Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-08-31
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer.
NOTES OF TRAVEL.

NOTES OF TRAVEL.
PREsCoTT, ONTARIO, CANADA, Aug. 3d.
Wearied by a long and busy day Of sight see
ing at Niagara, I retired soon after taking
tea, and slept soundly until Aurora, with her
rosy fingers, had oped the pearly gates of
morn, for the king of day to enter and robe,
by his golden beams, the earth anew with
light and beauty.
A little after sunrise, we made haste to pro-
cure ticket and have our baggage checked
to this place, and soon thereafter took a seat
in the first train to Louistown, small vii
lage or landing at the head Of navigation on
the Niagara River and about two miles from
where the river enters Lake Ontario The
village stands nearly opposite the old fort and
town Of Niagara, that, years since, was the
Capital of the province.
In ten minutes or less after the~train had
left the Falls we were at LoRistown, and had
to draw our keys and hand them to an official,
and point out our trunk Ks for examination, to
see if they contained any contraband articles
on which duty should be paid. This was the
first time had fallen into the hands Of rev.
enue officer, or any other sort Of an officer of
the laT. I determined, as most of the other
passengers did, to keep quiet and cheerfully
submit to having my trunk searched, as if
1 were really guilty Of a felony But | was
kept standing so long, waiting while little
mountain of ladies' mammoth trunks was being
searched, that l began to be impatient for my
| turn, and 1 resolved to have satisfaction, if
possible, in the way of fun. So when this
well-dressed and somewhat pompous official
stepped up and sternly said: "Sir, l will
trouble you for your trunk keys" replied &:
''Certainly, Sir, with the greatest pleasure.
I have been waiting here a long time for you
to get to work but you will pardon me for
asking of you small favor before you begin. :"
"Certainly," was his ready response. "While
you were examining the pile of trunks over
there, 1 noticed more fine wearing apparel
than I ever beheld before in my life. am Il
poor old bachelor; but old as l am, l have
yet some pride left as regards my dress, and
as have but few pieces Of linen, a duster,
much-worn alpaca coat and dilapidated
pique vest, l do hope you will not open my
trunk here before so many elegantly dressed
ladies and gentlemen. 1t will make me blush
if you do. Please let us move it behind the
stairs, away from the gaze Of the crowd; and
when you search it, you will find its contents
Just as 1 have represented" When L had
thus spoken, he did not retort with an oath,
but looked me steadily in the face, smile
lighting up his official countenance, which
smile returned, and he passed on, cursirg
kl>o4 ci, 70 mo u
law directs. suppose he was satisfied with
my explanation, and concluded that was an
honest man who would not defraud Queen
Victoria's government out of cent of reve-
nue. But after all, my trunk was wrongly
checked, and delayed for several days on its
passage.
The trunks of the first train of passengers
were barely examined before another train
over the Grand Trunk Railroad came rolling
in. AS soon as the cars stopped the passen-
gers dusty, and well nigh worn out for the
want of sleep and rest, came rushing on the
b0at-many of them, especially the ladies, en-
pressing great delight that they were now rid
of the hot dusty and crowded cars, and that
they would be conveyed to their journeys end
on the lake and river. One little, mercurial
lady was so delighted with the change that she
could scarcely contain herself and shouted
aloud for JOY. ''Everything about the boat"
she said, twas so tidy and neat and oh was
not the breeze so delicious. Could anything
be more pleasant From this on, travelling
would be pleasant"
Just before the last of the baggage brought
by the last train was put on board the boat,
the steam had raised SO strong that it opened
the safety valve and blew off at such rate as
to satisfy the passengers that we would make
time after getting started
The captain hurried to his Office, the pilot
took his position, a bell sounded as the signal
for starting, and soon the Chicora darted away
and continued to walk the water as if indeed
with life. Before she reached the lake all the
passengers remained on deck enjoying alike the
breeze willie they beheld the golden sunbeams
as they gilded with glory all the deeps around
us.
Just before the boat left the river, had the
good fortune to form the acquaintance of
little gray-headed man who was kind enough
to inform the company that his loquacity had
trip to the Thousand Isles, to spend the sum-
mer there. lie was very communicative and
loquacious, and nothing seemed to please him
so well as to relate to his listeners the many for
tunate speculations he had made by entering,
purchasing and selling lands in nearly every
State of the West and Northwest. When he
learned that was OH my way to Ottawa, he
broke out anew, relating his travels in Cana
da, He had heard of the rich lands of Mani
| toba and went there to examine them for
himself lie found that the soil was rich. but
the land was subject to such OvertloWs, great
and long freezes, and the summer season-they
had no spring--was so short, and the winters
so cold and long, that he regarded the land of
little intrinsic value. He did not purchase an
acre of it but while in Canada he did purchase
six or seven town lots in Winnipeg, which only
few days before leaving home he sold for
Just double what he paid for them. When
this wonderful little Chatterbox had finished
giving an account of his travels in Canada, he
and his listeners took seats near the railing.
The sun had now withdrawn behind cloud,
and the gentle breeze, that but an hour before
had kissed every cheek so softly, began to
stiffen and the playful ripples to rise to the
dignity of respectable waves, soon to be III
creased to strong and rough rolling bilows.
As our good craft became more and more un-
steady, several gentlemen predicted severe
storm. willie others declared that they were
then troubled somewhat with nausea and fear
ed that they would soon he suffering from sea