Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-08-24
MOUNT DESERT
AND BAR HARBOR
The Queen of Summer Resorts
Sunset CLOVIS and Beautiful Col
Orinqs--MOuntains that Come
Up out of the Sea---Magnificant
Scenic Effects. Etc Etc.

W Out VI thp oosA
Scenic Effects, Etc Etc.
TStaff Correspondence of the Spectator
As Palm Beach is the prettiest win
ter resort In the land, 10 is Mt Desert
the prettiest summer resort. Ihey
cannot he compared. The one is III
the extreme South, the other in the
extreme North, and each is beautlfnl
in its own way, each prominent IN lts
season. lint il is of Mt. Desert that
We wish now to speak, for it is her
season. In it's summer dress L can
imagine nothing more beautiful than
the mountain island and it's environ
ment. Imagine, if you will, clump OF
rugged mountains, surrounded by less
er peaks, and beneath them basin
like valley. Into this land the ocean
waters have flooded till only the tops
of the lesser peaks are seen and in the
midst towering 1900 feet above them
is the great central cluster of noun
tains with their shelving lodges and
spreading foot hills yet above the tide.
Add to this picture hundreds OF hand
some villas, and gardens, and castle like
buildings, that cover the foot bills and
adOrn the cliffs, while superb driveways
wind in and out among the rock lodges
and decIivities, and furnish glimpses
far down into the boiling sea. Such is
Mt. Desert Island.
We reached the place by boat from
Mt. Desert Ferry. sail of eight miles
among the smaller islands and through
chanel passes of Freedman Bay.
The sun had set when our steamer left
the landing, and its pale rays strug-
Cling feebly through the light clouds
and haze that settled upon the water,
gave to the entire atmosphere pink
ish blue tint-a colOring that cast a
weird beauty over the scenes about Us.
have never seen anything like it
beautiful, yet weird-a bit uncanny.
AS the night came on the blue gave
way to lighter pink, and then the
faded reds, each in order changing the
appearance of land and sky, till the
dense blackness of night had settled
about us. When dark shadows swept
by our decks we knew them to be the
palisades of some wooded island. At
Sorrento our vessel crept in between
rock walls and landed passengers for
the hotel located higher up on the slope,
whose lights twinkled like cOnsteIla-
ton above us. Then on, and on, through
the darkness till the harbOr lights on
Mt. Desert beamed into view, telling
us that the short voyage was ended.
AS we emerged from the landing
there was wild hurrah and scramble
among the cabbies for our luggage
Hard by were their teams, long row
of open phetons, all of them in light
tan-birdseye maple-with whip cord
upholstering; and handsome horses.
We could have made no mistake had
we taken any one of them. However
we sought out the New Florence"
man, and thither we were driven-a
delightful hosiery with every comfort
and withal the most scrupulous neat
ness, model in hotel home life.
After supper we took in the town of
Bar Harbor, which is the chief borough
on the island and numbers about 5000
residents. Next morning we were out
before breakfast to view the four wal
vessels in the harbor and to strole
along the wonderfully beautiful ashore
Path" AS may be imagined by its
name. this path led along the brink Of
the cliffs that line the water front. Ii
its windings along the rugged coast line
the path led us through some of thu
handsOmest estates on the island. There
we're rustic bridges spanning miniature
chasms, handsome gates and the lines
evergreen shade trees have ever seen
Groves of spruce grow there to round
ed perfection. A feature of Bar Har-
Dor beauty is the elegance of the lawn
l-thickly erased and as evenly shear
ed as a carpet. In some places thu
lawns are too delicately kept for hu
man tread, and IN proof of this We say
the gardeners on several fine estate
seated ON mats as they, with slende
blade knives carefully gOuged out thu
small par ticles of weed, stick, or stra
gravel from the soft bed of velvet
grass. These particles were deposite
in baskets and as the men moved frOI
place to place they pushed the mat
along to sit on that they might no
g0uge or trample the grass
And so the places everywhere are KEPT
with that scrupulous care and neatnes
that-tO more or less extent-seem
to characterize New England HON
life.
Before we landed at Bar HarbOr 8,
had been our plan TO take in the islam
by trolley rides, but We soon Learned
that no street cars we're allO wed to MI
the Wild natural or artificial pictu
esqueness of the island, aud no snor'
, ing automobile is allowed to noise th
driveways and frlghten the highly ore
Maine horses So every one has
, drIve-or walk We did much of bot
Driving is of course the great sport, al
TO encourage it there are many miles
magnificent roadway, picturesque
e the extreme. Another favOrlte pas
: time-with those who can afford lG-
yachting, and there are many estat
that have their launch their own Ian
r ing and boat house. But for tho
y less burdened with riches, the dellgh
= of boating may be had at reasonal
a hire, and several times during the d.
d nicely equipped excursion steame
l. make the various landings among t
islands at a small cost.
!. A favOrite trip is to Mt. Desert Fer
"a hut a mora heautiful one ls the rOu