Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-13
IN new ENGLAND HILLS
Washington Residents Seek
Rest and Recreation There.
IN GOOD OLD SUMMER TIME
Buy Farms and Provide Ali Modern
Conveniences.
GRANITE STATE ATTRACTIONS
Nights Cool, Making Necessary the
Cracking Wood Fire''-Beauty
of Wooded Slopes.
peclal From a stafr Correspondent.

this section would have Deen CONSIDERED
high a. few years ago. which goes to show
that there has been an upward tendency.
1t is all due to the advent of the summer
resident, for to that source may be traced
the increased demand for real estate
In the sale of summer homes good deal
is being done toward solving the problem
presented by the abandoned farms of New
England. In this locality, the southwest
portion OF the state, which is remote from
railroads, the nearest station being fourteen
miles away, some notable exchanges have
taken place in recent years.
What has been done is almost entirely
due to residents of Washington, and the
number from that city owning property
here has so Increased that it may be said
there is quite a colony from the capt.
tai city who find quiet, peaceful homes
among these hills. 1t will no be disputed
by any one who spends few days here
that both of the adjectives used in the
| foregoing entirely appropriate and &C
curately describe the conditions. The first
night in this region for the visitor IS
unique experience. The stiffness Is so pro-
found that it actually keeps one awake for
time.
Such a statement seems to be absurd
but in spite of that 1t is true. To see this
it is but necessary to consider the condi-
| lions, Not q sound Of any kind is to be
| heard. There is no source from which any
thing could come that would break the
stiffness. The birds go to sleep early. and
there are no tree frogs. Usually also there
| is no high wind at this season. The houses
are generally remote from the voices of
! the stable, and while many of the dwellings
are farther from the road than most of
the houses in Washington. as there is lit
| tie or no travel after nightfall, the situa-
tion OF the residences in this respect makes
no difference.
And what a soothing influence such alb
solute quiet of the night has on nerves
and mind. 1t is easy to get used to It, and
| what a commentary on the lives of most
men it Is that they live amid such sur
| roundings that they must needs get &C
customed to this great blessing that nature
provides.
All Are Early Risers.
AS might naturally be expected from
| this account of the nights in the
New Hampshire uplands early hours
of rising are the rule This applies
to the summer residents as well as to
the people who live here all the year
around For the most part those from the
city, when they bought their places and es-
tablshed their homes here for the summer
months. also anticipated the customs of the
region, at least such as had to do with what
might be termed '.the simple life in mode
of daily occupation. They made such
changes in the farm houses as were needed
to adapt them to the needs of their family
life. The furniture was selected from the
was purchased which was without a dwell
ing house, one was built and of course the
modern type of country house was as a
rule adopted.
One of the great needs of modern life. a
plentiful supply of water In home and sta
BILE. Is obtained from springs and wells and
with the aid Of the windmill, 1t is sent
where 1t Is required. So most of the mod
ernized farm houses have bath rooms
There Is an abundance Of open fireplaces,
for this is region where wood is the ex-
elusive fuel. coal not being seen even In
cases where some Of the new houses have
been equipped with furnaces.
There has been a great deal written about
the cheer and socialbiity of a cracking
wood fire on hearth, and even a brief ex-
perfence with such feature OF home will
convince one that the wood fire is worthy
of all that has been said in its favor.
II might be thought that the summer resi-
dent has very little chance to enjoy wood
fires. but in this latitude. more especially in
this altitude, the warmth of fire is very
acceptable in the early mornings and in the
evenings and, of course, on rainy days.
No doubt the most interesting side of
! summer life here would be an account of
the farming operations of the city people
who now own some of the farms This
would be especially the case when the per-
sonality of the owners is known The
Washington farmers here include DIR. Will
liam Gerry Morgan, Mr. A. Iisner Dr. s.
s. Adams. Miss Grace DEMO Ltchfleld and
Mr.. Mason Richardson. Most of the Wash
ingtonians live in remodeled farm houses.
Designed for Convenience.
The structures originally built are low
aud rambling, designed for convenience and
for reducing the work of household to the
lowest degree The porch Is, of course an
important adjunct of summer homes but
In this locality 1t was entirely unknown
until some five or six years ago, when Dr.
Morgan, who is the discoverer of the place,
bought a farm and reftted the farm house
for use as his dwelling. Now however the
! porch, with its equipment of chairs and
. hammocks, not only announce, at a distance
the presence of the city folk, but also that
some OF the regular residents nave found
this feature of the house indispensable
, after all. The lawns sweep up to the
porches, and, of course, the location of
the houses was chosen by the former own
, ers. they are almost as close to the road
; as they can be put, In the fashion which Is
so common in country districts. and
which: OF course. has substantial reasons
, behind II. However, as there Is but little
travel. such proximity to the highway is of
no unpleasant consequence. In fact, when
once or twice day. perhaps, some vehicle
passes along the sight is apt to arouse
, even in the heart of the city resident, pro-
, vided he has been up there week or So
. degree of interest that almost amounts
to glow of excitement
Typical Farmers Garb.
A picture of Farmers Morgan. Larner
Adams and Richardson, each with his over
alls tucked in the tops of his rawhide boots,
and his one "gallus' swung catacornered
over his shoulders TOT greater security In the
hitch on his trousers. and his broad brim-
med straw hat. tust he comes In from
] doing the chores or blowing, would furnish
good material for newspaper cut. How
ever, II has been impossible to get a kodak
focused on any one of these gentlemen in
their bucolic parts The fact is that when
Dr. Morgan is not driving his four-in-hand
and Dr. Adams not sitting on his porch,
taking in the fine sweep OF valley and hill
spread out before him. they are not doing
farm work at ALL Mr.. Laruer, who is in
Europe this year rides horseback a great
deal when he is here, while Mr.. Richardson
also does not find time to go in for mere
| farm work.
1t is quite evident that the passing OF
these abandoned farms into the hands Of
the present owners, whatever significance
the change may otherwise have in the solu-
ton of the problem. does not mean a re-
vival OF the farming industry. For. II the
whole truth be told, the present occupants
do not farm. They rest in the first place
and they enjoy the quiet. the bracing ell