The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-11-04
The View from Bald Rock.
It Surpasses Any Other View Of Equal
Extent on the Atlantic Coast.

It Surpasses Any Other View of Equal
/, Extent on the Atlantic Coast.
10 The EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL:
"Have you ever seen the view from the
summit Of Bald Rock mountain on an Oc-
tober day?
| 1t you have, you have seen one of the
greatest of Natures pictures. If you
have not, revelation of Natures Won
derful painting awaits you.
sometimes think that, if such scenic
beauty was to be found almost anywhere
else than hereabouts, that writers, in
both prose and verse, would be called to
give voice to all the world regarding it.
| Yet, for certainty, the most of even
State of Maine citizens, who have trav-
elled far to visit the beauty spots of
earth, do not know that from this par
ticular spot is view which surpasses
any other view of equal extent on the
entire Atlantic coast. That reads like
strong statement, and l am disposed to
| furnish some corroborative words from
very high authority. The Encyclopaedia
Brittanica, vol. XIV, page 297, speaking
CT this section of the coast of Maine says:
CAT an average distance of about three
miles from the mainland stretches a
chain of more than three hundred islands.
This coast line in its stretch of sea line,
its beauty of sea and land, Of island, in
let, bay, river and harbor, surpasses any
other equally extensive portion of the
Atlantic coast, and has been compared
by travellers of different countries with
the famed archipelago Of the Aegean
Sea. These islands on the west are
edge, but rising eastward, through
holder ones, eliminating in the crowns
and cliffs of Mt. Desert, and the still
more rugged islands about Quoddy head.
Behind these are harbors and river
mouths, convenient and spacious enough
to float the navies of nations.
With the prestige of this strongest of
authority as sponsor would like to tell
something more of this wonderful place.
The entire coast line of Maine, including
islands, is about $500 miles and fully
one-tenth of the whole is before one as
he stands on this point of vantage. The
clear crisp air of the middle of October
brought out with distinctness the outer
line of islands to the westward. To the
east, the Mt Desert mountains, $500 |
feet above the sea level, doomed up
beyond the nearer Blue Hills. A slight
%,,~, ,1x, %lD o,1{l Of Mp,,,n 11
highest peak, Mt Katahdin, 5,3S5 feet
above the level of the sea that lies SEEM
ingly almost at our feet, towers sharp, |
and clear cut against the horizon. All |
of the beauty of river, harbor, island |
and main coast line spoken of in the
quotation lay spread out before the little
party who made the trip to this favored
spot few days ago. But there were
some things for US to see not mentioned |
in the carefully edited encyclopedia ar
ticle.
There lay between US and the sea, and |
upon which we looked down, mass of |
color rarely seen. The foliage was still |
dense upon the forests Natures great
est riot of color, in every conceivable |
shade, blended into one gorgeous, har-
monious whole, like hat?-not like
carpet; no, no. that is to be walked upon;
not tapestry, which is to be hung up;
it was like nothing made by human
hands; it was the beauty of perfectness,
and as soft silvery crown studded with |
emerald islands lay the shimmering ocean
just beyond. 1t was simply most beau
tiful dream made reality.
AS our party turned our backs upon
this, another, less spectacular, but from
contrast startlingly beautiful and rest
full scene, was before US.
In the immediate valley below US,
studded with farm house and orchard, |
and titled land, and blazing in spots with
autumnal color, were some eight or ten
lakes, each one seemingly set as bril-
liant jewel to give value to an almost |
perfect landscape. In the center dis
lance, the afternoon light brought out
the outlines of the Presidential range,
Adams, Jefferson and Washington; to
the right and left, other and nearer
peaks, while low down on the horizon
lay distant high peaks that none of the
party could positively identify.
The charm OF the sea calls for another
look, and as the eye traces the Penob-
scot as it winds its way north, something
Of the immensely of the view impresses
one. This little ribbon, as it seems in
the total view before US, is at this mo-
ment acting as the water shed drain of
one third Of the entire area of Maine, the
greatest of the New England States,
carrying to the sea the DRAWINGS of at
least twelve thousand square miles.
There are grander views in this
country, but grandeur is not neces-
sarily beauty-and for a combined
view of the beauties of ocean, bay,
harbor, river, island and hill, and