The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-09
TAKING BREATH.
The People Escaped from Toll and Sailing Up tho
Hudson-Sights and Scenes by the way-How
the Excursionists Enjoyed Themselves at
Iona Island and Newburg- Carousals
ON the Boat and Flirtations ON Land.
A PLEASANT SUMMER SUNDAY.

We are told in legends ana romances OF the
| beauties and gories OF the castled Rhine, its
picturesque villages, fertile meadows and lonely
meanderings. The American tourist thinks his trip
to Europe incomplete II he has not made voyage
down the stored river, but when he has made the
voyage he will be likely II he be lover OF nature,
to excaim, "Wel this Is very beautiful, but 1t does
not compare with the Hudson, in my own
country. The European river Is pretty In
its way, but relate invent the same
stories about the Hudson, and 1t will
be the most attractive stream In the world.n And
It is so. Poets may sing and mOrasts write OF the
beauties or the Rhine and the Danube, but our
own North River bears away the palm, rich it is
in all that Nature bestow. The thousands OF
people who accompanied the various steamers in
their excursions up the river yesterday were
doubtless OF this opinion, ana, indeed 1t would be
difcult to imagine anything more surprisingly
lovely than the spectacle that was presented to
their view.
A HERALD reporter accompanied Of the ex-
cursiOns, leaving Fulton ferry, Brooklyn, az half
past eight O'Clock The morning delightful.
cool wind was blowing which relieved the heat
OF the day, and far as the eye could reach not a
particle OF fog to be seen. The numerous
spires Of the churches OF brooklyn were gttering
in the morning sun, while grand Old Trinity stood
out on the New York side as o sentinel amid the
surrounding buildings. The steamer only re-
NAMED few minutes at the ferry, and then
1t steamed rapidly up the river, pass
ing on it's way the hundreds OF vessels
from all parts of the world, which lay
anchored In the harbor. There Is always some
thing impressive in the sight Of mighty vessel
lying idle in port but the sight is still more deeply
interesting on q sunday morning. Then all life is
hushed. solitary seaman is lying laziy upon
deck n or ia
cult to imagine that but few days before the
vessel may have been tiercely battling with the
waves-timbers creaking and masts shaken by the
the fury OF the angry clements. But she is quiet
now, and poor JACK after risking his life for his
scanty pttance Is ashore the prey OF siarpers and
thieves who are always lying in wait for him.
Two more landings are made before the boat
starts finally on the way, one at Christopher street
and at Thirty fourth street More passengers
are taken on until the boa, fairly groans with its
living freight, and then we are of in earnest
The class of people who go up the Hudson on
Sunday are, as rule, much more respectable than
the ordinary run OF Sunday cxcursionists. Coney
Island, Rockaway and the Fishing Banks are
abandoned to the rOughs and their friends; but as
rule those persons do not find themselves much at
home on Hudson River boat. Those who
went up yesterday were, generally speaking,
staid and sod-looking people; fathers with their
! wives and children, young men and their sweet
| Sooio
| fresh air after weeks confinement, with a sprin-
king of handles, make up the assembly. There are
| nirt, while groups OF admiring SWANS Oge and
look sheepish smoke huge cigars TOO big
clothes Here is q young person, evidently
a dry Goods clerk, on small salary,
lavender kid glove hand, While he carries
the other aaintily in his fingers. His coat is new,
'front.' of his light pants strongly suggestive Of the
Bowery or Chatham street. But he looks happy.
and II he is satisfied no one else need grumble.
Meanwhile the boat is speeding rapidly on, and
soon Spuyten Duyvil Creek, the northern boundary
is exqusitely beautiful: inc bosom Of the
river calm and unruiled as when turned
the view, its broad expanse dotted with the white
sails OF innumerable craft and pleasure boats. In
the rear the great city IS visible WITH It's towering
the oumost limit OF the city is past every one set
ties down to enjoyment and pleasure, ana the
merry laughter and harmless jests which are TO be
heard all around are probably acceptable in the
sight OF the Creator as the long drawn signs and
nasal twangs which churcl-going people in the
city, who look upon Sunday excursions with
holy horror, are giving vent TO. As the voyage
Charming, and soon the tops OF the Catskill Noun
tains appear in sight, clothed in verdure of deepest
| green. Acquamtances which at the start OF the
boat were very slight, by this time begin to rpen.
The groups have become in most instances, sepa-
| rated into twos hands are lovingly pressed and
| the pressure is returned, and attachments
being formed which VIII ripen into love and eventu
| ally into marriage. So rms the world away.
The stralght-aced, ruriianical custom Of pro-
! hibting SUNDAY music is st observed on the boats
| but there can be no restraint upon the voices OF
! the happy excursionists, ana songs are heard on
| all sides-the notes oil the women sounding swectiy
! on the waters. II may be said tnat the singing OF
songs on Sunday is highly reprehensible but the
sabbath WAS made for rest, not for misery, and
| God can be worshipped rs wei in steamboat or
in the open fields as III cathedral, conventiclc or
! church.
| The first landing is made at Yonkers, and here q
large number OF Germans leave the boat TO pass the
| day as the quiet old Dutch town. Most OF these
| people. like the prudent persons they are, carry
! mol hls at Wft hrna N
ties OF various kinds but q few are unprovdcd,
and they stroll towards the hotel to refresh the
inner man prior TO stroll through the fields.
The second stopping place Is made at Iona Island
and here the boats leave the greater part or their
coast or Scotland, has been lmmortazed by Scott
in one of his matchless poems; but If scott could
have seen Iona Isle the second he would have u
much more tile theme ior his pen. The island
mas an area Of about FIVE hundred acres,
100000 by its owner, physician. The place
was bought as picnic ground, and the
speculation has proved successful, as the place
is most extensively patronzed during the Summer
months. The lower part Of. the island Is covered
tire surface is luxurious with long, sweet grass.
When the excursonists land they scatter about in
AL dreclions me parents gather Ihsir smaller
tree, hidden from the rays Of the sun, the lunch
baskets are produced and the youngsters youngsters are
the more sequestered spots, and arm in arm they
gradually wander away rom the noisy throng
until they reach the opposite shore, and then
Young is told, with the waters OF the
Hudson beneath making eternal music. Fast young
men get together and drink claret punches, sing
songs and smoke cigars until the boat comes back
on her homeward trip.
The boat makes another landing at West Point
and lands more passengers, who wish to inspect
| the beautiful grounds OF the college which has
been the nursery OF manv heroes. The cadets,
in their neat gray uniforms, strollng around in
! every drecton, looking somewhat more AN xous
than is the wont OF these young gentlemen to DO,
IRON the fact that this is examination week
and that the future fortunes OF many or
f DEPEND the result. The visitors
examine all the places or interest, some with u
! sOldcry aspect lingering about the grave where
rest the remains OF Robert Anderson-the brave
Anderson, TO whom az much TO any other soldier
the North Is indebted for the success OF IT'S arms
I nd no mr. fan nf ira hnat