The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-10-14

Interesting Letter from Away Up I'm
Maine Comparison Of Our Negro
Labor With the Frugal La Dor of the

Labor With the Frugal Labor of the
NorIh
South Poland. Maine, Oct, /, 1898.
Poland Springs, Maine is a place but
little known to our people. 1t is sit
uated in Androscoggin county, and is
reached either by rail through New
York and Boston. via Portland, or you
may come by steamer from New York
to Portland and thence by rail, the
ride from Portland to the spring sta
ton taking only about an hour. In
this way one could make the trip here
all the way by sea, coming to New
York and thence hither by steamer.
| am informed that these steamers are
very nice and are good sea boats, so
that this would no u be a very
pleasant sail for those fond of that
mode of travel and besides would
cheaper the fare here n back.
Arriving here, what do you see? At
ter a ride OF about four miles over a
very nice road you reach and enter The
grounds belonging TO this company. A
beautiful green lawn is spread out be-
fore you and as you mount the gradual
ascent first one beautiful picture and
then another breaks into view, until
you reach the summit where is Situat-
ed the Poland house and from whence
you have a full sweep of the land
scape of hill and valley, and in the dis
lance the white mountains of New
Hampshire. The Poland house is beau
tifulIy situated, and is a superb build
ing with many turretS, towers bay
windows, massive glass windows of
French plate and elegant and wide
p~iazzas, while the interior is a model
of beauty and finish. From its very
steps the ground gradually falls away
till the foot of the hill is reached where
lies a beautiful l.Ae of clear and limpid
water, this lake being one of a chain
of three which join and empty into
each other. The water being supplied
from springs is as clear as glass and
one can see to a great depth. Upon
these lakes the guests go rowing, ca
noeing and sailing or traverse them in
steam launches. They contain guam
titles of fish-black bass, pickerel,
trout, perch, etc, ard the fishermen
have fine sport with rod and reel.
Off to the westward Of the Poland
House is another large hotel, the Man
sion House, which is rather more
homelike and which is the one kept
open the yea round. Surrounding
both these hOuSeS is a lawn of green
which comprises about $50 acres, and
it is beautifully kept, being constantly
moved and raked and always neat and
clean. On part of this lawn is the golf
grounds and every day the players
enjoy their games, men and women
triking their little balls from the
many trees" and sending them spin
ming acrOss the green. Then gathering
up their culver of sticks they HE away
to drive them into the hole and hence
on to another base or tree. They make
the circuit of the grounds which en-
brace many miles of walking pack and
forth. 1t appearS to be a very faSci-
mating sport to those who engage in 1t.
Then there is lawn and tennis and
croquet grounds for amusement of the
children<and any one who wish to play.
There are many pleasant and beautiful
walks through the grounds and
through the woods adjacent to the
lakes. Between the two hotels is sit
uated the library building and this is
one of the nan attractions at this
place. The building was originally
erected as the Maine Building at the
Columbian exposition in Chicago and
was taken down n transported here
and rebuilt at great expense and
stands today just as it originally stood
in Chicago, and. as stated above, is
used as a public library for the guests
at this place. 1t contains many very
beautiful specimens of minerals and
some handsome paintings and photo
graphs and in addition to these quite
o collection of books, about 800 vol
umeS-mOst of the standard authors
in poetry prose, and it is an ideal place
to while away any time that otherwise
might hang heavily.
Such are the views that the eye Of
the visitor first behold, and scattered
over the lawns are beautiful groves
where the pleasant shade can be en-
1Oyed during the heat of summer. /
have no hesitation in saying the ser
vice and table are all that one could
wish n nowhere have / found more
attention given to the comforts or
pleasures of their guests han is here
shown. A fine company of musicians
are employed and each day from liz
to 1919 o'clock delightful concerts are
given in the music room and every
night there is dancing for those who
like it. 1t is really an ideal place for
all classes. You can be as gay as you
please-enter into all the sports either
Of indoor or outdoor or you can lead
a quiet, retired existence. There is
room for the ~fashionably inclined and
enjoyment for those OF more sober dis
positions. The water is pure and
wholesome and is free TO all. You can
be served at the hotel from bottles
kept cool or you "a walk to the
spring. AT any rate. the day or to a
reasonable hour at night. the attend
ants stand at their posts to wait upon
the guests, serving the cooling bever-
age. No liquors are sold or allowed to
be sold on these premises, and being
private property, this prohibition does
prohibit.
II does not appear that there is any
mineral virtues claimed for the waters.
but 1t Is claimed 20 be absolutely pure
and 50 by assimilation in the body TO
perform some ~onderful cures. Certain
1t Is that this place has a large pat
ronage, as even at this late aate the
h0fQl= ara E1l an1 n.-a- 49,.
persons have been turned away during
the season for want Of accommodation