The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-09-08

Grove, distance of two miles, a DELIGHTFUL
little camping ground on the banks of the
lovely, winding Saco. The grounds were
well lighted, and as we stopped in front Of
the auditorium round after round of APP
plause was greeting the speaker on the
stand. He spoke in much disfavor of the
pessmistic views INDUCED in by many
public speakers as regard the future fate
of the free institutions of America. He
laughed to scorn the idea of catholicism
ever obtaining strength in this country,
either to rule or to ruin, and swept aside
with logical argument the dangers of for
eign immigration. Whether his grounds
were well taken is not for us to Judge, but
that they We're nobly defended the en-
thusiasm Of his audience was proof posi-
tive.
At the close of the lecture we were
taken to fine roomy cottage, which was
to be our home during our soiourn in
Fryeburg, We are located near the audi
forum, the dining hall and the public
house There are only four i'll this fam-
ly, and as there is neither food to buy nor
to cook it looks as though we might live
Il peaceful life during the few days that
we shall pass here After comparing
notes and planning for the morrow, we
lay down to rest, happy that one, at least,
of the many outings which we had looked
forward to, was being realized. Our
morning meal was taken at the dining
hall, building sixty feet long 10y twenty
five in width, accommodating about one
hundred and fifty people. The hall is in
a shady corner and the entire sides being
of lattice work, we had the comfort of dim
ing in a nice cool arbor room, albeit the
thermometer is climbing amongst the
brought for our party of a round dozen,
and under the guidance of Mr.. McKeen. of
Fryeburg, we set forth. The river road
was the choice of the party. Now, when
| tell you that there are no hills in Frye
burg, l mean it. Mile after a mile of
delightful intervale road we Travelled, in
the midst of a fertile valley. The Saco
river, ever turning and twisting, crossing
and recrossing our path, is spanncd
by covered bridges. | think there are
seven covered bridges i'll the town of
Fryeburg. In many places the ground is
so level and the current of the river so
slow that it is almost impossible to say
which way it's water flow.
''Nowhere such devious stream,
Save i'll fancy or in dream.
Flows the stream So still and slow
That it hardly seems to flow"
| wish | could convey to you the idea
of riding twenty miles without hav-
ING to climb hill. For western people it
would be no luxury, but to Waldo County
people it is simply a delight.
We lind maple orchards ever and anon,
and such maple trees. Tail, wide, spread
ing, deep chested old giants, looking far
better fitted to be breasting the storms on
the mountain side than standing in these
quiet wales dispensing sweets for a living
We are riding along an old lake bottom,
varying from three TO five miles in width
/
sweet corn for the Fryeburg canning fac
tory is large this season. Several times
cur Aroostool friend has been asked to
doH his hat to extra fine fields OF potatoes.
In riding through an agricultural region,
after taking in the general features of our
surroundings. we next look after the we'll
fare OF the schoolhouses. Every three OF
four miles. during our morning ride, we
find these structures, always neatly kept.
commodious, and cheerful. The spirit Of
the Daniel Webster Academy that has lin
gered for so many many, years i'll this an
cent town, still yields an intellectual at
mosphere which a stranger, mingling with
the people, instinctvely recognizes. The
old are grave and decorous, the middle
aged social and easy hammered, the young
quiet, polite, and bookishly inclined. The
farm buildings are models OF what farm
buildings should he; not over large, but
cozy, pleasant homes for the farmers and
their families. At the centre of the town
we find Grange Hall and store, and the
town house, all in perfect keeping with the
rest But above and around us lies a far
different scene. We have mountains for
the background OF the picture which we
are looking upon. Mount kearsarge sends
foothills down to our very feet. Mount
Tom and Mount Pleasant seem very
near, while peaks and crags with and
without names rise about us in great
abundance. We are in the White Noun
tain region. and there Just beyond
the twin mountains. we know that old
Mount Washington lies in hiding under a
dense cloud bank We lave lifted our
eyes as many times hoping to catch Just a
glimpse of the old veteran, but he is
in the dumps this dog day weatl e.
and the more pressing our attentions be
come the more closely he wraps himself
in his wet blanket, and so, we come back
to our Chautauquan Camp without MAX
ing his acquaintance. AT eleven o'clock
we gather at the auditorium to hear
more music and more speech making. The
speakers are well up in their special sub