Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-08-01
THE SACO VALLEY.
FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA.

To the Editor OF the Oxford Denocrat'
"All aboard" and out OF the depo
dashes the train. by few freight trains
more machine shops, aud then at once W.
are in the open country. A vision of greer
fields, cleaning rivers and lovely trees
beautiful and fresh in the July sunlight
and before we are aware Fryeburg" Ii
shouted in at the door. A brief soiourn II
this classic village is not long enough tC
see half its beauties. For the present W.
content ourselves with driving through the
broad elm-bounded street, promising our
selves longer stay next time, calling al
the Grove House, Martha's Grove. "A'
last have found retreat" Is ones men
tai comment as he drops from the sandy
plain 10 the greensward spreading round
the feet Of the lovely silver naples of which
the grove is composed. The Saco flows
past the western boundary. Mr.. Geo. L.
kimball's cottage fronts the river, and the
wonderful sunset banners that stream over
old Chocorua and the distant line OF the
White Mountains. But We must hasten on
and leave the happy jewellers In the Grove
House, and the dainty white cottages, for
our destination Is Highland Park. Mrs.
Bnzzelrs elegant new boarding house is
we'll filled; also the old Evans's home,
which has been greatly improved since its
purchase by them. The clog cabin" a
veritsble cabin filed with bric-a-brac, is q
cabinet of curiosities. Stereoscopic views
of il may be had 50 souvenirs.
Next morning we board the upward
bound train. The cool weather and the
frequent rains render the foliage unusually
fresh for July,-in fact the brilliaucy of the
tints seems like early June. Our way fol-
lowed, with deviations, the course OF the
Saco, and ever coward and upward" we
sped. The engine toiled and pulled up the
heavy grades like n weary steed. Slowly
we crept along the PERCEPTIONS side of Mt
Willard, by grand Webster, noting a. we
passed the Popes Nose. the Giants Stair
way and the Giant himself IS he lies en-
banned on 4 solid ledge. The rugged rag.
ged gorges are clothed with 4 profnsion Of
wild elder. The scarlet berries brighten
the ever-changiLs landscape Is the coquet'
fish little red bows do pretty girl. over
the terrible Frankeustein trestle we crawl
over Wiley Brook bridge. and then a
rush and have passed the Gate OF the
Notch and Crawford's, at the head OF the
Saco, is reached. Nr. Merrill the model
landlord, meets Us and We are shown 10
luxurious apartment In this palace of 4
house. The dinner was being served and
with appetites sharpened by the clear
mountain air, we were fully prepared to
do ample justice to the appetizins vlands
of the elaborate blll OF fare.
Shapleigh, the artist, was out sSetchins,
so the pleasure OF 4 visit 10 his studio was
denied US. Instead, we stroled through
ldlewild, a most charming wild with rustic
seats and lovers walks. rocky cliff with
seats, like wild ferns cliuging TO It's sides
apparently in mid air, and golden field of
buttercups in front.
On the next train we went 10 Fabyan's,
passing the Mt. Pleasant House, compar-
atively new hotel erected with special ref
erence 10 those guests who ind the other
houses q little too expensive. IL has all
the modern improvements, steam, gas, etc.
At Fabyan's, Mr.. Barron Is in charge; he
is the partner in the firm of Barron 4 Mer-
ron, who own the Fabyan's, Crawiords,
Twin Mt and Mt. Pleasant Houses.
little time was given for looking about and
admiring the floral and ferny decorations
which are arranged with SGch exquisite
taste both here and AZ Crawlords. The
Ogdensburg Parlors are charming little
apartments fitted up for the comfort of the
patrons OF tie road.
But the last train Is making VI, and with
n hearty farewell look We start on onf
homeward ride, and such ride! shall
never feel as if it was not some wild thing
that whirled US around those curves and
through the mid air of that mountain
fastness. The road bed is perfectly
smooth aud hard, the rails are steel aud
heavy grade down which we seemed to
glide rather than TO ride. No jar, only
sensation of going down and down and
never stopping The long, cool shadows
started athwart the hills. Now We were in
the gloom of the deep gorgeS, now out in
TO the sunlight of late afternoon. Should
we ever stop. No conversation was pos
sible for what with the rafting of the
cars, the rush OF the air as we swept
drought it, and tue struggle with Droad
hat, aud veil to protect the eyes from
cinders, ones hands and ears were full.
A change in the motion, suffering,
grinding sopnd and we are still. Bartlett
is reached and the wondrous, unreal, kai-
eidoscopic ride is ended. The change 10
the every day car and conversation Jared
rudely upon the senses. We reached
North Conway at PM, tired and hungry.
Supper remedied the latter, and nights
rest on one OF the nice beds at Masons
hotel, the former. Mrs. Mason Is in
charge, all of Mr.. Mason's time being Civ
eli 20 his seaside hotel, and charming
hostess she is. i few hours ride and In
stead of being in the heart of the noun
tains the sound of the surf comes to our
ears with "The stern music Of the sea-"
IL. :. A.
The Lowell Courier states that It turns
out that 1.-The singer engaged TO take Con
Lows Mace in the onera company has q voice