might feel vague pleasure in the view be-
fore them and be moved into forgetfulness of their
mental maladies. Although it was nearly four