Morning journal and courier., 1882-08-16
CORRESPONDENCE.
The Thousand IsIands-The Attractions They Offer to Summer Vtsitors--Camp- ing Out and Other Fun.
 AMONG THE THOUSAND ISLANDS,

Aug. IA, 1882.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 Of the prominent rising summer resorts, none are more famous or more truly worthy of patronage than those among the far famed Thousand Islands. While not so generally known or iberally patronized as Saratoga Springs or Newport, yet they are every year coming more and more into prominence, and many would prefer a sojourn here to one at Saratoga. The islands, that is those used for summer purposes, are scattered along for distance of about twenty miles beginning in the ncinity of Clayton and extending be- low Alexandria Bay; where, far away from the heat and dust of the city, are combined the leisure and fashion of Saratoga or New port, with the jolly ''don't care" of camp life. Here, where scarcely ten years ago everything was covered with foliage, broken only here and there by fishing or lumber station, now is to be found one of the most beautiful spots in the world for summer leis- ure. Many of the trees have yielded to the woodman's axe; beautiful parks have been laid out and cottages and hotels have sprung up with amazing rapidity. The latter part of last month found us pleasantly situated in the midst of these far famed islands.
 A thirteen hours ride from New York left us early in the morning at Cape Vincent, 8 fishing village on the St. Lawrence, and one of the tsrmini of the Rome, Watertown and little steamer in waiting to take us down the river among the islands and steaming ou9 we found ourselves almost immediately in their midst. From the instant one leaves tho cars at the ''Cape'' the river is one pie ture of life not business life, but one easy
 going. care for nothing existence. As we ride along-every now and then-we would seem to be running straight upon the rocks, when a gentle turn of the tilier clears of our danger and brings us into one of the quiet bays for which the St. Lawrence is so noted. The river for many miles is as much as ten miles across, while countless islands, large and small, divide it up into numberless little bays and inlets, which are as smooth and glass like as the quietest lake. Our first stopping is at Clayton, one of the northern termini of the Utica and Black River rail road, and is the nearest approaching place to the Islands from New York. Until recently Clayton has been 8 lumber station of consid
 erable importance, but as soon as it became fashionable to come to the Islands for the summer the town put on a holiday appear
 ance, and everything is put In readiness for the pleasure and convenience of tourists.
 Two miles below Clayton is Round Island
 on which is situated Round Island Park, the home of the Baptists. This is the newest, and in time will become the pleasantest of the three parks now conducted among the Islands by as many religious denominations
 As we approach the island the first thing which attracts our attention is the neatness and care with which everything is arranged
 The large and new hotel reminds us of those at Brighton, both in size and inside splendor
 and the fact of it's being we'll filled speaks
 well for its high popularity. Round Island Park, though opened scarcely two years since, has already become noted for it's select society and the elegance and grandeur of it's surroundings. From the top of the hotel nearly fifty islands may be distinguished and counted. Two mails each day connect it
 with the mainland and & submarine cable en
 ables telegraph messages to be transmitted to any part of the globe. A large number of cottages have been erected and streets and venues laid out, and named after prominent Baptist colleges and clsrgymen.
 Three miles ride from Round Island Park
 brings us to the upper end of Wells Island, where is situated the Thousand Island Park, the first settled and largest on the river Several years ago some prominent Metho- dists conceived the idea of selecting this spot as place for an international camp meeting ground Being on the St. Lawrence it was thought to be most convenient for the Cana dians, as we'll as @ most beautiful resort for leisure and religious meetings for those from the United States. A large tabernacle was erected whose bell calls the people together every morning during the summer months Building lots were sold and cottages have sprung up that at the present time it is estimated that many hundreds of families are living at the Park. Camping is indulged in here more than at any of the other parks, and the snow white tents, opened to the breeze, add much to the beauty of the place. Every day religious meetings are held in the tabernacle, and the most eminent divines from the United States and Canada are en- gagged for the occasion. This park, although the oldest and best patronized, is at the same time the most restricted resort on the river. A fee of ten cents & day is required from each person coming on the island, and other | restrictions combine to keep away many who | would otherwise go there. St. Lawrence avenue is the principal thoroughfare, extend ! ing from the steamboat landing to the taber- ! nacle, and has plank walk it's entire dis ! tance. There is no hotel in the immediate l limits of the park. Funds had been raised | and some work had been done, but owing to l the failure of we'll known bank, it was necessarily suspended, Near by, however, 1 are the Grsnnell, Wellesley and Hub Houses, | all of which receive their share of patronage. At the other extremity of Wells Island is Westminster Park. This park, under the | control of Presbyterian association, is but \ 8 tritie ol9er than Round Island Park, though not so we'll filled with cottages. The hotel is the principal feature Everything is l conducted in first class style and each table In the long and spacious dining room has itt own colored waiter and white apron. Thii I is the quietest resort among the Islands, and for that reason many families stop here 1T 1 preference to the others
 ! Between the Thousand Island Park anf al ! exandria Bay, nine miles down the river, ar, many handsome and costly cottages, on is