Year: 1873

To the Editor of the Press:


Mt Desert has sprung fully and vigorously
into public favor and it is becoming quite the
correct thing to go there at some time during
each Summer. From wind-swept, rocky
wave-lashed, foggy island wilderness, it has
within very few years emerged into butterfly
existence in which its winds are sought
for their invigorating properties, its rocks
are utilized for advertising purposes, the
wash, swash and dash of the waves are watch
ed by the romantic, the pensive, the tired and
the idle, its fogs-well, the less said about
them the better-and the wildness, grandeur
and beauty of its natural scenery have found
thousands of appreciative eyes,


The usual method of approach to Bar Har-
bor-the swell part of the island-is by steamer
from Portland, and the line is organized and
managed to perfection: but as there are many
to whom sea voyage is worse than all the tor
lures of the Inferno, daily overland stage line
from Bangor has been established, and is quite
literally patronized. TIE most convenient and
comfortable means of access, however is, and
always must be, by steamers and the ooyageurs
are full of praises of the Lewiston and her cour-
teous and accommodating corps of officers.


had the pleasure of driving down from Ellis
worth with delightful party-a better mode of
travel than either boat or stage. The road
from Ellsworth to the bridge leading to the
Island is level and good; but from the bridge
to Bar Harbor, about ten miles, liberal measure,
the road is infested with hills of astonishing
dimensions and bewidering intricacy of con-
volution. Just before arriving at the Bar, is a
hill of immense length, with abrupt turns on
the edges of eminently respectable precipices
The convivial title Of Corkscrew Hill is attached
on account, perhaps, of its tendency to create
dizziness of the head and the certainty that apy
one who fools with it will come to grief How
any horses, unless they be of a hard headed
variety, indigenous to the Island and Injured by
the habits of a lifetime to eccentric roads, ever
succeed in navigating carriage safely down
this twisting and irregular declivity, must
always remain profound mystery.


On the eastern side If the Island, crowning
and stretching down the sides of ridge of land
commanding an extensive and charming view
of water rock, Forest field and small islands,
is situated the village of Bar Harbor-a village
of hotels. A broad street runs down the incline
to the wharves and the hotels are ranged along
its sides and on small cross streets-with spa
cious grounds and broad piazzas. Near the
summit is the Rodick House, the largest of the
lot-a sort of Siamese twin hotel-con sisting
Of two houses connected by broad covered
passage. Here presides the proprietor, Capt.
Rodick, an "old inhabitant" who seems to keen
hotel chiefly for the pleasure Of entertaining
his fellow creatures, so genial, kindly and ac-
commodatng is he in all his ways. Although





his house was full to repletion, he addressed
himself to the task Of placing us with SO much
hearty good will and efficiency that within an
hour we were all provided with comfortable
apartments, albeit we were distributed in three
different houses. We took our meals together
at the Rodick, where an abundance of whole
some and well cooked food is served, fish, of
course, preponderating.


On the evening of our arrival hop was Civ
en- in the dining room of the Rodck, the mu-
sic being furnished from yacht in the harbor
The yaehtsmen Were of course all there, in
their natty blue shirts and jolly brown faces
They were party of congenial spirits made
up with care from different localities, bent up
on having good time-and they had it. The
ladies made fine appearance and seemed to
be first class people-infnitel superior to the
gentlemen borders, who seemed to be made
up in about equal parts of idiots and noodles
with occasionally good fellow just to relieve
the monotony.


At about II o'clock, the vachtsmen inv;.ed
the bachelors OF our party-the benedicks bay-
ing been led off to bed by their natural pro-
tectors-to go and witness for few minutes
another style of dance then in progress in a
hall oyer stable. We climbed up long
flight of stairs dimly lighted, opened a door
and entered upon a scene of light, gayety and
motion cheering to witness. Here was a large
hall filled with dancers, consisting apparently
of waiter gir.s from the hotels, stable BOYS,
porters and natives generally. The male por-
ton of the assembly seemed little irritated
by our advent and vague mutterings, referring