The Republican journal., 1889-08-08
Maine Matters.


Gently visited Capt. John III. Drew, whose in
terestmg letters to the Boston journal have
gained for him wide acquaintance, and who
has occasionally favored the Republican Jour
nal with the productions Of his pen. What
follows will interest the many friends of Capt.
Drew in this vicinity: The family mansion,
with its high colonial columns, is pictureSqucly
situated Oh the heights of Farmngdae. A
winding road leads from the dusty highway a
little way up the hill, and encircng a green
plateau, brings You to the hospitable doors of
the Captain. However delightful the interior
the mother and daughters making up a charm
lng home circle, you fam would linger in the
extensive grounds, comprising five acres of
lawn and grove, orchard and garden. There
Is foreign air about the grounds, and you
imagine You are traycr>ing the estate of some
old English landlord. Scattered here and
there are rare specimens of Chinese pottery,
vases, pcde>talS for vases, garden seats of eX-
Qui>itc workmanship. shells from every cline,
some that still sing the sweet songs of the sea,
and tell to the active imagination wonderful
tales Of the ocean, a rockery containing flint
from England, coral rock from India. petfified
specimens from Silmatra. sulphur from the
Isle of Formo>ia. stalactitcs from foreign
caves. In one place i Il water cooler FROM
Spain, shaped something like a teapot. This.
filled with water, i hrig on 4 tree and the
wind draws through il Living a. cooling
lrink ;I> possible il , roGttrY Where lhcy have
II" ict. \ h'iL" anchor adorns one portion Of
the Yard. one Of the working tools of the Cap
tain's profession: and ON the barn j. flagstaff.
from the peak of which. on the 4th Of July,
iloated the flags of all nations, made by the
Captains own hands.
But a> we enter the house, we find ourself
surrounded by works of art from over the sea,
gathered hy the Captain in his extensive for
elIn voyages OF forty-onc years. In the furn-
ture. pictures upon the walls. decorations,
aIornment>. and hrr-;-hruc, there is 4 sen air,
and YOU can almost feel the swell Of Old ocean.
pf Indian
nahoh~. pape> IN which are worked the pray
cr~ Of the Chinese. Japanese vases of every
size and shape, famous paintings Of Chinese
| artists. carved picture frames which are very
| marycl~ of taste and patience in the fine art.
But why do we hope TO make even partial
mention Of the hundreds of wonderful things
that adorn these spacious parlor>: In looking
upon them We are reminded how perfectly so
| many of the beautiful thing> ON land are repro
durcd IN the marvellous products of the sea.
ON the wal. of the Mall aud parlors are
! paintings Of all the >hlps which the Captain
hnpl,I,. r~'ft in ,yI,L il. ~ .,saiInd Tho
ocean hte' TO the magnificent ..Sea Witch,"
which he ~ufty uuidtA into port during the
furious storms Of last winter, when family and
friends looked for his coming AS the watcher
Waitcth for the morning." 4 silk American
banner hanging on the MAT contain, the names
i'll gilt Of ALI tie vessels of h~ command. But
tha most precious and greatest prLcd of his
treasures from over thp sens i his larre c,ihi-
net of shells, there, hein, three hundred and
>iNty ei,erimpn>. Some. ryrrr,lin,ly rare ana
laitt.,lc all rN,lui>iteIN beautiful ana selected
with fin utmost taste and understandings, of
| their true Value This coilecli0n is worthy of
a rubIic rjutatioual iu.tittti,n ,Rut after
ali :" ,aid tho C,ptoin. Y. Nyc roSr ID ,ro After
| orr pleasant raN .tberp i, nothino % TralItifuI
as tin. I>rnnrb,r" And here amid the hal
! lowed scenes of his hny hood may ne enjoy for
| many years the ripe rich fruits Of a busy life.
MI II, M, l,