The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-07
A BIRMINGHAM GIRL
 WRITES OF NEW ENGLAND

ANalldAllei I1dWAnOlHct GdTdn AEHt JEW cit. Kate Douglas Wiggfn, Elizabeth stradard and Sylvester Judd in the field of literature; Franklin Pierce. Hannibal Hamiin, James c. Blaine. Thomas B. Reed, Charles 4. Boutelle. Nelson Ding ley and Charles Iittlefleld in politics. Nordica and Flames in music; Sir Hiram Maxim (who is spoken of as "Hi," by the people who have long known the Maxim family or known of them). His brother thing except adopted nationality in science; and last but not least Bill Nye, who was such a leader in humorous writings for many years-all add to the glory of the Pine Tree state. I am sorry that the list is so meagre and incomplete, but l have no means, just now, of en- 1arging my information in this regard One hears so much In Maine about the music festivals and fairs. Every octo- Der there are the music festivals in Port land and Bangor. and there are well trained choruses in many smaller places which study the festival music.
 Before we came away we saw the festival advertisements and were glad to recognize the fact of some whom we have applauded here in Birmingham at our own festivals. Probably there are many of us who remember that 1t was at the Portland music festival of 1899 that Madame Sembrick was so impress ed with Carrie Bridewel1s voice. This led to the friendship between them and Mss Bridewelrs rapid rise to the ranks of the singers of grand opera.
 They have the Maine state fair at Lewiston and the Central Maine state fair at Bangor every year, both having large appropriations from the state President Roosevelt attended the latter this year. Then as If that were not enough, the different counties have their fairs and sections of counties have their fairs. So with religious conventions. campmeetings, teachers institutes, music festivals, fairs, horse trots, end races, excursions and circuses. there is some thing for every one to attend, for of course the same people do not go to all these things. I wonder if they do?
 Birmingham people have cause to re- member with pleasure the Maine state fair town Lewiston, for from that place came Miss Blanche Fowle who was one of the contralto soloists at our first festi- val in May, 1899. We remember her as much for her unusual beauty and charm ing stage presence, as for her singing.
 All this and nothing Yet of the rayol entertaining Maine gives her summer amusements and the best of each kind.
 One can go to the coast and enjoy the gayety of Old Orchard and Bar Harbor and scores of other gay places with ele- gant hotels and cottages, excellent ser vices and fine surf bathing. One lovely place is Ocean Park near Old Orchard which has a large summer population of professional people and their families, whom it is pleasure to meet.
 The cottages are pretty and neat. The surf bathing cold, but thoroughly enjoy able and healthful and the beauty of the beach is unexcelled. Here are good times galore. It was our pleasure to visit here for a week before going on to the noun tains and lake region where we spent nearly two months.
 Poland Spring can truthfully be called the gateway to the playground of Maine" A most elegant gateway, to be sure, and an entrance to a playground whose delights are unsurpassed Here is the most famous of all of Maine's hos telries-the Poland Spring house. This justly notable place enjoys the enviable reputation of having the greatest book ing of engagements in advance of any hotel resort or otherwise in America"
 At first we doubted that 1t could be ahead of the hotels at Kinlo, Old Or chard and Bar Harbor in Maine or the best in Florida and California. Our doubts were sincere but short lived. It would not be possible to tell in a brief article all we saw and learned from our day at Poland Spring so I shall simply mention the features which impressed us most and wherein this resort Is superior to others
 The large estate, which includes chain of lakes and the famous spring, is owned by Hiram Kicker and Sons. and the first house was built here in 1793, situated on the pike from Portland to Montreal. It was located where the Mansion House" now stands and was called from its own CT. the great grandfather of the present possessors, "The Wentworth Kicker" In 1876 the Poland Spring house was built on the crest of the hill, and it has met with the most marvellous success from its opening.
 Just a century after the opening of the "Wentworth Kicker came the Worlds fair and an award for Poland water. above all waters entered for com petition from all the spas and springs all over the world. It was of especial value, being the only award granted any water for the combined qualities of purity and great medical power
 TO commemorate this victory and to celebrate the hundred years of the habi- tation of this hill by the Kicker family, chased, taken to pieces and carefully brought to Poland Spring, where it was re-erected with the addition of another story, and is now a library and art gall Iery, having over 2000 works of standard authors, geological and botanical exhibits and a rare collection of works of art by leading American artists This Is without doubt not only the finest, but also the first feature of this kind ever furnished by any hotel.
 The attention to details of the corpora tion of Hiram Kicker and sons cannot fail to impress the visitor. The extensive con- servatory, the golf links under the man agement of MT. A. H. Fenn; the large