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S New England justly deserves the title of "America's Vacation Land," so Portland stands in the foremost ranks of beautiful cities in this particular section of the country. Situated at the head of Casco Bay, it commands. one of the grandest maritime views. imaginable and is essentially a commercial city, also the leading manufacturing center of the State. It is a city of many attractive residences and elm-embowered streets, spacious and well kept. The large number of massive public buildings include City Hall, a pretentious edifice completed three years ago at a cost of $1,000,000. It is of Colonial architecture and contains the finest organ in the world-the gift of Mr. Cyrus Curtis, publisher of the Ladies' Home Journal and a native of Port

land, the Post Office, an imposing building of Vermont marble, County Court House, Public Library-a beautiful structure on Congress Street and a gift to the city from the Hon. James Baxter, Y. M. C. A. Building, Elks' Home and many others. Portland is the gate-way to the summer playground of the East. Its site and surroundings lure thousands who seek recuperation from a season of social life and business in the large cities. The vast army of tourists continue to come and go through Portland from early summer until late in the fall. Even these seem loath to leave "Forest City" and its charming resorts. Being the terminus of three railway systems, Boston and Maine, Maine Central and Grand Trunk roads, Portland's population of 62,000 is increased during the summer to 100,000.

The Boston and Maine gives direct connection with the cities and towns in Southern New Hampshire and connects Portland with the New England metropolis. The city proper is situated on a peninsula about three miles in length and three quarters of a mile wide. The business section lies between Bramhall's Hill on the west and Munjoy Hill on the east. The main highway of the city is Congress Street where many of the large department stores compare most favorably with those of the largest cities in the country.

The first permanent settlement was made in 1633 when George Cleeve and Richard Tucker built their homes where the Grand Trunk Station now stands. Being established here, their purpose was traffic with the natives and fishermen who frequented the coast. An event in the early days, worthy of notice, was the battle in which the American brig "Enterprise" captured the British brig "Boxer" about forty miles off the harbor in September, 1813. Both commanders

who were killed were brought to Portland and buried side by side in the Eastern Cemetery and Longfellow, who was then only seven years of age, referred to it in his poem "My Lost Youth."

In the great enterprise of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad, the city had for its leader, Poor, and in the Portland and Ogdensburg, Anderson, by whose skill the road was carried through the notch of the White Mountains and without which Portland today would not possess this valuable avenue of traffic. This city has been prolific of men, conspicuous in ability in every walk of life.

The boyhood home of America's beloved poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, is the mecca of thousands, whether on a day or season's visit to Maine. The historic house which is now the property of the Maine Historical Society, was built by General Wadsworth, grandfather of Longfellow on his mother's side. He bought the land in 1784 and first built a store and barn and the next year laid the

foundation for the home which is one of the centers of interest to all tourists. Longfellow's literary talent early asserted itself and at the age of 13 he published a poem in the Portland Gazette, entitled "The Battle of Lovell's Pond." In several of the valtable works which he has given to the world, he derived much inspiration from his favorite haunts in Deering Woods-the reminiscences of which have furnished delightful reading. There are still standing several venerable dwellings which have been the homes of men who have won national distinction. Many scenes of historic interest may be found within the city limits. Old time mansions in their original appearance, lend a charm to the beautiful broad avenues of the city. While Portland was considered a city of great beauty before the disastrous fire of forty-nine years ago when one hundred and fifty acres and fifteen hundred buildings were

destroyed, it is even richer in scenic. grandeur today. After the fire, the city set apart a tract of land now known as "Lincoln Park" as protection against the spread of fire, and from that venture, the park system has steadily grown until at present over 100 acres have been secured and the lands beautified. Portland as a mercantile center offers every advantage to the summer visitor and for amusement seekers, there are two large theatres in the city proper-the Jefferson and Keith houses, both running summer stock companies and the near-by resorts furnish theatrical attractions during the summer season. One may stay a month in the city and each day visit some new point of interest. As the traveler wends his way through Commercial Street, a broad avenue extending the length of the city, he is at once impressed with the magnitude of shipping carried on here. The grain shipment alone from Port