Year: 1862

DEAR PRESS After fatiguing ride of
sixty miles, from Bangor to Moosehead, one
hardly feels in the humor of appreciating seem
cry however fine it may be. And yet the
beauty Of the Lake, as it breaks upon the
sight, and the charming village on its southern
shore, never fail to refresh the tired tourist
and give promise of approaching rest


The village of Greenville would be called
by the Gazetteers "a small collection of houses
at the foot Of the lake, the inhabitants support
ing themselves principally by traffic in the
winter and autumn with the lumbermen: in
the summer months by entertaining and guild
ing visitors. There are in the place two hotels
and one half, two or three stores, small
church, as well as one steamboat which does
go, and two which do not.' But as it is not
my purpose to supply material for any Gazet-
teer now published or projected, it will be per-
haps better to turn at once from statistics to
the notabilities of the town, chief among
whom stands the veteran Indian guide, Louis
Annance. He is a venerable old man who
still bears up well under the burden of many
years of hard work, for like others of his race
he win sooner break than bend. A graduate
of Dartmouth College, he studied Divinity for
a year or two, in order to become minister
among his tribe; but as he says, 'they and l
gave it up because had too much Indian in
me and too little priestr And as he found
ready employment in his capacity of guide, he
gave up all thoughts of becoming a pastor and
has lived at the foot of Moosehead ever since.
The failing strength of Louis has prevented
him, for couple years, from taking an active
part in the labors ON the lake, but last summer
he was induced to act as guide to an English
nobleman, who was desirous of passing through
Northern Maine. / remember having seen.
last August, in a deserted cabin on Eagle Lake.
the names of this party who had passed the
night in the house three weeks before. The
names of Viscount Milton and his surgeon and
guides were written in charcoal on one of the
highest beams, while underneath was char
coal sketch of the canoes, which had evidently
been made by Louis. Our party, determined
not to be outshone by even a nobleman and
his suite, recorded our names in another part
of the dwelling, even more conspicuously-
But how ephemeral is fame! This Spring |
passed along the same bank of the Lake and
looked in vain for that which was to be our
enduring monument The old shanty had
been burned to the ground some time before,
and only few halfmelted bottles and tin
can remained to indicate that il had ever been
anything more than an aboriginal abode. A
single remark more about the English Lord
will end this depression. Louis says, and Louis
came pretty near becoming priest you know,
that Viscount Milton was desirous of going in
canoe over the swift Allegash rapids
Louis demurred, but to no purpose. And, as
very natural consequence, in about five min
utes more the aforesaid Viscount might have
been seen wading towards the shore i'm about
four feet of strong and swift water. To 90
back for moment to Louis Annance That
summer visitor who passes through Greenville
and forgets to see him. will lose much pleasure,
for Louis is quite communicative and agreeably
SO. But when you go down the west road to
his little house, please take tolerably large
stick unless you have a winning way with big
dogs.


Old Ellis is well-known to your readers al
ready from the charming communications of