St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-08-22


before II in the morning, reaching OLE
Orchard beach at $50 same day. Thu
railroad ride through the Notch of thu
White Mountains is probably unsur
passed for grandeur on this continent
Besides, rates of fare are made very
reasonable by the railroad. Tickets art
sold for the round trip for $3.50, goot
for month. The hotels are very nu
merous at Old Orchard, and thus far arr
inclined to reasonable prices. One cal
get nassahlA annnnam.o-l~+;-----r 9
$3.50 to $3.50 per day, and by the
week from So to SIS. The great Grove
this month has had IA tendency to raist
prices somewhat and also lower the
standard of accommodations. In fac
at some of the houses it is utterly i'm
possible to serve the guests as they
probably would be served if there were
not more than half as many of them.
The beach here is called very fine fol-
surf bathing. 1t has good bottom
very gradual incline, and no undertow,
so it is said to be perfectly safe. DR.
Peck remarked to the writer that one
charm of this beach to him was the per,
feet security he felt about his children
The freedom and joy of the many chill
dren playing in the clean white sand,
or wading in the little cove in front OF
the hotels, or padding the boats about
in this land-lOcked portion of the sea is
one of the pleasantest sights at the
beach.
The two largest and best hotels are
the Old Orchard House and the Ocean
House. These are located on bluff
overlooking the sea and about a third
of a mile from it. They are both fine
houses, the former charging $4 a day
and the latter about $3.50. There are
six or eight good-sized hotels down
upon the beach, very near together.
Among these are the Fiske, Seashore,
st. Cloud, Blanchard, Lawrence, Bel
mont, etc. These are more convenient
for bathers, and more desirable for
those who have nothing to do but sit
on the piazzas and watch the surf, or
stroll upon the sandy beach, and there
is not much else one can do, as there is
no village, no drives, "nO nothing
about this beach save the ocean,
the public houses and a good camp
ground some half mile away. The
better hotels have the advantage
of high and dry soil and good drainage.
The lack of all drainage and other sani-
tary precautions among at least some of
the hotels on the beach would breed a
pestilence in Vermont.
The spectacle on the beach from ten
to twelve o'clock each pleasant day is
once seen never to be for
gotten. The bathers put on their varied
suits and skip out on the beach singly,
in pairs and in squads. The common
way Is for two or more TO take hold of
hands and wade in up to the armpits,
out beyond the place where the waves
break, and then as the large waves
come in, spring up enough to keep the
head above water while the waves
sweep past and over them. At times
these waves are SO high and strong as
to require a good deal of effort to with
stand them. 1t is at such times that the
sport is most exciting.
The drawback to ocean bathing is the
GOODNESS of the water and the tedious
effort to get the wet garments off and
the dry ones on in little dark and wet
cupboard, by courtesy termed bath
house. Unless this is done speedily re-
action is not obtained and the bather is
cold and blue for the rest of the dav,
and the bath probably of positive in
jury. Various expedients are adopted
to secure reaction some come out of
the water and run on the beach; some
bury their feet and limbs in the hot
sand, and some resort to stimulants. 1t
is most grotesque and comical sight
to see hundred or two Enthusiastically
dressed figures jumping and splashing
IN the water, with the female portion at
least screaming every time wave
breaks over them. But the bathers say
there is no fun like it, and some timid
and rather frail ladies take their surf
bath as regularly as the day comes, and
grow strong under this heroic treat
ment. While surf bathing is all there
is at Old Orchard,
PEAKS ISLAND
gives variety of entertainment. This
island is in Portland harbOr, but a few
minutes sail from the city, and as boats
are going many times day, is easily
accessible. There are a few small no.
tells, and many cottages and tents on
the island. 1t is favorite resort for
people, especially from your vicinity,
where they can get to a quiet retreat,
with good air, good fishing fine sea
views, boating, etc. A party of four
teen st. Johnsbury people from Old
Orchard visited the island last Friday,
and joyful day was spent with the
large number of Caledonia people who
were temporarily stopping there.
Peaks is a vastly superior place to
Old Orchard, except as one values surf
bathing, there being none of that at
the island. To offset that, it has green
grass, groves, pleasant rambles, with
rocky points where the ocean views
must be very grand when there is a