Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-08-28
Editorial Correspondence.
OCEAN HOUSE,

leaving this charming place on Monday
morning, a coach ride of four or five miles,
for the sake of reaching an early train bound |
east, brought us to the Fabyan. Here we
took the cars for the Crawford House for a |
days enjoyment--and a most delightful |
treat it proved to be. Had our sojourn been |
for more than the day we could not have |
found accommodations, for scores had been |
unable to get rooms during the last few |
DAYS, so great was the rush of visitors. The |
truth is, the Crawford and the Twin Noun
tain Houses have been the most generally |
patronized this season by the best class OF
guests. The Fabyan though owned largely
by the railroad, aud thus favored in every
possible way 10y those in the interest of the
road, has this season been in large measure
taken possession of by that race which
Judge Hilton turned away from the Grand
Union, at Saratoga and it could not be ex-
pected that the more intelligent and cult
waited class of Americans would court the
association. And still another thing de-
stINtb " Dt Sdll VI bOAii Nht 4 WIN AhOuhN
tain and Crawford Houses their tables, in
variety and excellence, serving included, are
not excelled by but very few of the most
noted hotels in our large cities. The Barrons
are remarkable for this, and it proves won
derfully powerful factor in the permanent
popularity OF their houses.
A trip to Mount Willard was in the pro-
gramme for the day, and the weather fortu
uately aided our desires. There were the
towering mountain heights on either hand,
with the blue peaks rising one above the
other away to the east as far as the eye could
reach, with the broad and smiling valley
resting in the golden sunlight far, far down
below. In our judgment, among all the views
to be obtained in this mountain region there
is none to compare, in its marvellous combi-
nation of the sublime and the beautiful,
with the panorama embraced in an eastern
view from Mount Willard
The afternoon train took us to Portland,
and memorable ride it was. Ever since
the completion OF the railroad through the
Notch, we have anxiously awaited the op-
portunity to make this journey. Aud We
frankly confess that the alternate wildness
and dazzling beauty of the scenery opened
up by this wonderful enterprise has by no
means been exaggerated. Penetrating the
very heart OF this towering range OF moun-
tains, through the gate which nature has
kindly furnished, scarcely twenty feet i'll
width, the road darts off upon its eastern
course by "slabbing the rocky slope OF
Mount Wiley midway between the heavens
aud the earth, while the passengers can look
from their secure but giddy perch down
upon the tops of the tall forest hundreds Of
feet below Aud thus the iron track winds
its serpeut-like folds in aud out among the
assures of the mountains, and gradually but
OF the Saco below-filling the mind of the
beholder with the proiouDdest wonder aud
admiration in view of natures resources
aud mans invention. With the exception
OF Mount Washington railway, and possibly
something akin among the Allegheny noun
tains, there is nothing i'll this country which
equals the engineering skill OF this grand ELL
terprse and 10 New Highlander should be
satisfied unit he has seen it for himself. And
we should add, for the credit of the road,
that its managers seem to have lett no meals
unprovided which could add to the pleasure
OF the travelling public. Observation cars,
in the form of an omnibus, are provided
aud the conductors take special pains II
proclaim and describe all the points OF spe
cial interest.
Reaching Portland in the early evening
we looked for the first time upon this beau
tiiul city, which now, by means oil the Well'
River aud Portland & Ogdensburg roads
has become our next-door neighbor, and i,
destined to rapidly grow in Importance to III
in commercial point OF view. The city
containing some thirty-fve thousand lnhab
Itants, is very pleasantly situated upon /
small peninsula jutting into Casco Bay. A
the east and west extremities are high ele
vations, known respectively as Munj0y aut
Brdmhdu, with fine driveways and promen
AIDES, which command grand and extensive
views OF both its splendid harbor and tn,
surrounding country. By the kindness 0
resident friend we enjoyed fine rid
about the city and its suburbs. Befor
reaching the city we were advised to patron
found; and we most cheerfully pass th
recommendation over to all misunderstanding
tested and proved the recommend to be vel
founded.
Tuesday evening we landed at the fai
famed beach from which we write, after
ride of some thirty minutes south tror
Portland, on the Boston and Maine railroad
And what can we say of Old Orchard Beacf
the oldest and most familiarly known of a
similar resorts in the country2 Here tn
ocean takes an immense inland sweep form
ing circle in the shape of horse sho
and magnificent beach of ten or twelv
miles in extent, with Old Orchard at tn
apex, and Saco Pool and Pine Point at tn
; outer points of the circle. The beach
from four TO ten or twelve rods in width, a.
cording as the tide GIBBS or flows smoot
as house floor and white and clean as III
driven snow. Sloping gradually and evenl
t. into the ocean, and being entirely free frol
t. undertoo, no better advantages for surf bait
; ing could possibly be afforded, and probabl
no beach is so extensively patronized mort
i Of Newport. The beach forms also mo
: delightful and unbroken carriage drive
eight or ten miles in extent. In all the e.
10 ploits of the multitude of lady bathers wi
frequent the place, were we to chronicle Il
" courageous bearing of one of our Montpeli
NJ ladies, it would doubtless be held to be i
credible by the faithless Gland lubbers "
NJ home, and so we forbear. Suffice it to 81
" that the reputation of the place has not be-
= allowed to suffer.
~ The two principal hotels here are Il
Ocean House and the Old Orchard, but the
are an endless number of lesser public al
" private boarding houses. The two NAM
u and perhaps all-have been very libt
= ally patronized this season. A little inquir
u ON arriving here, induced us to follow o