north america-1-第11章
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it was proclaimed during her building that such was her destiny； and the Portlanders believed it with a perfect faith。 They went to work and built wharves expressly for her； two wharves prepared to fit her two gangways； or ways of exit and entrance。 They built a huge hotel to receive her passengers。 They prepared for her advent with a full conviction that a millennium of trade was about to be wafted to their happy port。 〃Sir； the town has expended two hundred thousand dollars in expectation of that ship； and that ship has deceived us。〃 So was the matter spoken of to me by an intelligent Portlander。 I explained to that intelligent gentleman that two hundred thousand dollars would go a very little way toward making up the loss which the ill…fortuned vessel had occasioned on the other side of the water。 He did not in words express gratification at this information； but he looked it。 The matter was as it were a partnership without deed of contract between the Portlanders and the shareholders of the vessel； and the Portlanders； though they also have suffered their losses； have not had the worst of it。 But there are still good days in store for the town。 Though the Great Eastern has not gone there； other ships from Europe； more profitable if less in size； must eventually find their way thither。 At present the Canada line of packets runs to Portland only during those months in which it is shut out from the St。 Lawrence and Quebec by ice。 But the St。 Lawrence and Quebec cannot offer the advantages which Portland enjoys； and that big hotel and those new wharves will not have been built in vain。 I have said that a good time is coming； but I would by no means wish to signify that the present times in Portland are bad。 So far from it that I doubt whether I ever saw a town with more evident signs of prosperity。 It has about it every mark of ample means； and no mark of poverty。 It contains about 27；000 people； and for that population covers a very large space of ground。 The streets are broad and well built； the main streets not running in those absolutely straight parallels which are so common in American towns； and are so distressing to English eyes and English feelings。 All these； except the streets devoted exclusively to business； are shaded on both sides by trees； generally； if I remember rightly； by the beautiful American elm； whose drooping boughs have all the grace of the willow without its fantastic melancholy。 What the poorer streets of Portland may be like； I cannot say。 I saw no poor street。 But in no town of 30；000 inhabitants did I ever see so many houses which must require an expenditure of from six to eight hundred a year to maintain them。 The place； too； is beautifully situated。 It is on a long promontory； which takes the shape of a peninsula； for the neck which joins it to the main…land is not above half a mile across。 But though the town thus stands out into the sea； it is not exposed and bleak。 The harbor； again； is surrounded by land； or so guarded and locked by islands as to form a series of salt…water lakes running round the town。 Of those islands there are； of course； three hundred and sixty…five。 Travelers who write their travels are constantly called upon to record that number； so that it may now be considered as a superlative in local phraseology； signifying a very great many indeed。 The town stands between two hills； the suburbs or outskirts running up on to each of them。 The one looking out toward the sea is called Mountjoy； though the obstinate Americans will write it Munjoy on their maps。 From thence the view out to the harbor and beyond the harbor to the islands is； I may not say unequaled； or I shall be guilty of running into superlatives myself； but it is in its way equal to anything I have seen。 Perhaps it is more like Cork harbor； as seen from certain heights over Passage； than anything else I can remember； but Portland harbor； though equally landlocked； is larger； and then from Portland harbor there is； as it were； a river outlet running through delicious islands； most unalluring to the navigator； but delicious to the eyes of an uncommercial traveler。 There are in all four outlets to the sea； one of which appears to have been made expressly for the Great Eastern。 Then there is the hill looking inward。 If it has a name； I forget it。 The view from this hill is also over the water on each side； and； though not so extensive； is perhaps as pleasing as the other。 The ways of the people seemed to be quiet； smooth； orderly； and republican。 There is nothing to drink in Portland； of course； for； thanks to Mr。 Neal Dow； the Father Matthew of the State of Maine； the Maine liquor law is still in force in that State。 There is nothing to drink； I should say； in such orderly houses as that I selected。 〃People do drink some in the town； they say；〃 said my hostess to me； 〃and liquor is to be got。 But I never venture to sell any。 An ill…natured person might turn on me； and where should I be then？〃 I did not press her； and she was good enough to put a bottle of porter at my right hand at dinner； for which I observed she made no charge。 〃But they advertise beer in the shop windows；〃 I said to a man who was driving me〃Scotch ale and bitter beer。 A man can get drunk on them。〃 〃Waal； yes。 If he goes to work hard； and drinks a bucketful；〃 said the driver； 〃perhaps he may。〃 From which and other things I gathered that the men of Maine drank pottle deep before Mr。 Neal Dow brought his exertions to a successful termination。 The Maine liquor law still stands in Maine； and is the law of the land throughout New England； but it is not actually put in force in the other States。 By this law no man may retail wine； spirits； or； in truth； beer； except with a special license； which is given only to those who are presumed to sell them as medicines。 A man may have what he likes in his own cellar for his own usesuch； at least； is the actual working of the lawbut may not obtain it at hotels and public houses。 This law； like all sumptuary laws； must fail。 And it is fast failing even in Maine。 But it did appear to me； from such information as I could collect； that the passing of it had done much to hinder and repress a habit of hard drinking which was becoming terribly common； not only in the towns of Maine； but among the farmers and hired laborers in the country。 But； if the men and women of Portland may not drink； they may eat； and it is a place； I should say； in which good living on that side of the question is very rife。 It has an air of supreme plenty； as though the agonies of an empty stomach were never known there。 The faces of the people tell of three regular meals of meat a day； and of digestive powers in proportion。 O happy Portlanders； if they only knew their own good fortune！ They get up early； and go to bed early。 The women are comely and sturdy； able to take care of themselves； without any fal…lal of chivalry； and the men are sedate； obliging； and industrious。 I saw the young girls in the streets coming home from their tea parties at nine o'clock； many of them alone； and all with some basket in their hands； which betokened an evening not passed absolutely in idleness。 No fear there of unruly questions on the way； or of insolence from the ill… conducted of the other sex。 All was； or seemed to be； orderly； sleek； and unobtrusive。 Probably； of all modes of life that are allotted to man by his Creator； life such as this is the most happy。 One hint； however； for improvement； I must give even to Portland： It would be well if they could make their streets of some material harder than sand。 I must not leave the town without desiring those who may visit it to mount the observatory。 They will from thence get the best view of the harbor and of the surrounding land； and； if they chance to do so under the reign of the present keeper of the signals； they will find a man there able and willing to tell them everything needful about the State of Maine in general and the harbor in particular。 He will come out in his shirt sleeves； and； like a true American； will not at first be very smooth in his courtesy； but he will wax brighter in conversation； and； if not stroked the wrong way； will turn out to be a
