Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-03-26

Island Pond, Vt. is a most remarla-
bic looking village, and its founder
must have had peculiar IDEAS of enter
prise if he expected place ofany I'M
portance in such locality. 1t is stu
ated in a valley or gorge and entirely
surrounded by mountains barren and
rocky, but covered with stunted brush
-;tmple proof that agriculture is a
stranger to those parts. A large pond
or miniature lake with an Island in the
centre adds confirmation to the opin-
ion as to the origin OF the names, and
the ice being covered with timber leads
to the belief that it is u wooden
country. 1t certainly possesses natur-
al beauty, but not at this season of the
year. The houses are entirely frame,
cottage shaped, land painted white. with
picked fences. No snow can stop on
the roofs as they have the same steep
pitch that you find in Quebec and tile
eastern townships. The churches
have the same sombre look, uniform in
size, and unpretentious and oldfash-
Toned in architecture-spires and bells,
however, are not forgotten. A large
firSt-class hotel-the Stewart House
is built on Il ridge, access to which is
gained rom tnc rrunct FtrrIIi> Sea tinn
by means OF about fOrty-tive steps, and
into this hospitable abode | was land
ed late on Saturday night. All pas
sengers to Portland must stop over
Sunday ut this point as Grand Trunk
trains do not make practice of desc
Grating the Sabbath day. Here also
the customs officer pays you a visit.
This great artery of Canada then, with
the timber trade, affords support to
Island Pond, and here in mid-winter
you can find quiet rest and spiritual
refreshmert. An obseryant Canadian
sees something else here that appears
strange, and that is, the entire absence
of what we term taverns, or places
where liquor is sold. I don't know
that the natives look any healthier
but certainly they are all sober, and a
successful raid must have been made
at some time in the past upon all
drinking dens, and Il law must now be
in force, and to all appearance well
carried out, prohibiting an exposed
sale of this luxury. A thirty-six hours
residence at least did not establish the
contrary.
The Grand Trunk Road, though
much abused in the past, being the
| longest on the continent, certainly cal
now claim public favor, for successful
management and freedom from acCi
dent in proportion to its great length
The time kept is good and accommo
dation tirst-class. From London, c
distance of $50 miles, at this season O
the year, without u delay and at every
point faithful to the time table, i
something to boast of. The officer
are attentive and obliging, and al
though you are obliged to show you
ticket oftener than greenhorn con
siders necessary, the suavity of con
ductors and tjcket-pickerS is very notice
able
At this season Of the year, when TIN
| thermometer is often found below ZerC
in Quebec, an additional blanke
would not be out of place in the Pull
man sections. The only uncivilizeC
official met from London to Montreal
was an apology for man, placed il
the Pullman office at Toronto OF
lluety eNelllll5 last. lie InlSI1G nav
possessed intelligence enough to mari
off berths, make change, and draw hi
salary; but nature was certainly out
ragged when he was born, for lie hat
not brains enough to be civil ant
obliging to strangers. We would hav
liked, had we our way, to have hand
ed him over to the tender mercies O
London's genial express agent for
sound drubbing. Just now we cal
think of no man more competent t.
perform such a task. -
The. sleighing in Montreal is splendid
and business appears to be booming
weather cold and bracing-quite
change from the variable winter of til
West. AS we write, the snow is con
ing down in good old-fashioned style