Morning journal and courier., 1881-02-28
Price Four Cents.

port Never could the sky have been more
blue and cloudless, never the sun brighter, nor
the air more delicious. It was Joy even
to breathe. Then we looked over woods all
red and golden, upon streams glittering like
silver threads in the sunlight and vast
clouds of smoke rising from the mainland
where destructive fires were raging. Before
US lay the sea, blue as the skies above, stud
ded with white-sailed vessels and bearing on
her broad and heaving bosom an hundred
rocky isles, ON whose barren shores the
hardy Maine fisherman often finds home
The passing breeze bore to our ears the faint
Ginning of the herd bells deep down in the
vale, or the call of the woodman and the
sharp stroke of his axe Sometimes an eagle
sailed slowly by, or fox darted swiftly and
stealthily down the mountain side. But here
we are rudely startled from our reverie by
the sudden crack of a rife Almost immedi-
ately fine buck, bleeding sorely from a
wound in the breast comes tearing through
the bushes and dashes past us down the hill.
In close pursuit follow party of hunters.
Ere realizing it we join in the chase, and, be-
tween sliding and jumping, arrive at the hill
foot in time to see the wounded animal disap-
pear up the path to the gorge. Again we catch
sight of him, painting and straining his
every muscle to the utmost. Feeling that we
are gaining upon him, the poor stag puts
forth all his strength in one magnificent
bound and falls ifeless and heavy on the
earth. His eyes still stare with a terrified
yet appealing look, but all is lost on the
hunters, who set to work upon him in an ap-
parently cold -blooded manner When a
scene like this is witnessed, 1t makes the be-
holders question the legitimacy of sport
calculated to give such torture to dumb an
imals for the mere momentary pleasure of
hunting them, and it certainly awakens at
least temporary feeling of repugnance
against the lovers of such sport.
Bar Harbor in winter returns to decidedly
rural state. Nearly all the ''birds of sum
mer' have flown. The eight hundred
Indians long ago sailed away in their canoes.
The great hotels are boarded up and silent as
the grave, and those porches, whilom
thronged with elegance and fashion, are
adorned on washing days with garments of
all shades and descriptions that faunt most
absurdly in the wind. Sheep and cows
wander through the village without the least
reverence for the sanctity of private grounds,
straying over the piazzas and peeringIcurious-
ly in at the windows. Horses dash around
at headlong speed in frantic and alarming
manner, and, in their Joy at being freed
from the unwieldy blackboard, - indulge in
a series of antics ungainly and ludicrous to
the last degree. At late hour one night
while passing the little graveyard between
the two churches, naturally felt slight
chill on hearing sepulchral sounds coming
therefrom. Several misshapen objects could
be distinguished in the gloom, and certainly
appeared to be moving towards me. Terror
made me powerless to move. Suddenly
troop of those outrageous horses, neighing
and snorting, rushed through the gateway
and plunged headlong across the street into
the porch of an opposite cottage. window
went up and apparition in white sent the
whole band flying again. 1t seems as if these
creatures took delight in such scandalous
proceedings There was not dog of any
A. L ~. IL
not put his tail between his legs and run for
dear life when these careering steeds appeared
in sight Speaking of animals, it is not a
little surprising to find SO many deer on the
island. Day after day fine fat bucks and
does are brought into the village during the
hunting season, whence they are shipped
southwark by the next boat
Sleighing, especially racing on Eagle Lake
is q great amusement with the villagers dur
ing the winter months. Should we go to the
lake, we shall find party of villagers en-
gagged in the exciting sport of trotting their
horses on the ice, that affords them splendid
course. If we prefer, we can put on skates
and skim over ice as clear as crystal and
smooth and polished as mirror. SO ab-
sorbing is this exercise, and so interesting is
the gay scene before on the ice that
night falls and the stars come out ere we are
aware. Under clear skies, with the light of
a brilliant moon to guide us, we start on our
in the moonlight, the sleigh runners glide
over the snow with crisp, joyous sound, and
our t'breath to heaven like yapor goes"
What can excel the clear, bracing atmos-
phere of Mt. Desert The blood, under the
influence of such purifier, flows warmly
through the veins, the spirits rise buoyantly,
and all sorrow flies.
I have but little doubt that ere long Bar
HarLor will become the winter resort of
many invalids seeking dry, bracing climate
AS regard personal comforts and necessities,
one can fare very well there, in fact much
better in winter than in summer. A mail ar
rives every day. A steamer stops once or
twice a week. Should occasion require, one
can leave Bar Harbor by noon and arrive in
Boston next morning by o'clock. In case
of sickness, excellent medical attendance is
right at hand. The winters, to be sure, are
cool, but never extremely SO. Sudden and
severe changes of temperature are almost
unknown on the island. So dry and exhliar-
ating is the air, that temperature indicating
more than So above zero within doors is un-
comfortable. In direct contrast to this is
the damp and penetrating air of southern
New England and New York.
In closing, let me not forget to mention
the little Episcopal chapel of st. Saviour's
so dear to the summer guests, having been
erected through their combined efforts, un-
der the guidance of Mrs. G. M. Ogden of
New York. For the encouragement of those
who have SO nobly given their aid in pecuni-
ary and other ways, let me say that the
church work is progressing finely. One
thing in connection with the same deserves
especial mention. The Christmas tree,
toward which New York and Boston ladies
SO generously contributed, was complete
success This wonderful tree stood at the
upper end of the aisle near the lecturn, under
a very heavy evergreen arch. The whole
chapel was handsomely decorated, being, In
fact, perfect green wood bower. 1t is safe
to say SO wonderful a tree had never
before been seen on the island. Great
was the astonishment and admira-
tion of all, both young and old, when the
wax candles were lit and the green branches,
weighed down with gifts, glistened with gilt
balls and silver stars and various tinsel orna-
ments. The resources of that tree seemed
almost inexhaustible, but at last the presents
were all distributed and about two hundred
shining faces passed regretfully through the
door out into the moonlit night and frosty
air. What especially struck the two or three
summer guests yet remaining was the remark
able order, amounting almost to reverence,
displayed by all on this occasion. The sane
tity of the chapel was disturbed by no un-
seemly noise of any kind. Gould the gener-
Gus donors have looked in upon the happy
throng gathered to receive the gifts of their
bounty, their hearts would have been cheered
and eladdened and their voices have echoed
back the olithe music of the quaint Christ
mas carols sung by the children on that ever
memorable night. AL.