The Republican journal., 1881-11-03
Castine.

clivity, looking out upon the numerous islands
which stud that rocky coast, east and west, and
upon that broad Day 2f the Penobscot, the finest
sheet OF water upon this continent. Far away,
fourteen miles distant, Belfast at the western OK
tremity of the bay, SINNERS in the morning sun,
would, If 1t were not cloudy. Here, in Castine,
some three hundred Summer birds, from all parts
Of the country, and of every pumage, gather, fold
their wings, and coo or chatter to each other.
Here the immortal author of "Uncle Toms Cabin
draws her wraps about her and dreams. Here the
venerable author of ''Evangeline" walks about on
the original Acadia, and recalls the incidents of
his youth IN his own native State Here the won
dertul musician Perabo, expert on the piano,
violin or ews-harp-I have forgotten which
saunters muses. and listens to that grand instru-
ment-
(Which sings
The deep, profound, eternal bass in natures
And makes music such as pleased the ear of God"
wonderful, healthy quiet orderly and rel gous
place, it will yet become popular Summer SAM
tarium. What safe place for sailing on the bay
and up the Bagaduce river! What safe and sue
cessful fishing for the lover of piscatoral sport
v nat happy hours has the writer spent in a dory
on these waters, casting the deep lead without
getting bite. 1t fishing, nevertheless and
dreaming all the same D ye head toiers with
weary brain and shattered nerves, and unstrung
splrit-harp, 90 to Castine! There with some pri
vate family, in a roomy and comfortable mansion
with good, wholesome food, free from fashion.
folly and noise. at a dollar day, recuperate!
Rich is the romance of history IN this ancient
town. Look yonder There comes sweeping
around the point three or four strange looking
craft with high stem and stern, filled with a crowd
of peculiar looking beings shouting and gesticulat
ing to the wondering savages on the shore Drop
ping their anchors they swan to land These are
the adventurous Vikings, the Northmen, and that
was 4 d. 1000 They secured along this coast
down as tar as the Vineyard Isles.
The scene changes. Look again 1t is now
1905. Three small ships pass the point coming
from the east and hold their course straight on
up he bay and find the mouth of a great river,
which they call Pemtagoct, now Penobscot 1t is
the famous Champlain.
Once more the scene changes and a small yes
SCI with some sober looking men sall into the har.
Dor, and, after landing commence the erection of
log house, Their bales and boxes and puncheons
Of rum are unloaded and the plymouth Com
pany' put out their single and invite the natives
TO trade, 1t IS 1926
Look Gonder comes around the magic point
tag with the lilies OF France at the mast head of
an armed gaIeon. The soldiers land, break up the
Pilgrims shop and carry off the stock 1t is 1873
These trenchnen build fort and commence
housekeeping HarS Guns are heard in the dis
tance, and the dull echoes roll over the waters of
the bay and die away among the hills, 1t is the
brave Capt. Griing. who, with his ship the Great
Hope, and crew Of twenty men with the re
noWned Miles Stand,sh ON board, has engaged for
seven hundred pounds ot beaver to drive the ''po.-
le, to"@ out Of Castlne and renstate the Plymouth
traders But with true Chinese strategy he com
menced firing his own gun as soon as he got into
the bay, and when he came in sight uf the fort
found his powder exhausted AMI sailed back safe
ly to Plymouth.
Oliver Cromwell appears in my rambling dream.
not in person. but by his representative. Major
Sedgwick in 1864. He sailed into this war-vexed
harbor, and drove out the French to be again re
stored by the treaty of Breda in lG67
Now comes from Canada, III lace and feathers,
the Baron Jean Vincent de st Castin and the old
name Pemtagoet gives place to the more euphoDi
Ous Castine With true French policy. he takes to
wife the lovely daughter of the great Penobscot
chief Madockaw0ndO. thus securing forever the
friendship of the natives. There she comes around
that wonder revealing point in all her paint feath-
ers and beads, with a hundred birch canoes and
the whole tribe of the HorTatimS in her train.
Right here where are sitting she lands with
salvos OF artillery and rolling drums Mark her
queenly carriage and graceful movements as she
advances up the bank to meet her lord.
Now comes a crowd of Catholic priests and
Jesultes, and Castine becomes the headquarters of
the missionary operations among the Indians and
plottings against the English settlements in Maine
In loss Gov. Andres came from Boston i'm the
frgate Rose and stole and carried away all the
goods found in the Barons truck house But the
Massachusetts Governor diSayowed the act, but
kept the beaver Look, 4 vessel is sailing out
of the harbor, bearing the noted Baron, weary of
savage life, who returns to the gay x5ioaS OF
the voluptuous city of Paris (1Oll
Un the plains OF Abraham Wolfe, settled the
question Of French occupancy in this region and
an English fleet sails into the harbOr, takes posses
sion Of the old fort, and greatly enlarges and
strengthens it. Then comes a boat load of men
from the little settlement at Bangor-and see
among them Gy maternal grandfather, Jacob Den
net-whO are required to give certain number OF
days labor upon this fort. | see a spruce young
officer in scarlet and gold directing the move
mcntS of these men. and then. after few years
t,1. IL, I,- J. l,-