The Portland daily press., 1879-07-09

From Sojourner on the Coast of Maine.
A correspondent of the Gazette and Courier
of Greenfield, Mass. writes of Portland as
follows:
This city of elms by the sea has been my
pleasant home for the past few weeks, and 1
have often wished my Franklin county friends
might enjoy with me the ocean breezes daily
waited IN at my open windows. Portland is
veritable city of some thirty-five thou sand
inhabitants and of all modern improvements,
though many Western Massachusetts people
seem to think all Maine fog bank, or at most
an insignificant collection of hamlets, lakes
and woods. / have had people say to me
''You are from Maine, hear. Well. L had a
friend who moved there, perhaps you may
know him. it is Mr.. -" ''In what part
of the State does he live?" sob, 1 don't
has half dozen rivers larger than the Merri-
mac, and fifteen hundred lakes to say
nothing of the people, it needs a more definite
postotlice address to hunt up friend. But to
come back to Portland the beautiful city set
ON two hills, overlooking the lOveliest harbor
on the Atlantic coast, the most beautiful lay
on the continent, with its hundreds of islands.
Ii the summer heats get oppressive the people
resort to the islands, which already present
gay appearance with their numerous white
tents and new wooden cottages Here the
prim, starched children revel in dirty pima
fores and bare feet, amid the sand and rocks
and sea shells, gaining vigor for the next ten
months study and confinement, while the
mother can wear wrapper all day, and at
night when the father comes down from his
business he dons his flannel suit and rolls on
the grass without regard to conventionalties.
We all have touch of nature left in us that
loves to crop out once in while. There are
also stylish boarding houses ON the islands,
where all the etiquette of the city life is kept
up But the sail down the bay is after all the
greatest charm In and out, in and out through
the islands, stopping here and there at pier,
you lind yourself screwed mp into an interroga-
ton point at the new beauties presented at
every turn You pass the calm, white-robed
ship from foreign port, and gay sailing boat,
where one man makes both captain and crew,
and you wish ever to sail on in this delicious
air. There are three little steamers constantly
passing between the city and the islands. If
you prefer land trip, Is miles in the cars will
take you to Old Orchard Beach. Or, if you
prefer carriage ride, go out over Tukeys
bridge and take a turn around the rapidly
growing town of Deering, with its abundant
shade trees and palatial residences of the re-
tired Portlanders. l can compare the city and
its environs to nothing so fifty as l1alf-opened
rose bud.
The oath was celebrated here by the Free
Masons of the state, it being st. Johns day
Mr.. E. had steady Harry harnessed into
roomy, easy carriage and took us all over the
city to see the flags thrown out in honor of the
procession. We rode through street after
street where the elms met overhead. Many of
the houses were gay with flowers on balcony
and windows, the pretty fashion of window
gardens being very prevalent. State street.
with its double row of massive elms and clean
cut, green sward, was full of nicely-dressed
children, baby carriages and nurses, while
tubs of ice-water and lemonade were being
prepared for the thirsty Masons. Then we
rode down through the busy streets where the
people were thronging in to see and to hear
Presently we were driven home by the fears of
Pinafore. Then we sat in our cool, shady
windows and watched four thousand aproned
Masons and twenty-five bands pass, and were
glad that it was not us who were to go to Lit
tie Hog Island to a clam bake.
The coast of Maine is full of lovely spots for
summer resort, and the only trouble with
many of us is that it is too far away.