Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-08-01

Il
Haines Landing. Now Billy is owner o
the very popular place known as Pleas
ant Island Camps, near the upper end o
Cupsuptic Lake, also camps on Bircl
Island and Little Birch, near by.
I presume his legal name is William
but If so, doubt if he knows it. o.
our voyage that day, it was frequently
the case that some one wished to asl
him some question, and as the noise o.
the machinery was considerable, and b,
was pretty we'll occupied (he was pilot
engineer and fireman), it was necessary
first to attract his attention, when thu
conversation would run something likt
this:
| "Mr. Soulep'
He didn't hear.
Captain"
Still he didn't hear.
| "Billyw
And that brought him, and the desir
ed information, every time.
| Arrived at Billy's camps, We made ;
short stop to take on the dinner, ant
looked over the camps, when some o
the party decided that perhaps, after all
they hadn't yet seen the best thing a
the lakes. The fact is that notwith
standing the general similarity of thu
several resorts, there is nevertheless /;
variety to them, and each one appeals tt
you in a new way, so that for the time a
least it seems the most attractive. A,
this point We were joined by A. S. Hind!
and Mr.. and Mrs. H. Wallace Noyes OF
Portland. They had come in Mr.. Kinds
launch from his beautiful summer home
on the lake, of which more later. DR.
Foss of Boston, regular visitor at
Billy Soule's, also went along with us
and rendered valuable assistance in boil
the social and culinary features of the
day.
The dinner loaded, we proceeded
about four miles farther, to the head OF
the lake and up the tortuous Cupsuptic
River. That is the way it was described
in the circular, and no one could ques.
ton the accuracy of the term. We
twisted and turned, following channel
as crooked as snake track. The boat
which Billy was running was one belong
ing to the Berlin Mills Co., used princi-
pally for carrying supplies, which he had
secured to supplement bis own steamer.
She minded her helm very slowly, had
an awkward steering gear and still
more awkward reversing gear. 1t was
frequently necessary to back up some
distance and make fresh start, and
perhaps repeat the operation two or
three times; and sometimes, where there
was lack of sea room, to take a pole and
head her into the stream.
Our picnic ground was at a small
camp called "Tumble Inn," on the bank
of the stream, near the head of naviga-
ton. Candor compels the admission
that it was hot, so that for the first hour
we were there it was impossible to get
comfortable. In justice to the Rangeley
region, it should be stated that this was
the only time for the week that we were
unable to get away from the scalding
heat, and in this instance it was simply
because we were shut in by the woods,
so that the air did not reach us. After a
while approaching showers, which kind
ly refrained from catching us on the
ground, set the air in motion, and it was
quite endurable.
And the dinner With Billy Soule
presiding at the camp fire, no heat could
destroy the edge of ones appetite. Crisp
trout fried in deep fat, potato chips
cooked in the same fat, and all the &C
cessories. You secured a plate, and
picnic fashion, wandered around helping
yourself, without regard either to the
order of the courses or tie amount of
the total.
On our return down the lake, by invi-
tation of Mr.. Kinds, we enjoyed his
hospitality for a while, and made a short
stop at his summer home, Lagomonte
Lodge. Punch was served, and souve-
Mrs distributed, and we looked over the
house, which is the finest of the private
places on this lake, elegantly finished
and furnished. Mr.. Kinds and his family
very wisely 60 there early in the spring
and stay until late in the fall, and they
highly. enjoy entertaining their friends
there. The honse is about half mile
south of Haines Landing, where oul
next stop was made, at the Mooselook'
meguntic House.
The Interchangeable House is one
of the oldest established resorts on the
lake, and comprises hotel and some
outlying cottages. 1t is managed by L.
l.. Page, for many years manager of the
senate restaurant at Washington. II
nothing else fixed the memory of this
house in our minds, that planked salm or
served the night of our arrival would dc
1.-THE most toothsome morSel thai
palate could desire. There is an ex
tended view of lake and mountain from
the house, and in clear day the White
Mountains are distinctly visibl@
Haines Landing is the only point OF
this lake which can be reached by team
a good highway coming in here from
Rangeley. j. Waldo Nash, the Norway
taxidermist, stays there during the sum
mer, and has large establishment
which it will pay any one to visit
Walter D. Kinds of Portland also has ;
taxidermist's establishment, and then o
course there are also souvenir stores
for no tourist can expect to get ava.
from those, and, taken all together, there
is quite a little settlement.
| We remained at the Mooselucmegunti'
| House twenty-four hours, which was a
long as we stayed at any one place. Thi
gave those who wished an Opportunit.
to 90 fishing, and the results we all en-
loved at the dinner table. The onl.
fixed event of our stay was visit witt
Captain Barker to the Barker, his new
hotel a short distance down the lake
which illustrates camp life de lure. Fo
the rest we simply sat around at ease
and enjoyed the delicious GOODNESS, tn
beautiful surroundings, and the quie
restfulness Of the place.
Late Thursday afternoon we went b.
blackboard over a good road about
mile and half to Mountain View. Tn
Mountain View House is situated on tn
lower arm of Rangeley or Oquosso
Lake (which is the upper one Of tn
lchain), and about half a mile iron
Oquossuc station, the present terminu
of the Rangeley Lakes Railroad. Th
house and number of outlying cottage
are owned by l.. E. Bowley, a native q
Rangeley, and the house itself and tn
business it does are matter of naturs
growth from small beginnings. TIL
water in front being an arm of the lax
between mountains, is never rough, an
it is an ideal place for children to
boating, fishing and bathing. The tab
is first-class, and the water, as at all tn
} Rangeley resorts, is from springs OF tn
purest.
At Mountain View also we remained
full day. In the evening we were ente
tanned by some fine singing by Mr.
J Sealey of New York.