Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-04-07
IN NEW BRUNSWICK.

town or nOlth eastern Name, called
Houlton. This town, although sit
uated so far north as to be almost in
the wilderness of northern Maine, is
very thriving and energetic busi-
ness place. A short branch of the
N. B. railway has its terminus here.
We were stopping at the famous
Smell house, of which that genial and
gentlemanly host. Mr.. D. A. Floyd,
is proprietor. Being awakened next
morning at rather early hour we
arose and Immediately repaired to
the dining room. The breakfast dis
PEELED all that i'll humor usual to peo-
pie being awakened so early in the
morning. The breakfast consisted
of trout, nicely cooked, beefsteak
and all the other needfuls incidental
to first-class breakfast in a first
class Maine hotel. We had hardly
finished our meal when the coach
came rattling up to the door. The
horses coming to full and sudden
stop at the crack of the Jehu's whip.
We were packed in so soon that be-
fore we had time to say good by to
the landlord we were whirling away
at lively speed for the depot. At
ter ride of twenty miles we arrived
at Woodstock, n. B., which is sit
uated on the St. Johns river. TAX
ing our way to the Gibson House we
settled ourselves for day or two's
stop.
There is only twenty miles differ
ence in the position of Houlton,
Maine, and Woodstock, n. B., but
one could see decided difference in
the appearance of the town and peo-
pie. Houlton is a nice, clean, or
derly, and we'll kept town, while
Woodstock is little larger, but in
fnitely more dirty, and more squalid
wretchedness abides than in ten
towns like Houlton. To be sure,
business is brisk and building is
booming, but that air of Yankee
neatness and push is wanting. One
reason Of this difference is this: In
Houlton no liquor or rum shops ale
to be found. In Woodstock almost
every other door is a saloon where
all kinds of liquors are kept and dis
pensed to whoever calls for them.
The sidewalks are made chiefly of
of planks laid crosswise, and they
are so far in state of decay that it
is very annoying to walk over them.
We called at the postoffice ON look
ing for the delivery window we dis
covered little hole so high up that
we could just reach it with our up
lifted hand. We talked a few mo-
ments to voice ON the other side,
but could not tell whether it was a
male or a female voice, for the glass
in front of the boxes was so dirty
that it was utterly impossible to see
through, and distinguish objects.
We finally succeeded in getting our
mail, however, and turned to go out.
Everything about the place betoken-
ed the arrival of another Rip Van
Winkle period.
After partaking of dinner, which
consisted principally of flies and
napkins, with quite generous sup
ply of soup and pudding, we CON-
menced tramp over the newer por-
ton of the town.
The site of the town is very brok-
en-. The streets are very narrow
when compared with those of New
England towns, and even where the
new streets are being laid out they
make them unexceptionally narrow.
Very many of the houses are moi
painted, never have been, and prob
ably never will be. On going down
street toward the river we came
suddenly to a very large building
one story high and made of wood
Enquiring of an aged colored mar
what that was, we were informed OF
the fact of its being a skating rink
and opera house combined. On try.
ing the door we encountered no re.
sistance and stepped in. We saw {
room about two hundred feet long by
one hundred feet wide. A raised
platform of about ten feet in Width
extended around three sides of the
building; this doubtless was the gal
lery. The main floor was covered
with thick coating of sawdust anG
a few chairs and benches were scat
tered around in conspicuous confu
sion. A model opera house W,
thought as we reverently closed th'
door. We were soon at the wharve,
and watched the boats as they came
and went across the stream. On,
remarkable thing about these wharve
is that they are just as handy ant
useful in high or low water, for tn
boats all run up to the shore ant
swing around alongside, discharg
their cargo and passengers and NJ
fault found.
Finding the captain of the boat W
were to take, we wei informed tha
if we wished to get away from Wood
stock by water we must go early tn
next morning, because the river wa
falling very fast and he wished t
get his boat in deeper water.
We hustled aboard next mornin
and soon the Florenceville, that be