The Republican journal., 1885-05-28
From Maine to Canada.
TRIP OVER THE LINE. FACTS AND FANCIES Bl
THE WAY.


IT'S but a step between Maine and Canada"
Some men travel-and other men go here and
there-some have eyes anu see not; and vice versa.
l am one of the vice versus, for change. Look
thro my glasses, reader, and If you discern dark.
ly. or things one sided, coored too highly, or
otherwise. let's strike hands and lay all the blame
to the aforesaid lenses.
Last Friday, P. NJ was an A No. one day without
nlmperection except to those unfortunates CATER
wards who by its seductiveness were led to shed
their winter clothing too early in the Jerry
said call aboard" Frank nodded pleasant good
bye. and the Belfast branch train whizzed out from
the station at the rate of at least 10 miles an hour
landing lis in due time at Burnham junction. There
is one popularity we notice about the trains on our
road, they lay and wait at the stations to make
up time instead of running at extra speed for the
same purpose they do on other roads. This no
doubt is safe and effective method but it is some
times a little tantalizing to the passengers. How
ever, have long since given up expecting every
thing in this life and suppose may well endure
little penance by way of waiting at stations and
gazing at groups of tow headed boys and freckled
faced girls AS in any other way.
Durham junction is gay old place at train
times. There is push" about it which is abso.
The long unweldy freight train from Bangor.
ward bears down like full rugged a frigate the
Belfast train backs into its position meeklv and
lamblike. and the Western comes in shriekins like
veritabe blizzard from the plains only conductor
Phlbrick's smiling cpuntenance bellies its savag.
erous tendencies. There, pride myself On that
last sentence 1t is possible may be a little "o1r'
In regard to the "74''; if | am let DYER fix it up
right; he's an old salt and knows if it is too fresh
On the mixed train to Waterville came across "A
quartette of "runners," beg pardon, Commercial
men," who We're willing away the time at euchre
Hod Nelson, of Waterville happens along with
handful of bills eNtong the virtues ana graces of
his stud of seven stallions-two more Hambleton
ions just added-and the youngsters invite him to
take hand He acquicsccs, saying he has often
wanted to learn to play tile little game, and they
proceed to the extent that they find out that
what lloi. don't know about horses he does know
about euchre and that it isn't always safe to Judge
from appearances. p. 5. This isn't pun
AT Wateryilie station | witness a little uniuten.
al side scene which goes further than a score of
lectures to show the beneficial effects of an enforc
ed liquor law. One of the aforesaid 'runners.' by
his brogue native or near descendant of fader
land asked the waiter at the refreshment room fora
W
'What haze you to drink them inquired he
"Nothing," said the girl. The disappointed ques-
toner turned to his companion with looks and yes
lures in which surprise and disgust were equally
mingled and exclaimed This is in Maine" No
higher praise could be given to the Old Pine Tree
State But really it was somewhat of a surprise to
me to learn that the little room to the left had lost
its potency and is no longer the quiet retiring place
g, ia.
his legs and quench his thirst
dropped in few minutes on Bro. Moore of the
sentinel, who has one of the most cosy, pleasant
and convenient offices in the State. and who makes
live, readable paper tho they 10 say he tells too
many truths about local matters and shortcomings
to be popular with some of the citizens. Bro NJ.
Will probably learn when ne gets Older that "soft
sawdcr' is the cheapest and most paying material
for genera. newspaper use, but then ne will have
lots of satisfaction in his experience while learning.
At the Elmwood find the Messrs. Murch senior
and junior, running good hotel and preparing for
increased summer business. The Elmwood is lust
such a house need in Belfast and if our
three OLD tumbledowns could be merged into one
good hotel it would be for the interest of all con-
cerned and a credit to our city. We could lust as
well cater to fair share of the summer travel as
our neighbors, if we only had decent place to put
visitors in and it is wonderful the business men do
not what is for the best interests of the place
and erect suitable building. There I've said my
little say on this question and it will probably have
wonderful weight but honestly leave it to any
citizen Of Belfast who has occasion to travel even
to limited extent, if he doesn't feel just little bit
ashamed of our hotel buildings.
y night ride to Portland between the hours of 10
and is not the most pleasant experience, but five
hours sleep at the T. :. Hotel, and pleasant word
and grip of the hand from the proprietor, viii Nc
Donald, after eating good breakfast, puts me in
trim for the real beginning Of my journey towards
lover the line" My route is the p. & Ostlens-
burgh, through Maine, n H., vt. and \. York, and
SAID to be the most picturesque and interesting east
OF The ltoCkles. 1t is my first experience through
the White Mt. reSion-the Switzerland of America
| Should say OF course and must acknowledge
was not 50 greatly and deeply impressed though
the view Of the mountains looking up the road from
the water tank below the Wiley House, and look
ing down the same valley from the highest point on
the road bed near Silver cascade was grand in the
extreme. The down look from the rear car plat
form into the chasm spanned by the Frankenstein
trestie was little liable to make ones head swim
and cause a ilrmer clutch the ear guards ana
the twin cascades shooting down tile mountain
sides and caused by the still melting snow ON the
SUBMITS, are pretty picture in the sunlight
| started from Portland in a rainstorm which
continued till we reached the mountains but very
accommodatngy ended there, and the sun break
ing thro' the clouds glinted the valley and noun
tain sides with glorious light forming a picture
which memory will never be likely to reegate to
the background. But Mt. Washington was obsti-
nate crown of vapory cloud persistently envel-
oped his extreme summit. though lis sides dotted
with snow banks and ribbed hy forests and slides,
We're plainly visible hope for smile from his
majesty on my return
| was greatly disappointed in the appearance OF
the summer hotels all through the White Mt region,
especially Fabyans. which is desofate looking
structure with barren surroundings The hotels at
the resorts in Maine far superior.
After leaving the White Mt. region and entering
Vermont the route is undressing. At one point
we passed railroad wreck of the day previous
where the engine left the rails and plunged over
bank into the river below crushing the iron morse
into disclosures and lerailing the passenger coach.
NO lives were lost and the plucky engineer though
injured is on duty to-day, but his steed lies cold
and dead in the bed of the river. The road as we
itt'i %" dHt'h SioN9 IbuSucl anu more crooked.
At one place it makes detour mlic. in the form
of an oNbow, it being only one mile across from
the two ends, and passengers can easily walk
across and reach the station while the train is go
ing around. 1t is the first illustration ever saw
going to prove that the farthest way round il the
nearest way home-in that railroads operations
At 8 Z. NJ. Saturday reach Swanon only to
learn that there is no connection and we must Law
over till Monday morning. Not a very pleasing
prospect but what can't be cured must be endured
and have long since tried to make myself believe
liked bitter things, with only Indifferent success
allow. Right here want to say that railroad time
tables very deceitful. Ours said we could
reach Ogdensburg about midnight, but instead the
conductor positively assured us there was no train
west from Swanton till Monday morning and SO it
proved. Another thing learned from the railroad
maps, and that is that road has any angles only
a few insignificant curves in their lines, but the
other fellows road is all crooks and angles. Funny
what difference there is from the route on the
maps and in reality.
Sunday was gloriously fair and diviney bright
day, and ii was very hot day also, but managed
to pass ii quite pleasantly in the village, which is
one of the most beautifully shaded have seen.
1t Is great surprise to find vegetation here in
IRENE Northern Vermont week or ten DAYS more
advanced than at home and at Portland so much
further south. Naples are in full leaf, apples and
cherry trees in blossom and grass and other vegeta-
ton correspondingy forward. This Champlain
hp a Dta and, ay,r 6I,.,