Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-07-24
ne PRESS EXCURSION OF 1900.

THE PRESS EXCURSION or 1900.
la VISIT TO RIvERroN, AND A SAN
ON cAsoo BAT.
II second letter)
The members Of the 1900 excursior
party Of the Maine Press Association
rendezvoused 1t Riverton Park Of lunch
time on the evening Of Monday, July g.
A portion Of the party who had come ID
on the noon trains, went out early and
spent most OF the afternoon there. The
others came along at convenience until
we had gradually accumulated nearly
fifty members. It may be unnecessary
to state that all got around In time Tor
lunch.
Riverton has become almost house
hold word In this part Of Maine. A few
years since the Portland Railroad Com
pany secured a tract OF land on the
banks of the Presumpscot, Ave or six
miles from Portland, and converted It
into beautiful park, building . large
casino and other necessary buildings,
and an outdoor theatre, which will seat
big audience on steep curving bank,
making one Of the best outdoor assem-
bly, places that could be imagined. The
trip from the city and return costs
twenty cents, and this admits the pas
seuger to the theatre. "a we'll ~ 10 the
other natural and artificial attractions Of
the place. Riverton has been an at
tractive success from the start. IL 10
essentially a summer resort, vet the
casino. though q summer building, Il
| fitted for steam beat, and II much used
In winter for banQuets Of social and busi-
ness organizations which have no home
| OF their own, and for other similar pur-
poses. During the winter season, II you
want to secure the casino for any pur-
pose, you must book your order nj least
three weets ahead or you may get left.
We we're served with flne lunch at
the casino, and then Joined an audience
at the theatre so large that Il overlooked
the accommodations. Unfortunately
for the writer, the weeks entertainment
bill was what proves attractive to large
portion of the show-going public
vaudeville. About one act In three at
such show pleases me well. The
other two-thirds give me a sad feeling,
as | think Of the time and energy ex-
pended 10 producing such q pitIful re-
suit.
After the show, 4 special car Was re-
served for our party out Of the half
mile OF cars that were waiting for the
crowd, to take rs back into the city.
Tuesday morning the steamer Forest
Queen Of the Casco Bav Steamboat
Co. line took us aboard at 10 O'Clock for
sail about the bay. We started out 10
a northeasterly direction, about parallel
with the shore OF the bay. The sky was
overcast so couldn't have used nv
watch fora compass u had wished.
To use your watch for compass, you
hold II with the face horizontal, and
point the hour hand In the direction OF
the sun. Then half way between that
ard the figure XII Is either north or
south-while you are trying to remem-
Der which somebody tells you all about
where you are and you put your watch
back into your pocket.
With map OF Cssco Bay before me
and the steamer pursuing q generally
portheasterly course, l marked on the
map each island, headland and landing
"a we passed II, and was surprised to
lind what progress In the study OF CascO
Bay geography was making. But
Great Chebesgue Island WAS larger than
thought. With that on our right hand
and the steamer still pursuing its north
easterly course, We sailed for what seem
ed to me an hour. Finally ! asked an
other OF the party;
"weli, Is this land all Great Che
besgue?"
"Yes, I'll show you where we are"
said he, and taking my map he pointed
to spot Just of the southeastern corner
OF the island. without changing our
course from the direction In which we
started out, we had sailed almost around
the island, aud were headed back toward
Portland.
All the islands which we pass are
thickly dotted with summer cottages,
and II seems queer to read 10 pros
pectus Of Portland published In 1875
only twenty-five years ago-that "Sever-
al hundred people are now camping at
the Islands. Five cottages have already
been built. and more are planned"
People were remarkably slow about
"discovering" these islands, which had
been lying right there in Portland Har-
Dor, with all their charms, since Port
land was settled. For that matter, there
are hundreds Of other places Of about
the same degree OF AttrActlveness 10 our
state, which lay undiscovered even by
those who lived nesrest them for .
great many years. Finally We began to
appreciate the wealth OF nature.
We landed at the Forest City landing
on Peaks Island, and by that time the
objects OF the landscape had resumed
their normal position on the map. At
the Peaks Island House we we're served
a shore diuner 10 some six or eight
courses. II Was most appetizing din
ner. and perfectly served.
After dinner we occupied compliment
sry seats at the matinee st the theatre.
The building now occupied as q theatre
Was built for roller skating rink, dur
ing the craze. After the craze went out,
the building Was put to various uses,
and wns finally remodeled into 4 sum-