Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1897-08-23
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.


Since the building of the Portland
& Ogdensburgh railroad, and the
opening up of cheap and pleasant
route to Portland and other points,
many Vermonters have visited Port
land and vicinity for summers out
ing. The trip, and the few weeks,
more or less, spent at the seashore
in Maine is always pleasant, and re-
suits in much improvement in
he alth To t0ose who are born and
bred among the green hills of YER
mont there is no particular pleasure
in going to the mountains of New
Hampshire or to any of the local
nmmer resorts. The change Of
sc emery and Of air is not great
nough to be of special benefit. But
a few weeks spent at the seaside with
it's scenes of interest, it's strong
breeze and the stimulus of sea bath
ing are such as to infuse new vigor
into those who call themselves we'll,
while the invalid is greatly benefit
ed
Peaks Island, where we are spend
ing few weeks, is one of the numer-
Gus islands which make Casco Bay
one Of the pleasantest places on the
Att antic coast. The island is situated
on the east and outside of Portland
harbor 1t is about a mile and half
in length, and mile and fourth in
width in the widest place, and of ir-
regul ar shore lines, embracing in all
seven hundred and forty acres. The
feet or more along a central ridge
which runs north and south, and from
the height affords beautiful sight of
Portland, the harbor, numerous is
lands and the broad sea. The island
GEMS originally to have been cover
ed with a dense growth Of spruce.
This, on the height and the slope on
the bay side, has been cut away, and
green fields, now dotted over with
the homes of the residents and the
CO ttages of the summer visitors has
taken the place of the forest. The
grass is as green as in Vermont, and
whe n cut down by the lawn mower is
very pretty. Northeast, two beautiful
islands lie almost parallel TO Peaks,
which are covered to some extent
! with cottages and helps to make a
long sound or portion of the bay
| which is as placid as river. On the
| bay side of the island there is quite a
str etch of sand beach which affords
excellent opportunity for bathing. 1t
is devoid of the danger of sea bath
ing, as on the open sea side the
ocean waves roll in to such height as
to make bathing unsafe. On the
| open sea side of the island there are
numerous coves, rocky shores and
pro r1ontories which make visit tic
this part of great interest to one un-
accustomed to the sea. Here the
great waves come rushing in, even in
calm weather, to such height as to
bre ak the waters into foam and
lift cloud of spray into the
air. At some points during the
wild storms Of winter the waters
climb up among the rocks to a
| height of thirty feet or more.
The island belongs to the city OF
Portland and is a sort of suburb
though rural as country village in
many respects. There are perhaps
500 residents, with summer popula
ton much larger, and transient
| guests number thousands. Those
who love quietude can take some of
the more secluded cottages, while
those who come for boating, pleas
ure Or sporting have opportunity to
| crafty their wishes. There is a
large building where bowling, skating,
dancing, etc., are carried on; there is
also a theatre where theatricals on
quite large scale are given. This is
patronized by the islanders end city