The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-07-04
Difficult Digestion
BY BLACKBOARD TO CAMDEN,

What more delightful combination
can be imagined than one of "Ralph's"
comfortable four-horse buckboads,
beautiful June day, smooth roads and
party of ladies with all household
cares and ''the men folks" excepting
the trusty driver left behind? The
party Of eleven who left Belfast for
Camden Wednesday, June Goth, under
these conditions firmly believe there is
none.
After gathering up the ladies and
their lunch boxes en- route, the party
was "all aboard" about $50 A. NJ, and.
left by the back road for the beauti-
full little town of Camden. When
short distance out of the city
it was discovered that there was an ad-
dition to the party in the person of the
Irish setter Larry" who had followed
one of the ladies from her home. As
it was thought that an eighteen mile
run in the hot sun would be too much
for him, an effort was made to detain
him at friendly house. After consid-
cradle confusion Larry was captured
by the collar and led into the house,
while the blackboard full of jubilant
ladies drove off congratulating them
selves on their success.
They had reckoned without their dog,
this time, however, for about half
mile farther on Larry appeared,
painting from the neat and dripping
from a roadside BATH And the eigh-
teen miles to Camden Larry" went, re-
freshed by numerous plunges into
brooks and pools, and amusing himself
with charges on every hen, chicken or
cat that his bright eyes could ferret out.
The country was looking its very
best The fields were white with daisies.
yellow with buttercups, and sometimes
| red with sorrel, while the roadsides
| were gay with wild Towering shrubs and
delicate waving ferns and grasses. In
passing Pitchers Pond the familiar cot
tages were seen, and the recent addi-
ton to the number cleaned brightly
through the trees.
Here and there we passed walls and
banks literally covered with June roses,
whose fragrance made the air delight
full. The day was very warm, and at
| times the heat of the sun was uncon-
Portable, but the fresh breezes were re.
freshing and no one suffered greatly
from the heat.
| After long drive, past neat farm
houses, single or in groups, fine look
ing hay fields and thriving gardens, the
base of the mountains and Lake Me-
gunticook were reached and the de-
lightful drive around the foot of the
mountains enjoyed to it's fullest extent.
Maiden Cliff and the cross were among
other points of interest, and the pa
thetic story was retold.
A halt was made at Smelt Brook,
where lunch boxes were unpacked and
a picnic dinner eaten, while the horses
lad a welcome rest and both ladies and
horses enjoyed refreshing drinks of
lemonade and lake water, respectively
From our dining place to Camden was
about two miles, a distance quickly
covered, and soon we were passing the
prettily kept houses on the outskirts Of
the town. The cemetery was particu-
larly pretty and well kept, and one Of
the party Informed us that the lots
were free to residents, provided they
were properly cared fora plan that
was highly commended by all.
After short drive through the
streets we alighted at the steps of the
'Bay View kept by Ames & Wright
the latter at one time one of the pro-
prietors of our late lamented Crosby
Inn-in time for the one O'Clock car
for Rockland, which the whole party
boarded. This was an unforeseen de-
parture for some of the party, who
were not supplied with change. The
difficulty was soon made up, however,
by generous friends, and the journey
continued, regardless of the bankrupt
condition of some Of the party. One
lady, who was particularly generous and
seemed to be very ''hush," confessed
that she had rifled her little sons bank
of it's small change previous to her de-
parture-as precaution against such
an emergency. The ride to Rockland
was delightful, and the glimpses of
Camden harbor, with picturesque Negro
Island at its entrance, and of Rock
ports harbor and quarries were particu-
larly interesting. A tleeting glimpse
was had of the power house of the
Rockland, Thomaston & Camden Street
Railway Co., and, farther on, of the
plate-glass windows of the Courier
Gazette Office, in Rockland. The party,
on alighting near the entrance of Fuller
& CObb's well stocked, arranged and
lighted store, first encountered Belfast
boy in the person of Faunce Woodcock,
who recognized us in spite of our coat
ing of dust. After making an inspec-
ton of the interior of the store, and
purchasing sundry articles, Miss Hattie
claimant % nolEocA L,,A