News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-12-31
A Winter at Mt. Desert

deck OF the steamer he feels that during
his vacation he has come to know the
island. If, possibly, his thoughts dwell
for moment on its condition in winter,
he thinks of that season as "A time of
hardship, period which the inhabitants
must unwillingly endure, their only
solace being their hope of his coming an
other summer.
TO know Mt. Desert, something more
than "a vacation visit is necessary. Beauti-
tul as are the days when the mountains
are thrilling with the touch of Summer,
there is reserved for the wintry season
beauty which the nomads uf the summer
visitation may not see. 1t is now that
the mountains laying aside the trappings
of an earlier day, are outlined against
the northern sky with dlstinctness
which the atmosphere of summer can
never give. The contrast is like that
between Tennyson's Bugle Song and one
of Millions sonnets.
In winter the use of the fir and the
spruce becomes apparent. Hidden by
the abundant robes of summer like a
plain garment covered by an embroid-
cred scarf. they are displayed in all their
serviceable beauty when the struggle
with winter is upon the earth. The
mountain sides are dark with the spruce
and the fir, all save one. The western
mountain, denuded of trees; it's very soil
scorched by the fires which have swept
over it, stands like giants cairn.
The snow is seldom deep upon Mt.
| Desert, even at times VIXEN the drifts are
| piled high upon the roads of the mainland
| and where the helpless trains are waiting
| for the snow pillow between Portland and
| Bangor. The snow in the village streets
| at Southwest or Bass Harbors soon yields
| to the ocean wind or to the fog. Yet
upon the mountain side the drifts linger,
and the idler who attempts the ascent
will find the climb no easy conquest.
Here and there stake, or a pile OF stones
erected by previous traveller marks the
way. At the mountain foot stands a
large farm house; as one ascends the
hillside he may look down into the tops
of the wide chimneys. There are, in the
ascent, even in summer, no venomous
reptiles to cause apprehension. On
Mt. Desert, TOO, the wild cat has
become myth and even the sup.
posed deer track, the discovery of
which in the ooze near trout brook was
reported in summer by returning fish
erman proved on investigation to have
been made by a fugitive from the farm
yard.
The path is marked by evidences of the
struggle continually in progress between
the mountain and its assaiiants. Here
and tneIe cIevlce in the ROCK or snail
low place IN he path is FLIED viii quartz
crystals worn from the solid granite by
the action Of rain and frost. They are
small i'll comparison with the blocks
which the quarrymen are taking from
the hills to The northWard, but they are
more numerous, and the workmen who
are eating away the sold mountain ac-
knowledge no ten hour law.
The view from the summit is worth
the climb, in summer or winter, but it is
in the last named season that stronger
realism is given to some of the stories of
island life. One should climb the noun
tain in winter to see at best advantage
the outline of Mt. Desert Rock and its
lonely lighthouse twenty-five miles at
sea. 1t is'with winter upon the land
scape that one may realize in some degree
the feelings of that keeper of the light
who, having visited shore on treacher-
ously beautiful day was kept weather.
bound tor weeks, his assistant remaining
alone upon the rock. Day after day, as
the seas continued to run high, the keep
er at the approach of sunset went part
of the way up the mountain and looKed.
anxlouslY out to sea, satisfied for the
time as the light flashed once more from
the lonely rock
The life of the community undergoes a
change of atmosphere in Winter which
corresponds to the shifting of outward
phenomena. Just as the mountains stand
out more distinctly, so the life of the viii
lage, cleared Of a certain summer haze,
reveals it's salient features. In the social
gatherings of the winter, at the chu:ch
festivals, in the celebration OF puolic
holidays, one obtains clearer view of
popular virtues and foibles than is posi-
Ole to a chance visitor.
There is one occasion which in itself
would repay a winter on the island: the
Annual Town Meeting. To tins Dix
note do the men gather from ha.1
iozen villages and scattered gIoups of
houses. The session lasts Two DAYS, not
rom absolute necessity but because an
opportunity for all the men of the to W.
nip to meet and talk is not TO be nightly
reated. Men who never appear in the
'Illage except at this grand meeting,
ome forth, aud the tables at the Town
deeting dinner are surrounded Oy sue
esslve relays OF hungry voters ~ the
molument OF the LADIES' Aid Societies.
This annual gathering in days not long
'ast was always preceded by caucuses,
Democratic or Republican, for In Maine
/ would seem a Keeper OF the Town
Jump could not be elected without refer
nee " ms parGzan affiliations. Dwelling
inside the Pine Tree State, we Can not
yIaa A.. - lNoa l,rs