The Republican journal., 1910-07-21
A PERFECT DAY,
And an Auto Ride Up Country.

Ana an AUTO MUG OP SOuAuy.
Nowhere, and at no time, could there have
been more perfect day than last Sunday.
There had been rain the night before in some
section near or far and brisk breeze from the
northwest brought with it refreshing cool
ness and something of the tang OF day in the
fall. But there was no haze over the distant
hills; the atmosphere was wonderfully clear;
the sky an intense blue which was accentuated
by the fleecy white clouds which fiecked its
surface and frequently tempered the too ar
dent ravs of the sun. Taking their hue from
the sky the ponds, streams and rivers were of a
blue not often seen, and the noble river which
flows into our bay might well have been called
the Blue Penobscot and fairly rivalled the
Blue Danube of the land across the seas. The
whole landscape was remarkably fresh, in vary
ing shades of green, diversified, by the cultivat-
ed areas, and even where the hay makers had
been at work there was no evidence OF the rus
set brown that marks the decline of summer.
The writer, while pretty good pilot in
Penobscot bay and adjacent waters, is 'all at
sea- in the country, and an auto ride took him
to "fresh woods and pastures new" Part of
the way was of course familiar. Crossing the
upper bridge we had on the one hand the al
ways to be admired view mp the Passagassa-
waukeag and the other the harbor. But
after we had passed Swanville mills and Cliff
Cottage, nestled in the woods near the foot of
Swan Lake, it was all new territory. And what
a charming drive it is along the western shore
:. 81, cd byf fha IN
either side. Soon we came to the cottages, and
"One John Cabin" and 1.-TWO John Farm were
pointed out. The Lake House, E. C. Marden
proprietor, is having veranda built on the
front which will be welcomed by the many
patrons as affording a comfortable resting
place while commanding a fine view down the
lake From the lake on to Frankfort it was
new country to the writer. In Frankfort we
passed under the track of the B. & A. railroad,
glided through the village and negotiated some
stiff hills, up which the car climbed with an
ease that brought to mind how pair Of horses
would have toiled with heavy team behind
them. From here on we had frequent and
lovely views of the Penobscot, but not sail
dotted its white surface and even the usually
ever present motor boat was conspicuous by
its absence. In Winterport familiar object
was the Fred Atwood homestead, the scene of
many social gatherings and where the latch
string was always on the outside, and of the
warehouse adjoining, where Mr.. Atwood had
carried on an extensive business in agricultural
implements, and was known throughout Maine
as the Meadow King from the moving machine
of that name which he handled exclusively.
We had greeting from Ellery Bowden, Esq,
Register of Deeds for Waldo county, as we
passed by his home and next we came to
Hampden, the present terminus of the electric
road that was to have been built through to
Stockton Springs. What an electric road will
do for place was indicated by the many new
and attractive houses built up along the line
some of them apparently summer homes and
others for permanent occupancy by people
employed in Bangor. An object of interest
here was the Hampden Academy one of the
many old institutions of learning that did SO
much for the educational and intellectual de-
velopment of Maine in its early days.
Arriving in Bangor too early for dinner at
its famous hostelry, the Bangor House, our
ride was extended to the water works, the
Eastern Maine General Hospital and the East
ern Maine Insane Hospital, both extensive
plants with substantial buildings recen
addition to the former is children's ward
The ride home was via Monroe village, and
after making the detour, by the same route
we had followed in the morning. Although ii
was an ideal hay day not many were at work
in the fields. In few places the crop had
been made and hauled in; in others the hay
was in winrows or cocks, but more than halt
the grass was still standing The finest grass
Monroe. 1t was waist high, thick and strong
with not buttercup daisy showing in it
There is large acreage of potatoes in the
section traversed. In some places they were
just showing above ground; in others, in BIOS
som, and in few fields the potatoes had failed
to germinate in sufficient numbers to pay TO,
digging. 1t is thought that the acreage is
somewhat increased over last year; due in
part to the hope of retrieving the losses of last
season and in part to the fact that the farm
thought it best to utilize it. Some corn was
seen in varying stages of advancement, and in
one or two places it was evidently planted fol-
fodder or ensilage. There were many gooG
farms seen during the ride, and much gooc
land awaiting development, while the tree.
made most attractive landscape. CAP.