The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-04
These Are Happy Days Around
Montreal.
Improved Accommodations For Summer Visitors
Religious Assemblies That Are Now
in Session There.
Especial to News and Observer

Especial to News ana ODSerNelJ
Montreal, N. c., August 3,-"Is Mon
treat geographical centre?' was asked
at the tea-t table at Edgewood the other
;evening. We had just been counting the
States represented by the guests in the
house. Montana, Minnesota Iowa, KAN
sas, Massachusetts, New York, New
Jersey, Georgia. Florida, North Garo-
lima and Illinois. 1t is one of the Won
ders of Montreal where all the people
hail from and how they ever heard or
| this little settlement on the Blue Ridge
in their far away homes. Another Won
der is that, considering the crude,
crowded conditions that have prevailed
in previous summers, the people
return again and again But those DIS
comforts are of the past. The big, new
hotel was opened in June under the
able management of Mr.. Paxton and in
| a very short time my room was filled.
1t is one of the most airy and comfort
able of mountain inns and appears to
grow on the steep lodges on which 1t
! is built. 1t is quite ingeniously planned.
although but three stories in height, the
| floors are of six different levels, with
| a basement besides), and so steep is the
hillside on which the house is built that
| the last floor is not far from the ground
| at the rear. The exterior is rough ce-
ment and with the brown roo appears
| a part of the mountain. Very broad
pazzas run around three sides and are
we'll shaded with forest trees. There is
none of that disagreeable glare that
makes outdoor life and headache syn
onymous. Among Raleighites at the
| Hotel Montreal is Hon. F. M. Simmons
and family. 1t is rumored that Mr..
Simmons is so charmed with the beau
ties of Montreal and so impressed with
| it's future that he is endeavoring to Sc
cure three contiguous lots for resi-
dence.
| Materially Montreal has made great
strides in the past year. Two ladies
from Massachusetts have built on a
slope commanding wide and magnif1-
cent view. a very handsome house cost
ling four or five thousand dollars; Mr..
Cedester. of Asheville, is building a
large two-story log cabbin-a most
picturesque habitation that adds great
| ly to the landscape. The Misses Greene
built during the winter a commodious
and airy house near the church, where
| they welcome the old friends who So
| journed in the tiny Hickory Lodge last
summer, and promise to make them and
many new friends, much more comfort
| able this season. There are many new
cottages scattered through the settle
ment. Miss Wilkie, of Raleigh, is
| building one near the store. New roads
are being opened and old ones improved
| and new carriages have been added to
| the livery. e.- . !
| But even more than by it's beauty and
| health-giving air, it's cultured. Christian
people and cool rest, its hospitality and
out door recreations Montreal draws by
| it's unique assemblies There are two,
/ the first beginning July 21st; the second
August 11th, and each continuing fiji
1 teen days. The one devoted to Christian
work that is just drawing to a close,
| has been the most successful one yet
| held. The speakers have been eXcep-
! tionly successful in interesting the au
dienceS, from the beginning when the
listeners We're carried to the old Jerry
Macauley Mission in a New York slum,
to China with Rev. S. I. Woodbridge, to
Korea with Rev. d. B. Junkin and to
Africa with Rev Willis Hotchkiss. The
latter was pioneer in East Central At
RIGA and for six years never saw
white face. He told thrilling story of
Gods tender care and of the awful need
in the dark continent that should
awaken the conscience and a spirit OF
self-sacrifice in every Christian.
| This latter point was enforced by Mr..
| G.. A. Rowland, of Athens, Ca, a con-
\ secrated business man, who works
more, prays more and gives more for
missions than any one 1 have ever
known said Mr.. Gales, in introducing
him to the audience.
The music throughout this Assembly
| is in charge of Rev. John r. Herndon.
| The aim of Montreal is not to spread
| a spiritual and intellectual feast for
people who can command such fare at
| home, but to be light in the wilder
ness. To share with the people of this
mountain region that is but now opening
to education that with which they have
been blessed. u [-4
Receive to give" is the motto of
| sincere Montreal.
And how is the gift accepted by those
| for whom it is designed. On Sundays
there is almost continuous service from
early Sunday school until the eight
o'clock evening preaching. Over five.
,, ten. fifteen and even more miles of
mountain roads whole families and
neighborhoods come pouring in, dogs
! and babies, and lunches for man and
beasts. They especially enjoy the
music and there is much of it, solos by
! finely trained voices, and grand congre-
! gational singing, heart and soul, to
4, well known old tunes. 1t is but natural
| that these Sunday services in fine sum-
mer weather should, draw crowds OF
simple folks who have no other social
outing. But attend any one of the week
day evening meetings and note the
rapt faces rising. above the bingham
shirt and overalls of a day laborer;
see the many faces scanned with care
! and Drowned by outdoor toll listening
/ with deepest attention, and note that
these faces many young, many old, of
both sexes, are seen night after night,
| coming miles after days of hard toll.
Mingled with them are refined, cultured
faces of people to whom the meetings
are holiday treat, not the greatest
blessing of a whole year.