The Portland daily press., 1878-08-21


The storms career and lghtning's shock
Our own green land forever"
On the noon train which leaves Portland on
Monday. Aug 4th on the Maine Central rail-
road, we find many pleasure seekers from
Massachusetts, and States beyond who had left
Boston after the usual breakfast hour and who
will next lodge at Pennington or Phillips.
They are people of diverse tastes, but all have
the same objects in view-rest and pleasure.
a large proportion are natural sportsmep, who
are showing and describing the merits of their
guns and fishing gear, and talking enthusiast
tically of their favorits sport, describing their
peculiar manner Of securing an eight pound
spotted trout after he is hooked, or the process
of shooting the largest number from lock of
wild pigeons. Some veterans are describing to
sentimental novices the best mountain and
lake views. A. home some are business men
clerks aud saesmen-perhaps originally from
Maine; some who yesterday ministered at the
altar and preached the gospel OF the Master, who
said to Peter and Andrew on the lake of Gen.
eseret fellow me and will make you fishers
OF men," A part of our company are fishers
of men In another sense. They cast the glded
bait before the inexperienced of the cities, who
hesitatingly take it and are hopelessly bagged.
The largest number are bound to the Ringeley
Lakes, the Adirondack region of Maine,
"With rod and line and flies,
To catch the little fishes"
Some care nothing for this exciting sport. but
like the trout, after he is cooked-of this class
is the writer These are going to visi. the
''forest primeval," and to see the lakes, rivers
49, -. ~ :as.-
few have taken their wives or sisters with
them, having spied out the land last season.
The scenery as seen from the cars is fine on
nearly the whole route from Portland. After
crossing the PresumpscOt at West Falmouth,
the first noticeable landscape is at New
Gloucester. The fertile intervales on Royals
river, with the village set on hill at the west,
are remarkable for their beauty. In 1912 the
first settlers of the town pOled their RATS con-
tanning all their household goods up this river
from North Yarmouth, where they mad arrived
in vessel from ola Gloucester, Cape Ann.
At Danville Junction we meet the Grand
Trunk train and receive their way passengers.
From here to the Little AndroscOggin the rail-
road skirts the shores of small ponds, whose
CLASSY surface is dotted with water lilies.
Next we come to Auburn with its great shoe
factories. The railroad bridge over the Andres
cogein, at this point, is on the top of the falls,
giving all fine view up and down the river.
On the opposite shore is Lewiston, the spindle
town of Maine. Greene" comes next and is
very properly named; then Leeds, an extern
sve township, at least the number of stations
bearing its name SO indicates. At North
Leeds we obtain the first near view of the
mountains. The two stations in Livermore
call to mind that it is the home of the Wash
burns. Here we cross the river again and see
the sparkling water hurrying over Livermore
falls to be at Lewiston bright aid early to
assist in turning the immense water wheels,
aud then on to meet the tide at Merrymeeting
Bay. Jay iptervales show well grown crops.
At North Jay are seen long slabs of granite,
riven as with saw, showing no hammer dress
ing, but as straight and nearly as thin as
wooden splank. They are seen at Pennington
used for curbstones
AT Wilton we see a large field of RE in
shocks. A lady leaves the cars whose path is
across this field; she meets q gentleman who
greefs her with kiss, reminding US of Burns
song "Coming through the Rye" Here we
notice the first cedars, In their native woods;
the tree 80 much used for timber. shingles, tele-
graph and fence posts, and with US as an orna-
mental tree.
At 81 o'clock the train sweeps slowly over
the curved trestle which crosses the broad inter
vale at Pennington, and comes to a stop at the
station, performing the same movement of a
vessel rounding-to, to anchor, and one natur-
ally expects to hear the Tapping of the sails,
the splash Of the anchor, and the running out
OF the chain. As this doubling of the track
indicates, this is the end of the railroad. At
the station we find the stage coach of other,
days, ready 70 stow the baggage for an eighteen
mile ride to Phillips, after supper. We are
now SO lmiles from Portland, and we conclude
to stop over one day to rest and look over the
town. To accomplish this we take the sStod-
d "a! House" coach to that comfortable. home
Pennington is the shiretown of Franklin
county, and ia famed for the beauty of its Sit
uation and its fine public buildings. The West
ern State Normal School is located here and is
in furnishing condition.
The best building in the county, is said to be
"The Willows" school, now closed for the
want of patronage, caused by the numerous
and excellent free High schools of the state,
Opposite is a row of six large willows, which
gave the school its name. The building is
noble monument to private enterprise. At the
other end OF the village is the "Little Blue
entire region of Pennington has an air of
thrift. "Powderhouse hilp' is grim sentinel
overlooking the village, from which can be seen
an unsurpassed landscape. This hill was so
named from the town magazine, which was
built on its summit. Previous to the separa-
tion of Maine from Massachusetts, every town
was compelled by law to keep certain quanti-
ty OF powder, balls, fints and camp kettles,
ready for use, which were annually inspected
by an officer.
After days stay at the Stoddard House,
kept by Mr.. J. d. Marble (who is by no means
statue, as his name indicates), we left at 6
O'Clock P M /, in Clark & Sons stage for Phil
lips Tho coach is of the Concord pattern,
roomy and comfortable. When ready to start
there were eight passengers inside, and five on
the outside, two of whom were ladies from
New Jersey, who rode there from choice. Ell
lis gives the word to his spanking black team
and away we 60 over the smooth but billy road. e.
know of no pleasanter public conveyance
than the traditional stage coach, with a cOmpa-
ny who have become acquainted-a good team
and careful driver. Our route was up the bank
of the Sandy river on which Pennington is sit
usted. The farms along this river are unsur-
passed by any ia the interior of the State, and
the route to Phillips is one of continually
changing beauty. Sandy river is tributary
Of the Kenpebec which it enters at "Indian
Old Point" Norridgewock, the site of the IT,
dian village which was destroyed by the colo
nists in 1912. The Rangely lake region was a
part of their hunting and fishing grounds-it
was reached from their home by the Sandy
river, and Father Rasle, their Jesuit mission
ary for forty years, has undoubtedly often cast
his line into its clear waters, and read the YES |
per service in their birch bark wigwams at |
Indian rock in the fishing season. His hand |
book of worship, soiled by daily use, and con- I
aiming notes on the fly leaves, In his own hand
writing, is now the property of the Portland |
tuoilc Library. His romantic history, and |
ieath at the foot of the cross, erected by his |
)Wn hands in the centre of the VILLAGE has