New-York tribune., 1885-07-05
THE RANGELEY LAKES.
THE NOVICE AND HIS FRIENDS EN- ROUTE
THE FIRST TROUT.

ollDDLF lam CAMP, Me-, unc ZOs-no 10 U o"cos
tempered being, the novice of our party, but tho
trials of coming inn to camp rasped him not a
little. When he asked for beer at Portland and
was offered home decoction Of roots he
turned his face toward the breweries of New-York
and sighed in most piteous fashion. When at q
later point in the journey he discovered that gin
was accessible his naturally logical mind and the
Name liquor law had q meeting only to be COM
pared to tho historical interview of the monkey
and the parrot. His absorption lost him chance
at an outside seat on tho four-horse stage from
Bryant's Pond. Veteran anglers led the stampede
from the train to the coach, cambered to the upper
seats. were followed by cases and bundles of fish
ing-rods and plunged into eager discussion of the
prospects for sport, utterly regardless of the
nOvlcc's mute appeal So he lumbly inserted him
self into the bowels Of the swayng. creaking vehi-
clc Opposite sat type. an ancient rustic. with
features carved from block OF hard wood with
dull knife and friDged with hoary beard brstling
in a semicircle beneath a bony chm The coach
started paused before little post-ofce surrounded
by bevy of brown-faced girls, and then rolled
ponderously on into cloud of dust. The novice
drew forth cigarette. but his hand was stayed by
a voice from the figurehead. Haow kin man be
such slave to terbackerp Every easily" said
the novice, and then began war Of words. "Pnb-
lie vehicle" and "prvate selishucss" were
phrases frequently heard by those of us who were
inperilling our limbs the shifting baggage above.
But the novice's cigarette remained unighted.
For him the wooded hills and grassy valleys had no
charm. He even failed to read the story of the
little cemetery where eight of the twelve graves
were marked by the flags of Decoration Day.
Shades of George Trask," he exclaimed when his
limp form was extrcated at Rumford, " is this the
boasted freedom of camp life ~ But tho Androscog-
gin ferry revived HIM. The easygoing feTyman
makes fast his flatboat by one long and one short
rope passing over pnleys running on wire cable,
and the complasant current carries his craft IN a
slow diagonal course across the river. The novice
skcchej the mill with its quaint wheel embowered
in trees on the opposite bank. The leafy arches
over the road rs the stage went on the smiling val
lev of the Ellis River. the phantom steed pictured
in white stone upon cliff and finally the departure
of We ancient rustic, rejoced him exceedingly 1t
was at the door of Of little farmhouse. barren of
any attempt to please the eye that the figurehesd
loft us. Another fgurehead mounted upon limp
calico gown appeared at the farmhouse door, After
n pause of solemn delberaton the two tigurcheads
stifiy bent and touched 1t could not have been
pleasant operation. But suppose 1t didn't hurt.
OF emotiOl there was none. IL was the most llg-
neous Of kisses.
Andover Is the dressing room of Rangcley Lake
anglers. The man who arrives ut night III correct
travelling attire, including the "boiled shirt" OF
civilization turns out the next morning in fanpel
and corduroy and co nforts himself with brlar-
wood pipe during the twelve miles on blackboard
over the carry" to the South Arm The novice
absorbed information into every pore. He traced
the paper of up tn the piles of peeled logs
left by the "popple peelers" beside the road and in
Black Brook. He gazed specchlessv at the yawn-
III tha hatI Ia hAn naA
assimlated local tales of Indians. bears, landslides
and forest fires with ease born of an unimpaired
digestion. But he coud not assimilate the dinner
M the South Arm. There one of guides awaited
us with the thrilling news that the gates at the
Middle Dam were to be shut down at @ o'clock. To
our unsophlsticatcd friend it was explained that
the lowering of the water in the river below the
dam and in the pond in Rapid River might be ex-
pected TO evoke the trout from deep water up into
the current whore the Establishments of fly could
be tried under favorable conditions. The novice
reused himself from melancholy musings over his
dinner and over tho ruined beauty of the lake
robbed of ITS picturesqueness by the continual
raising of the water which has grdled it with dead
trees stumps and driftwoOd. On tine absurd little
steamer leaders were wet and hybooks over
hauled with all the ardor of great expectations At
the Middle Dam landing, Marsh" my guide.
awaited me with whcelbarrow Of which declined
any personal use. Figure to yourself two story
and half dull red, wcather-staiDed building, un-
finished within, divided into general sitting-room
with rows of rods hanging on pegs against the
beams and boards of the wall. dining-room and
kitchen on the first oCr and on the second series
of rough cubby holes just large enough for bed.
bureau and washstand. This is known as tho New
Camp although it bears evident marks of age. 1t
t..lr ..oI nfto ,,,t ,1a ,t1
TO the waters edge with the trees bearing down
upon it on two sides Under the impromptu We
randa the wall is covered with names and records
of catches which display great ability in one direc
tion or another. The new camp has its traditions
for is not the sittng-r0om decorated with birch
bark sketches of mighty six and eight pound trout
taken by our predecessorsi But the old camp
which stands pistol shot off. half way to the DAM
Il remembered with greater affection by the older
anglers. II is only low log Init connected by Q
massage with another log cabin in the rear both
long since turned to some base use. But it was to
these huts. quarter of century ago, that the
few enthusiastic Waltonians were won't 10 come
when giant trout could be caught by the score be-
meath the very windows when this water was
allowed to remain in its normal state, little vcxed
by dams. and when American anglers generally
scofird al reports of the huge brook trout caught
i'm the Range'ey Lakes until Agassz stopped their
mouths. II was in these cabins that Sothern and
Florence and other theatrical lights held high
wassail and played mac pranks, and it was before
the door that Recorder Hackett emuous of
William Tell, knocked tin cans from guides head
with pistol and rifle balls. The names written in
the old camp form one of the most suggestive
memorials IN the lake country.
But this is time for "reminiscences. "Marsh,"
intent on n successful beginning, draws me away
from the group Of fishermen on the veranda and
assumes an air of mystery. | look around and see
my companions, consumed by lust for big fish"
holding secret conferences with their guides
Marsh whispers impressvely, IL want ter get ye
down ter the head of the pond in the river jest the
minute them gates shut down. Twenty minutes
hugs when the gates are no." Marsh" pauses and
then his constitutional objection to making direct
unqualified statement prompts him to add :. that is
to say. jest about as much" He takes the rods
handle. I insert myself into wading stockings,
pocket Nv hook, reel with Its fifty yards Of