The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-09-12
Christmas Cove and There
AbOutS.


of thirty English fishing vessels anchored
at the Damariscove Islands. The islands
lie off the mouth of the wide Damaris-
Gotta river. All the region about there
is very beautiful. especially in summer.
Near at hand is Outer Heron Island and
the pretty inlet called Christmas Cove
'How New England was made"
At the annual meeting of the Maine
Press Association in Portland, Jan. IL,
1912, it was voted that the summer ex-
cursion be made ITO the coast towns and
localities between Bath and Rockland,"
the selection and route being left to the
excursion committee, Messrs. Dunbar,
Bowditch and Tower. They chose Christ
mas Cove, and all who went on the ex
cursion heartily approved their choice.
Of course they could not control the
weather and so were net held responsible
for the Christmas weather that made
Sweaters a mockery and caused long
ilgs for fur coats.
The Belfast contingent had long day
of it Thursday. Leaving home at 6. SIS 4.
m. the journey was by rail via Burrnam
and Brunswick to Bath, arriving at the
Shipping City at noon. The boat for
Christmas Cove leaves Bath in the morn
ing, but there is a "a p. m. boat for
Boothbay Harbor and four members of
the NJ P. A boarded her in due season.
but she did not leave the dock until
nearly an hour late. The tide had begun
to ebb shortly before and as it runs
strongly the boat made rapid progress
on the tortuous course among the is
lands. The writer went over this route
in 1897 when the Maine Press hau it's ex-
curson to Boothbay Harbor, and the
passage of the Narrows, the various
landings, including the picturesque Five
Islands, the passing through two bridges,
etc, were readily recalled. The COM
paratively few people seen at the land
ings. ana the few lights seen above the
first story in the So irrel Inn, indicated
that the tide of summer travel was on
the ebb-a little arlier than usual per-
haps because of the prevalence of fog in
August and the unseasonablyco weather
that marked its close But | am getting
little ahead of my story. The steamer
landed us at Boothbay Harbor an hour
or SO late, but with nearly an hour to
wait before we could get the boat for
Christmas Cove. 1t was a question
whether we should get supper on arrival
at our destination, and so we visited the
Blue Ship Tea Room for a cup of the
beverage that cheers but does not in
ebriate, with accompanying sandwiches,
and thus were fortified for the sail of an
hour or more in the twilight on the
steamer Islesford. Several landings were
made, the last at Squirrel Island, and
then our welcome haven, the Holly Inn,
was reached, where there were old
friends to greet US and supper was in
waiting. Of the Inn, its location and
surroundings there will be something to
say later.
In entering Boothbay Harbor the
Menawarmet Hotel doomed up on the
right and this recalled the visit of the
Maine Press referred to above. This
hotel was new then and most of the party
were quartered there; but the cold
folks" were sent to the Weymouth
House, kept by two elderly maiden ladies
of that name, and it was q most comfort
able and home-like place. The landladies
Of that day have passed away, as have
all but two Of their guests. The sur
vivors are now at Christmas Cove. The
departed We're Major and Mrs. Rowell of
Hallowell, Judge and Mrs. Baker and H.
X. Morrel of Gardiner.
Very little political talk was heard on
the trip, but lady was met who was in
the Senate chamber at Augusta when
Hanson made his rum speech, in which
he traduced the dead and libeled the
living, and she could hardly find words in
which to express her Indignation and dis
gust. She agreed with many others
who heard this speech that in delivery
it was much worse than any of the print
ed reports, official or otherwise, and re-
garded it as proclamation of chamber in
which so many of Names distinguished
sons had been heard. AS white rib
boner she was indignant at the slurs cast
upon Mrs. L. NJ N Stevens, and when
the speaker declared that the w. C. T.
U. had never accomplished anything she
said she felt like telling him then and
there of some of the good work they had
done. With many others she expressed
surprise that Waldo county should send
such representative to the legislature.
The Holly Inn is anew, or comparative
ly new, hotel, replacing one burned just
before the date set for its opening, is
modern in all its appointments and equip
ment, and stands high above the water,
commanding beautiful views in every
direction. On the night of our arrival,
from the veranda at the rear, we saw
the light on Monhegan, and in the day
time the island, IL miles distant, is plain
ly visible. Islands, inlets and coves are
seen in every direction. Little steamers
and motor boats, with an occasional sail
ing yacht go to and fro. there is tennis