The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-12-01
STILL ON THE WING.
The Old Empire State in the 18th
Century and Now.
SENECA LAKE.--WATKINS' GLEN
At the close Of the revolution not the faint'st
wave of civilization had broken upon the wild and
tracklcss forest of this section of New York;
" II was a gloomy wild.
Where Indian warriors trOd.
Where savage minds in solitude
Looked up 10 natures god

tracklcss forest of this section Of New York
II was gloomy wild.
Where Indian warriors trod.
Where savage minds in solitude
Looked up to natures god.
Southern, central and northern New York VS.
the home Of the most powerful tribe Of Indians
within the L. $. Here, we are told, lived and
loved the greatest of warriors, Brandt, and the
famous Indian orator, Red-Jacket. "Along the
shores of the beautiful Susquehanna, the Che
mango, Mohawk and many other rivers the fol
lowers of those dusky braves padded their light
canoes, while from the banks CLEANED the coun-
ell fires of the wise and daring 1t was not I'M
til 11T9 that the spirit of "Poor Lo" dropped
when he bcheld his much loved hunting grounds
invaded by the pale face" and he himself forced
to seek a home in the then uninvlting wilderness
of the distant west. Incii council fires went out
and the smoke curlcd no more from their lowly
wigwams, while they themselves slowly and sadly
took up their march for the distant west and fol-
lowed their doom toward the setting sun. Soon
the tide Of immigration began to set ill., and from
that time forward progress and Civilization
hourshcd.
II is not to he expected that we can imagine
what the pioneers of those early days had TO suf-
fer ere the dawn of christianity began to brighten
in their midst and the arts and sciences flourish
to any perceivable degree. 1t is safe TO say, that
little did they dream that before century of time
would pass away prosperous cities, towns and
villages would flourish where then stood the will
dcrness of The wolf and the deer,-that trans.
formations would take place and handsome hous-
cs and beautiful farms would dot every hillside -
a.. I,t,
become gardens, 0ikc Eden of old and the trail
Of Poor Lo" fade into tradition, while the
"toot " of the iron racer would echo from every
hilltop. Little did they dream that long trains
of palace ears, luxurious sleeping coaches and,
in fact hotels on wheels would he the mode of
travel in this early part of the nineteenth centu-
ry; while patent airbrakcs, the grandcst Of man :
inventions, would check the iron stccd and hold
him dead" within two hundred feet, though
dashing on ut forty miles an hour.
Their vision of church and school must have
been yaporish, except in something little better
than thc.old log cabin" But could they look
to-day over the beautiful; valley of the Susquc-
hanna, the fertile plains of northern and western
New York, and see the prosperous cities, towns
and villages, and behold the numerous and mag
nifcent houses Of worship that have been erect.
ed their tall spires pointing hcayenward aud
standing Us monuments to christianity, their as.
constituent would he complete, aud fcrveutly
would they sing hosannaS to the living God
But all this kind of a racket from me is out o
place, and some will say THAT fellow has missed
his vocation" Yet | must tell what comes Il
view ON my way To the greatest aud grandcs
piece of scenery, for il, size, in the world-th,
lfar.iamcd Watkins Glen. Arriving 40 Geneva,
took steamer, aud enjoyed one Of the pleasant
est rides, for fresh water ride, known IL
America.
/ SENECA LANE,
lour guidc.boo tells us, lis one uI the most re-
markablc bodies OF water iu the world" | an
ready 10 adrAit this tact even without evidence
lmasmuch rs every guide book g., loud in it, dc
,cripiion Of things in general pertaining to it.
particular locality, which i, OF course. consolin.
to the rustic mind. an sections have ,omcthin.
that i, ,,o,g rcmarkahlclD than another. douh
if there is a section, nook or corner m thi, broa,
world Of ours that Is blessed with q lake or shcc
of water hut the rustics who dwell upur. its hank
think it very beautiful, and even some remark
lablcm let u, imagine for instance. the beau
ties Of our own domestic city. What could b
imore refreshing to the rustic mind, from tn
; diamond Fields of Strcaior" q, hand in han,
they slowly return from the shad, groves an,
mineral springs OF South ottawa, than To squan
der an hour or more IN leaning over the railin:
OF our bridge OF size" and watching the rip
ping current Of the siNcry Illinois as il glides OF
it, winding way toward, he majestic Mississippi
Or, would they know what the Wild waves ar
Saying" nv listening Ia the low, sweet murmuT
ings OF the turbid Fox. a. from fair Aurora's "a
of shores IT mcanders gently until the dam =
Dayton's frowning peaks are struck, and uhuu
dering On in IT, mad career finds rest in the pla
: cid bosom Of the Illinoiss