The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-08-16
CHAUTAUQCA LAKE.
a Mids u Mmcr Trip, and some oh.
servatiOnS by the Way .. The
Great Resort.
Special Correspondence of the Press

CAih oiNi, mug. IL,
There is a certain feeling of comfort
that amounts almost to positive luxu-
ry, rs the traveller takes his seat in the
broad, airy and luXuriant cars of the
and feels the earth glide out from be-
meath him. and knows that he is not to
be, by its judicious management, plac-
ed at the mercy of the "strikes," but
is, within all human probability, to
reach his destination. This is how we
felt as we were being rapidly whirled
along Chautauqua Lake-ward, propos-
ing, not to "see Naples and de-" but
see "Fair Point and live," and to be
supposed far more enjoyable, especial
ly when you have but one life to live,
and the better half yet in the future;
for when all the eyes of the Sunday
School world are turned in this direc-
ton, we were suddenly taken with
the fever" and SO yielding to the
nual pilgrimage.
The route via. the A, & G. w. is not
over sublime mountains, nor through
picturesque valleys, yet, passing, as it
does, across the quiet dairy region of
Ohio, through the newer counties of
Pennsylvania, catching glimpse here
and there of a new town that has
sprung into existence within the last
decade, besides many other objects of
interest, making the trip lawfully
NICE" as the girls express it, and to
the most prosy, far from monotonous.
AT last, the Lake is reached after a
five hours ride, and we are in the city
of jamestown, a very pretty village.
builded, like Rome. on seven hills"
tended view, including a charming
glimpse of the lake, which, sparkling
aud shimmering in the sunlight, pro-
duces picture which no frame can
bound, no artist rival.
Two ways present themselves to the
pilgrim to reach the Assembly ground,
eighteen miles distant, the one on foot
by land-the other, by the boats, a
half dozen of which will regard it as
a favor to take you-for considera-
tion-and haying PREss-ing business
OH hand, l 60 aboard the jamestown,
the genial Captain of which-may he,
when death shall remove him hence,
be appointed chief ferryman-does
everything in his power to make the
voyage one of pleasure, and we are
soon steaming up the lake.
Much has been written from here,
but no written description can convey
an adequate idea of the beauty of the
scenes that constantly present them
selves, and the more graphic art of the
brush must fail. The calm, quiet beau
ty is too wide, too far reaching, to
submit to the bounds of the canvas, or
the cold, eoloricss deliberations of the
pen. 1t is no one view that charms,
it is continued fascination, the ex-
panse of water flecked with the glitter
of the sunlight on the restless, chang
ing wavelcts, the drowsy midday haze
on the low mound-like hills that gen.
tly slope down to the waters edge.
the harmony of nature: all of which
is to be seen and felt. to be realized.
AS we steam along by each bay and
fayoring nook, the summer villages
have sprung up, quiet white hotels
with clustering cottages, the rude but
strong wharf, along side of which is
moored little fleet of pleasure boats,
the yachts idly swinging at their moor
ipgs, is visible evidence that part of
the world leave home in hot weather
newspaper men ali Go-and part of
them come here, where for ten dollars
per week they enjoy life, and many
pleasures-the latter is charged as cx-
ira. At each wharf OR "heave-to to-"
the same persons who altcays are
there do not fail us this time land come
down to the landing and ogle at us
through eyeglasses, and make the
same stereotyped remarks about the
great rush of people. from the "rooral
deestricts!" and the band strikes up
the Mulligan Guards" and so we sail
past "Griffith's," where the "yacht "
navy yard is established Lake View,
the resort of resorts; by Bemus Point
where Ben. Garfield-no relative of
James-hooks his pickerel, the finest
in the lake; and thence to Fair Point,
the elys1an fields of the followers OF
Robert Raikes. but more Immediately
following Lewis Miller, Esq, of Ak
ron, by whom it is generally believed
Chautauqua Lake was discovered, but
to vindicate history, it must be said
that the Lake was first brought into
notice by Jew-Talk-Away, an Indian
Chief, who, recognizing its great inl-
portance for national encampments,
spent the remainder of his days in
drinking soda water and stalking up"
a line of steamers, and palace hotels,
never. however, to be realized in his
days, but his good intentions can be
honored just the same.
Of course, boating is the amusement
par erceIencc here, and the Lake, in
the vicinity of the hotels, from rosy
morn till dewy eve, fairly swarms
with small boats, from the primitive
dug-out to the most fancy cockle-shell
White-winged yachts,
like gigantic sea-birds, (this is new)
go racing wing-and-wing, small boats
with fishing parties are trolling, and |
each nook and bay; othe
boats, containing for passengers a gent
and lady, who, as a general rule, seem |