The Portland daily press., 1899-06-17
A LONG DRIVE.
Man and wife Make Journey from
Indiana 10 westbrook in buggy.
(Blddeford Journal. }

(Biddeford Journal.)
Fifteen hundred miles overland by
horse and buggy since the 9th of May,is
tho record Of Mr.. and Mrs. Paul Mason,
recently of New Haven. Indiana. who
departed from Saco Wednesday for Vest.
brook, where they will make their home
for the future. Considering the fact that
they were delayed week en- route by
heavy rainstorms. the time made BY this
go-as-you- please couple on their long
iaunt was remarkable
Mrs. Mason is cousin of verauus Me-
serve of Saco, the weli-knnwn veteran ex-
pressman. She lived here years ago when
she was young miss, but after she grew
up, went toward the setting sun and,
meeting Paul Mason. she gave him her
hand In marriage and the two settled in
Indiana eN
They managed to save money enough
to purchase farm Of 25 acres or so in
New Haven, and there they had lived
for several years. Mr.. Mason worked
hard on this little farm, but he got ahead
only slowly In spite of his best efforts.
He is nearly so years old now, and this
spring, his companion In life, thinking
they might prosper a little better by COM
ing East, induced him to sell the farm
and come to Maine.
They decided to make the journey by
team because they thought the trip made
thus would be a pleasant one. There
was nobody but themselves to care for,
and there would be fine opportunity to
see the country. 1t would be cheaper
than rAilroading, too. They. could make
use of their faithful horse, for they did
not wish to part with him, having raised
him from colt. and In this way they
would save paying the freight that it
would cost to send their animal by rail-
road.
They left New Haven on the morning
of May 8 and arrived in Biddeford last
Sunday afternoon, having been on the
way SO days. They stopped over In Saco
for rest until Wednesday afternoon
when they again started out for West
brook.
They rode in an Ordinary top buggy.
1t was in a weather beaten condition
when they reached here, though Mr.. Ma
son said he gave 1t a new coat of paint
| just previous to his leaving Indiana
| The rough condition of the roads, the
storms and the sand and dust had rapid
ly given it an aged appearance on the
way. however. 1t was well filed with
bundles, bags and other articles. =
The horse, on the contrary, was In
prime condition. He was as sleek and
| as spirited az the average roader. He
was handsome piece of horseaesh, too,
standing u hands high and weighing
over 1900 pounds. Mr.. Mason said that
t"Billy" looking rs well as be did, had
lost considerable flesh ON the road. The
very best care had been taken Of the ami
NAL, however. w
Mr.. and Mrs. Meson became tired of
their way Of travelling after little more
than q week. They could not stand the
con tinual riding day after day. Mr.. Ma
son estimates that he walked nearly half
the distance, and his wife from Indiana,
also tramped by his side for many a mile.
Tiey han two handsome pug dogs with
bnem.
They averaged abont eight hours tray-
Cling per day. Mr.. Mason had o map
houses they made ont the route of their
journey. They took nearly all their meals
| at farm houses and also stopped at
farms over light. They found farmers
most willing To accommodate them and
received frequent requests to stop and
The only time on the whole Journey
when they failed to get put mp was last
sunday night. They struck FROST
beyond Five Points. From O'clock tin
dark, the man said, be tried house after
house along the road, and no body was
willing to allow them TO stay over night.
though he offered TO pay for the priyi.
lege. He did not know he was so near
town, and finally gave up the effort &c
get lodging. He and his wife slept in
Monday morning they started at
O'clock. When they got to Saco they In.
quired for Mr.. Msserve. Mrs. Mason
knew him once, but she did NOT know
whether he was still living or not. Oi
course they readily found him, and though
he was greatly SURPRISED at the yisis an