The Portland daily press., 1879-07-01
Our Paris Letter.
PARIS, Maine, 20 June.


fashio nable gayeties; and for the benefit of our
lady readers few details of Parisan costumes
may be noted; as that the clouds wore evening
toilettes of rose and gold trimmed with bout
fant draperies of gauzy white; that young
birch wore distinguished costume of tightly
fitted white satin; and q squirrel was notably
elegant in a promenade costume of striped
gray, with long train which she managed
with great address as she ran along fence
rail. Concerts, like the language of truthful
James" are frequent and free''-for each
shady, thick-leaved pine and hemlock is the
home of thrush or bobolnk, and every bush
has its bird. 1t is easy to fancy that the ferns
are dancers, poised easily on one foot; the rocks
sparkle with mica like the scenes of a brilliant
,burlesque, and there is no contortionist like
your old apple-tree. Paris is full of apple-trees
Perhaps, after all, the town did not take its
name from the French capital, but from some
lover of olden fable, who deemed that when
the young Paris judged between the three god
desses, he met them ON hill as high and fair
as this one; where, too, he had not far to look
for the apple given to Venus. And thus 1t
may be this lovely height was named Paris Hill.
Or, to descend to sober probabilities, it NAV
have been named in honor of A. X. Paris.
whose old residence stands upon the main
street of the village, pleasantly shaded by fine
trees; and whose prominence is attested by the
numbers of Maine men of whom the surname
follows the initials A. X. P. The roads around
Paris are exceedingly picturesque and pleas
ant. The ground is hilly, but the roads are
well kept, and the soil is favorable for good
smooth road-making. North Paris, West Par
is, South Paris, Norway and Oxford afford
agreeable drives, varying in scenery and in
length. There are several pleasant boarding
houses in the village; at either of which the
traveller might look with confidence for COM
Portable board and lodging. Among these, the
Hubbard House may be cordially recommended,
for such fresh, airy rooms, delicate cleanliness,
and kind and courteous attention are delight
full to encounter. Good horses-used to the
uphill and down of which the roads
consistency be hired of Mr.. Tufts, near the
hotel. He is also a careful and accommodating
driver; and knows how to select pleasant roads
from which fine views may be enjoyed by par
ties in his care. Add to all this, that hotel
charges and hire of horses are very moderate
and the seeker for quiet and pleasant place
in which to pass the summer vacation will be-
gin to believe he has found an Earthly Para
disc. His faith in this respect will be strength
ened when a circle of lowland. set about with
hills, is pointed out to him by the guide as the
Happy Valley cat least" adds our guide.
with the quiet impartiality that is the core of
New England humor, sat least that is the
name the inhabitants give it. The neighbors
generally call it Hungry Hollow" Any sub
sequent moralizing fails utterly before this
simple statement. Nothing is left to add to
the plain story of the content that lives in the
valley, and the critical spirit of the dwellers in
high places. Now the road goes past old orch
ards the fruit hardly shows yet among the
leayes, the little apples not larger than nut;
but the curious braiding of the branches, and
the pathetic twists and warps of the trunks of
the apple trees are very picturesque against
the sky. Every house, new or old, has its
orchard, usually large one; and near many of
the doors stands great bush of the sweet, old
fashioned cinnamon roses, fuller of flowers
than OF leaves. One of these rosebushes was
poem in itself, needing no verse for its setting
forth. This is the scene: An old black house,
not ruinous, but on the contrary with the
sober, thrifty New England look; sun and rain
had shone and beaten upon it, season after sea-
son, and mellowed its timbers to a rich dark
tint; glad eyes and sad had looked out of its
windows to the west; and the old house seemed
full of the life of many years. The green door
yard lay in the sharp yellow light of the time
when the sun is nearly set; the cows, brindled
and brown, came crowding up to the bars; be-
fore the house, steep green slope ran down
to the low land, beyond which rose the Ok
ford hills, and Kearsarge and Washington
away off in the thin MIST behind the house.
great ledge of granite, dark with pines, and
taking the first shadows of night in the clefts
OF its rocks, and under its trees. A little way
farther, near the road, was the rosebush A
tangle of thorns and riot of roses, clinging
and climbing over-a tomb. The roses ran
over the gray granite, and peered about the
door In pathetic contrast. Here were pink
petals gay with the full life of flower outside
the tomb that had opened often, when out
from the old house men carried the quiet BODY
left of life that had outlasted many seasons of
rosss. Then pine woods, the air full of
wholesome resinous air. the road lies near the
river, spanned by fine iron bridge where the
Grand Trunk Railway crosses. At last we
reach the lively village of Norway, with
several manufacturing interests and a
large inclosure for agricultural fairs. Near it
lies South Paris with its pleasant streets and
pretty homes; and so up over slow, long as
cent to Paris Hill. This is the twilight aspect
OF things-but in the morning the land is alight
with sunshine and green with the glory of
grass; the pinewoods are full of alternate sun
and darkness, and the air is sweet and warm.
The steady-minded horse looks round to detect
any signs of benevolence that may move his
drivers mind, and concludes that he may take
little rest; so stops gradually, choosing
shady spot, and nibbles at the ferns by the road
side. The air is silent in the delicious heat of
June. And then the breeze brings sound of
waters Shows Falls says the guide. All
desirable, refreshing GOODNESS is in the very
name; and the dark, straight chasm, the rush
and foam of the falls, the rocks worn away in
deep round holes, some of which are dry at this
season, while i'll others the water swirls fast
forms scene not soon to be forgotten. In
freshets, the mill and bridge, high above the
river now, are sometimes swept away; and far
ther along the road, where the intervale looks
iifAO IiO plCtuIo VI dn tlnSllSn park, With Its
tall elms and smooth grass, the river-which is
at this season narrow and slow-in the spring
overhows the whole valley, destroying all un-
dergrowth. Such are few of the pleasant
roads leading through the country about Paris
Hill; but one is led to believe that all roads
lead to Paris, for each inhabitant has a new
route kindly planned for the strangers enjoy
ment: "Have you been on the Streaked noun
tain road?" "You must drive round Norway
pond" "Did they take you round by Hooper's
Ledge?" is the run of kind inquiries, little
bewildering until one learns the landmarks
But if the soiourner be not adventurous, the
broad piazzas give pleasant views and delicious
hill air; he may go a-shopping at the village
tore or look for letters and newspapers at the
post office; or visit the office of the Oxford
Democrat-a good Republican paper, for all its
unhallowed surname--and find well-appoint-
ed and live paper in process of making up its
weekly record. Lastly, when he is minded to
return to Portland and business, the gentle
tourist will be driven down to South Paris in
4l,o, ,4,l1o