The Portland daily press., 1878-08-13
Portland as a summer Resort.

Portland as a Summer Resort.
To the Editor of the Press:
That Portland with her,fine residences, grand
old forest trees emitting her to the appellation
OF Forest City. and when clad in her summer
holiday dress Of foliage and flowers in connec-
tion with the enyirons and fla scenery on ev-
cry side, is the most charming and delightful
city on this continent, requires but observation
TO confirm. The natural elevation of the city,
and being in the form of a crescent, with the
extremes many feet above the ocean, make it
sngularly charming and picturesque. Bram-
liall and MuDioy hills, as nature left them, add
much to the charms OF Portland, but the work
of the city engineer, rem owing the buttresses
which support the latter, has not been an i'm
provement, but rather despoils it of its beauty
snd grandeur. The approach to the city by
sea or land, no matter from what point of the
compass, is very pleasing and even fascn ,iing.
Portland, located SO near the ocean, with the
many and fine shade trees, which line the
streets, is always cool and comfortable, in the
Extreme heat of summer,-and that it is the
most healthy. city in the country, its nat
elevation and position would indicate, and
The health statistics most conclusively prove.
There are many fine drives in every direction
about our city and the many beautiful sails to
the Islands down the bay, make Portland a
great attraction to strangers; and it would bs
much more SO if our own paople fully appre.
ciated all that is interesting and attractive in
and about the city, and directed the attention
If visitors to the same. -.,.
Ihave said that Portland with the surround
ings, was the most charming city on this conti-
nent, and yet nine -tenths of our own people do
not appreciate this fact. Strangers who visit
Portland, and compare it with other cities and
l,laces of interest to tourists in this country
and Europe, fully estimate its beauty.
III Portland with its suburbs, fine landscapes,
magnificent bay, near watering-places, short
distance from Old Orchard Beach, (not excelled
on the Atlantic coast) and one hours ride from
Lake Sebago, one of the finest bodies of fresh
water on earth,-with unsurpassed scenery
surrounding it, aud within four hours ride of
the White Mountains and the Notch-if Port
land with these attractions was on the other
side of the Atlantic there is not an intelligent
man in this country, who would not be happy
10 visit it. and he would dwell long in thought
and conversation, upon what is daily before our
own people unnotced.
One fine evening not long since, invited
stranger to walk with me on the Western
Promenade. He was delighted with the fine
landscape spread out before him, the cool
healthy breeze of the evening, but expressed
great surprise that so few Portland people were
present to view the gorgeous setting sun and
witness the closing hours of day-almost
opening to mental vision the gates of Paradise.
Some years since party of ladies and gen.
tlemen, travelling in Europe, visited Constan-
iinople. OF course the Golden Horn" was
the first object of interest or attraction its
beauty, magnifcence and royal splendor had
been the theme of all visitors for ages They
wers entranced with the fairy scene presented
before them, fine villas, beautiful gardens mag
niicent palaces Each one expressed wonder
and delight. But there was one of the gentle
men who was not so much in ecstasies over the
''Golden Horn," whether seen by day night,
as his fellow travellers who were surprised
when he remarked to them that he had seen in
the U United States. what was far more interest
ing to him, and far more beautiful, than ''the
Golden Horn" AS some of the party Aere Amer
leans, and from Boston, they eagerly inquired
for the locality of anything that exceeded the
Golden Horn" for royal beauty and splendor
The reply was Immediately made, 'Portland
Maine." us it possible?' asked the Boston
gentleman, who had never visited Portland.
YES" was the reply of the speaker, who was
German. portland embowered in fine old
forest trees, with its magnificent bay, bearing
on its broad bosom SO many lovely islands, and
the beautiful landscape which surrounds the
eity on every side, far exceeds "The Golden
Horn" in beauty. Ga their return home these
Boston gentlemen visited Portland and fully
confirmed what the German had said in praise
of our city.
The beauty of the bay of Naples has been
told in prose and song from the earliest times.
Let the stranger who has visited Naples go on
to the Eastern Promenade in this city at the
rising of the sun in clear, calm summer
~ q pd ha mil ho oad H.,
spread out before him. Looking out upon
Casco Bay and the beautiful verdure covered
Islands, with their primitive forests and green
helds, which rest upon its bosom, he will say
1bat It is the most charming panorama which
can be seen not only in this country but in all
Europe. The scenery all about him will be of
unsurpassed beauty and lovelness.
Let him visit the Western Promenade at the
close of some beautiful day, when few feecy
clouds gather in the western horizon and be-
come gorgeous with the rays of the setting SUM-
What Landscape spreads out before him! First
fine sheet of water at his feet, beautiful
forest on its borders, then green fields, villages
and church spires, and farther in the back
ground "the everlasting hills" and last the
grand old mountains, Mount Washington, the
monarch of all, towering in his majesty and
grandeur above the clouds, and all crowned
with the gorgeous rays of the setting Gun, form
ing picture OF unsurpassed beauty and splen-
dor wien once seen never to be forgotten.
Let the stranger visit the Observatory in a
clear calm day (but few of our people have
been there) and with "the glass;" look out
upon the grand panorama that spreads out |
around our city; nowhere can the eye rest upon |
ANYTHING to mar or disfgure the picture.
Nature has done much for Portland
Ii the remarks above are correct in regard to
Portland, why should our people ask for
park, and more especially when the two most
lovely spots within the city borders, municipal
property, the Eastern and Western Prone
nades, lie waste and unimproved? 1t would
not cost much TO make these Promepades more
inviting to our own people, and strangers
would lind them unsurpassed for attraction to |
any locality in this country. If our city would |
exoend but small sum in grading the West |
ern Promenade in planting forest trees and |
flowers, and make the same Improvements on |
the Eastern Promenade, after repairing the |
street which winds around the hill, now in a |
miserable state of neglect, disgrace to our |
city, IL would lead our people in the summer |
evenings to those places for walks and rides, |
add to the health of the CITY, and Grsw mapy |
from questionable places of amusement.
1t may be objected that the city cannot afford |
TO appropriate money for what is not absolutely |
necessary.
How long would the utility of this expendi-
ture be questioned in any city in this couptrv
possessing The natural beauty and loyeliness
OF Portland? Only these two spots neglected
The most necessary to improve, to crown all
that Is enchantlng-withiDg the city Dor rders!
value to our people, and as an additional in
ducement TO bring strangers here? H.
PORTLAND, July 81, 1878.
since writing tue above | notice that our
most worthy Mayor, who laborS so efficiently
10 promote the interests of Portland, has