Asquani Lake and its Environs.
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��tonborough, and Centre Harbor, is a splendid sheet of water, indented by points, arched with coves, and stud- ded with a succession of romantic islands. It is about seven miles in length, and where widest not less than three miles in breadth. The surface has been estimated at from 6,000 to 7,000 acres. The largest island is about one mile long, and one third of a mile wide. A communication by water between this lake and Winui- pesaukee might easily be effected, the distance being less than two miles."
It is remarkable that though only this distance apart, Lake Asquam lies at an elevation of nearly fifty feet above AYiunipesaukee, and is almost five hundred and fifty feet above the Atlantic ocean. Ossipee lake, which has a more northern latitude, and the same mountainous surroundings, has not the altitude of either, being only four hundred and eight feet above the se.a level. The height of land be- tween the two lakes is a picturesque plateau, occupied by farm-houses and the summer villas of wealthy people from the cities. One of these ancient sites has been made the subject of a painting, and recently appeared in an art exhibition in Boston under the title of "A New England Farm House." It is the old Sturtevant place. The well on the farm is forty feet deep, and is covered by a frame house that is as antique as the old farm-house itself.
Shepard hill, which rises directly at our right hand as we enter i&reat Squam, is one of the most charming elevations in New Hampshire. It rises to the height of one thousand feet, perfect in shape, verdant crown- ed, with farm-houses and several
��fairy-like summer villas scattered here and there. Capt. W. Bunce, of the United States navy, has a pleas- ant cottage on the slope of the hill, and spends a portion of every sum- mer in this fair retreat. The Asquam House, a fine and commodious hotel that will accommodate between seven- ty-five and a hundred guests, crowns the plateau of the summit. . Among the guests this season have been Bishop Williams, of New Haven, and John G. AVhittier, the poet. The latter usually spends several weeks here each season. His poem, "The Hill Top," written more than thirty vears ago, if I mistake not, refers to this hill. The poet is in error, how- ever, when he speaks of seeing "• Moosehillock's woods." That moun- tain is not visible from Shepard hill. It is Stinson mountain in Rumney which he mistakes for Moosilauke. The lines are just as beautiful though as if he had not blundered :
"There towered Cbocorua's peak; and west Moosehillock's woods were seen, With many a nameless slide-scarred crest And pine-dark gorge between.
" Beyond them, like a sun-rimmed cloud, I'lie great Notch mountains shone, Watched over by the solemn-browed And awtul face of stone!"
The view is beautiful, whether seen at morning, noon, or twilight hour, looking outupon the wide expanse of the lake, the meadow lands, the for- ests, and upon mountains as delecta- ble as those which Christian saw from the palace Beautiful in Bunyan's matchless allegory.
There is a convenient landing at the foot of the hill, a romantic spot, where the rhododendron grows, and gaudv beds of the cardinal flower fringe the shore. In fact, these plants and flowers border the lake its whole extent. Trees, shrubbery, and grass
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