Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-27
SUMMER HOMES IN MAINE.
A Chance There to Find Rest and
Pleasure.

| To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
At this time. when so many of your good
readers are considering the important
| question of where to spend the summer
vacation. may l be permitted to offer a
few suggestions that may possibly be OF
| interest?
There are some who like the social fea-
lures Of large summer resorts and who
would be lonely at a country farm house.
| 1t is not to them that / address myself
1t is to those who love the restful quiet
| of the field and forest and who prefer the
songs of the birds to the music of the
piano. and the isle of the woods to
the glitter of the ball room. L speak to
fathers and mothers who have young chill
dren whom they desire to see grow up to
manhood and womanhood strong and
healthy. To such L say buy summer
home in Maine.
The abandoned FARMS" OF which we
have heard so much. are not now very
plentiful but there are many places. aban-
doned and otherwise that may be pur-
chased for $500 and up. Necessary repairs
to buildings in such cases would cost from
$500 up. Such places would have an
abundance of wood and sometimes consid-
cradle valuable timber There would be
tillage and pasture land, the former in
poor condition. If one did not care to cul-
tivate the land he could rent the fields
and pasture.
could be put in fine condition. including
the setting out of blackberries. raspberries
and Strawberries. For a much less sum
arrangements might be made with a neigh
boring farmer to prepare and plant the
garden each spring and to keep it I'm good
condition until the advent of the owner
in July or later On most of these places
there are usually some good apple trees.
which, with pruning and grating, would
soon yield fine fruit.
1t is possible to obtain such places as L
describe on the borders of fresh-water
lakes or ponds" which are the glory OF
Maine. Thus situated, one may have his
own boat and easily supply his table with
fish of many varieties
If the seeker after country place wishes
less land or desires to be near on the
edge of some country village, where il Is
less lonely. he can buy an acre lot for 500
or more and build comfortable summer
cottage for from 800 to $1,000. Whichever
plan you adopt the cost will not be much
more than what you will pay for a single
season at fashionable resort and each
year thereafter the expense will be very
small
A friend of mine told me yesterday that
she had obtained from the proprietor OF a
summer hotel at Gloucester Mass. an estf-
mate of the cost of entertainment for her
self, three children and nurse for July Au-
gust and September. Ii was 81 $40 For
this sum she might purchase a fine coun-
try place In Maine, furnish it. live on it
three months and have enough left in her
purse to do considerable shopping in New
York on her return
L often hear the remark, But Maine Is
so far away Is it? You take the ) pm.
train on the Pennsylvania and the next
morning at IL you are in Portland. One
does not need to go up into AroostoOk
county or even to Bangor to find such
places. Maine is just far enough away
to give that decided change i'm climate.
temperature and food which Is necessary
for the recovery of the tired and worn-out
toiler. You will hardly believe II without
looking on a map. but the southern point
Of Nova Scotia is considerably south OF
Portland and Halifax is north of Augusta.
The effect of such a change on children is
marvellous. They come back fat rosy and
healthy in body and mind.
Purchase a summer home I'm Maine. More
and more each year will il endear itself
to you and your children. and the very
trees and rocks will become your personal
friends. and you will know them by name.
You and yours will get dirt your hands
and tan on your faces. but you will real
ize more than ever before that God made
the country. and you will begin to think
that he n ade 1t for you.
THOS. s. HOPKINS.