The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-08-04
THE FOREST CITY.
Interesting Letter from a Visitor to
Portland.
What He Thinks of Our Town. Clean Kept
Streets and Prosperous People-A Trib-
ute to Our Public Representatives.

91ACOts ana prosperous OopiO-< AAAD7
ute to Our Public Representatives.
To the Editor of the Press:
While despise a datterer, look with
no greater favor upon the man who
grimly circulates among world of hui
mainly, never allowing to escape his lips
word of helpfulness or of cheer.
| The most confirmed cynic, or stoical,
iunimpassioned nature, will acknowledge
the sweetness of a rose and allow his
soul to be moved by the splendor of a
sunset, but to tell ones friends they love
them; to openly admire some common
dable characteristic they possess, OF to
express an attachment for the town or
city in which one lives or frequently
visits, this to the unresponsive, unemo-
tional nature is only a sign of weakness.
But some of us, because of birth, train
ing or association, find wholesome
pleasure in developing, rather than re-
pressing, this prerogative.
Portland is to me a most charming city,
and among the many reasons why she
has engrafted herself into my good
graces, will briefly enumerate three.
I have no statistics at hand to prove
my statement, but speaking from close
observation, will say, without fear of
contradiction, that Portland is the great
est distributing centre for the commodi-
| ties and necessities of life, of any city in
New England outside of Boston. Provi-
dence does an immense traffic, but her
position, as an outlet for goods, is not
the equal of Portland. The situation of
this city is such she not only feeds the
great State of Maine, but her railroad
courses enable her to easily reach Yer
| mont, New Hampshire and northern and
eastern New York. The great Trunk
railway keeps her in close touch with the
West, while the direct line of steamers,
during the winter weather, makes her a
close commercial neighbor of Europe.
Nature has done for this trade metrop-
oils more than my pen can possibly de-
pict. She has spread the ocean about
you with grace and grandeur. She has
built your hills and caused islands, like
veritable gems, to rise from out the sea.
She has ribbed your coast with rocky
cliffs, against which the waves ripple in
laughter or thunder in the awful might
ness of the storm. What atheist could,
for a day, walk and drive studying all
these beauties; what scoffer could stand
on Eastern Promenade in early morning,
watching the fair cheek of the sky flush
with the kisses of the evening sun, or,
amid the gathering twilight over on Cape
Elizabeth, stand beside the sobbing sea,
musing with the thousand voices which
speak from out its infinite depths. chant
ing, pathetically, a requiem over the null
titudinous dead within its embrace, and
not exclaim, s'Surely the author of all
| this must be Infinite
But after all, it is the happiness and
prosperity of its homes which give to a
city it's chief charm. Pass along street
after street, Journey through avenue af-
ter avenue and how noticeable is the
well kept character of the dwellings.
| Whether modest or pretentious in archi
tectural plan, they will be found clearly,
painted, looking trim and tidy. The
poor tumble-down dwellings seem to be
kept isolated in the poor tumble-down
| locality which, I am sorry to confess,
does, and possible of necessity must, ex-
| list in every city.
If public representatives of people
are indicative of the quality of the peo-
pie they represent, then the citizens of
| this city and State need not Tear compare
son with any people of the world. The
sons of Maine have contributed in a
marked degree, to the glory of our Re
public; they stand strong in national
councils, and their eloquence and patrio-
tism have fired our hearts; while it has
been left to your own eminent congress
| man-that fearless and matchless leader.
the Hon. Thomas B. Reed-to not only
inaugurate right system of conducting
| legislative business, but to win the. graft
tude of every Republican and the respect
of every Democrat, by giving concise
definition of that most peculiar of crea-
| tures-the Mugwump.
When the porter raped at my state
room door this morning, exclaiming,
| 81 oclockr' l was awakened from a
sound sleep and could scarcely realize
where was till the splash, splash of the
waves told me my destination. quickly
| dressed, for the sea air had made. me
hungry, and good breakfast, I believed,
| awaited me at the Falmouth: and not
! more than an half hour did elapse when
belief was changed to knowledge.
e, B. WoRRELL.