Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-10-29
STEAMER CATARACT, Lake Ontario, !
Oct Sth. 1855. (

STEAMER CATARACT, Lake Ontario,
Oct sth, 1855.
DEAR FREEMAN Listen while [ tell you
about the Northern Route West in Autumn"
Is any hurrying traveller (by-the-by, do not
all travellers hurry y pondering upon the great
" mill privilege" the big bridge" and other
wonders that cluster about Niagara, and in his
enthusiasm to see the " mighty rush of waters
while on a pressing business tour, about
to purchase tickets via Ogdensburg, Lew
iston, Niagara, &C., let me jog his elbow
before he quite unfastcnes the hard knot in his
purse strings
From Rouses' Point to Ogdensburg we went
fast enough for Yankees; the road is a good
one, with kind and obliging employees, and
good Accommodations. No fault to find with
that but when, just before you reach the last
named place, an agent hands you an ADVERTISE
ment, stating that the g Express Line of
Steamers are positively hauled off and laid up
for the season." do you heed what it says and
when another agent comes along and gives you
another advertisement, stating that "the Steam
ers are positively not hauled off, but running
regularly" do you give him back his paper,
together with kick, if you choose, for he
positively lies, and he knows it,
|. your humble servant, was obliged to wait
while the " old scythe carrier " was g hurrying
up" t,oeiue mortal hours, waiting for Steamer
and mail boat at that Would you like to do
it! If yes, then purchase the aforesaid ticket.
If no, put your -" trunk aboard the Grand
Trunk Railway, and you will be there (no mat
ter where) in the twinkliug of an eye.
So much for the time table now foI the
pleasures of the rout. Let me premise by say
ing that there is absolutely no pleasure in
laundering along after the I" iron horse" Il
is merely n matter of speed in this push jam
go-ahead sort of u world.
The lake boats cannot be supposed to bt
/, equal to the ocean Steamers, but they are vast
ly superior to any river boats with which am
acquainted. Large and well finished, and lux
uriously furnished. We came aboard this ont
at eleven o'clock, P. NJ, and went immedialel,
to our staie-room and crawled into our berth
and soon were - fast locked in slumber sweet. )
Awoke at daylight, and found we were jus
passing the ' thousand islands, those !" As
terods of the river How delightful to 81
by the open casemen, of my state-room, with
cool breeze tanning my cheek, and gaze upol
these p" dots of terra frma,' and the fadin,
out of the :. twinkling heavens and listen tt
.he FLASHING Of the paddles as they dip, dip
dip, into tho yielding waters.
We stepped several hours at Oswego, N. Y.
which gave us ample time to ramble abou
town in cursory manner. We also touche
at Kingston, z. W., out stopped only Ion
enough to get a glimpse al those firm old ston
buildings, and the towers, which last loo
: like huge ant-hills with hats on.
We have just witnessed sunset. To th
north, west, and south, is one boundess es
' panse of water; no land in sight except tn
American shore, and that speck in the di,
. tance. This sunset possessed for me all til
charm OF novelty. enjoyed it delightedly
but to describe :" sunset ON the water" wou
9 be but to repeat "a tale oft told" and fol
3 bear.