The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-01


for many ard many miles west of Montreal.
MAssAwIPPI LAKE
is not far from Sherbrooke, and the Passump-
sic railroad runs right up the Massawippi
river and along the margin of the lake.
1t lies like silver skein thrown
down at random among the hills, so that
if you lose sight of it at one point you would
not know where to find it few miles further
on. As you pass it on the railroad you are
for few minutes riding upon its white
sandy borders, then you suddenly cut across
little neck of land some bushes hide the
lake from view for a minute, you pass the
trees and fences, and it comes laughing up
again almost ripping against the trucks of
the coaches and you imagine that 1t has
been very near you all the while, when in
reality. it has made u detour of two or three
miles, winding among the hills, to compass
the distance-in direct line-whlch your
train has made in less than a half mile. L
enjoyed a half day upon its waters recently,
in the company of two American friends, in
a row-boat. The boat was a poorly-con-
structed, hat-bottomed affair which wanted
to turn over every time you took good,
full-breath. But in spite of the vicious boat,
the whole company were rapturous over the
beauty of the lake and its surroundings.
The sunlight and shadows ever chasing
each along the slopes of the greenly-wooded
hills which rise up on all sides,
degrees of light and shade
upon the surface of the lake, whose light
waves dipping their crests in the suns rays,
broke and sparkled away in white, silvery
rpples that seemed like the materialized soul
of the lisp of waters, which has an indescrib-
ably wooing and invigorating yet soothing
influence upon the anxious and careworn
mind OF man. 1t is, indeed, lovely sheet
of water and | know not where or how one
could spend summer day more delight
fully than in dipping the oar lesurely in its
bright waves, and in drinking in the full joy
of the lovely scene. AS yet no accessories of
art have either marred heightened the
natural beauties of Massiwippi, unless the
clearing of the farms that border upon it,
many OF which are productive and valuable,
has augmented its attractions, while the
building of the two or three villages on its
shores, and the saw-1nills with their never
falling booms and spruce logs floating in
the water have served to detract from its
beauties. 1t differs from Memphremagog in
this particular, for many fine summer resi-
dences surrounded by handsomely laid-out
and well-kept grounds, make the shores
of the latter attractive. Sir Hugh Allen, the
man whose energy and genius contributed
so much to the growth and prosperity of
Canada built there his summer retreat, and
used to take his family down from the paa-
VEINS Crag," to enjoy the cool breezes and
beautiful scenery of the lake. l think the
family or some portion OF it, still occupy
this summer home and make use of the
steam yacht, which the lake excursionist
sees moored at the private wharf near the
house. Here, too, the Moulsons and many
other wealthy Montreal people have erected
handsome villas OH headlands that COM
mand views of the lake. AT all these are
wharves for the steamboats, and other vessels
4. Ill.
and comfort of the health and pleasure
seekers who visit it. On one of the boldest and
most commanding OF these headlands near
the little village of Georgeville, stands
mournful relic of financial disaster in the
shape of a great unfinished hotel. It's pro-
jectors failed after the building was rooted,
enclosed and partly finished, and nobody has
taken up the unfinished task. Its position
is very superior one and if completed,
well-furnished and well-kept it would doubt
less be well-flled with guests during the
warmer months.
PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN HOLIDAYS
One is surprised to find the custom
OF spending a summer holiday at
the sea shore or on the borders of some of the
numerous lakes, all but universal among the
Notwithstanding people of eastern Canada.
Great numbers of people from the United
States run through Canada in search of game,
fish and recreation while Canadians in turn
seek the sea shore. and are to be found at all
points from Harpswell and Old Orchard
Beach TO Cane May and Atlantic City.
Our people who come to Canada to hunt
and fish can find cool breezes and fine seem
cry and good boating i'll the eastern town
ships, but for game and fish they must go
further. They are said to be abundant in
the rough, uncultivated, rocky country
north of the river st. Lawrence. Both game
and fish have, however, been quite plenty
heretofore at and in the vicinity OF Megan tic
and Spider lakes. But this summer the
Messrs Gordon, OF this city, with a large
number OF workmen, have been pushing the
International railroad from Megantic east
ward into Maine. They reported the coun-
try full of deer, caribou and moose and dot
ted over with trout ponds and little lakes in
which the muscalunge and the pickerel de-
light to dwell, and the result has
been to call fishermen and hunt
ers from Montreal and the United
States up there by the score.
Almost every day one can see some eager
Nimrods and Isaac Watons pacing up and
down along the railroad platforms and
through the smoky old Sherbrooke depot
with quick, uneasy strides, as though they
feared that the last Megantic train had gone
out, and that another might never be run.
Every one of these heroes expects to bring
in the antlerS of at least one moose or carl
bou to attest his proves, and almost every
one will be proud to own, when he returns,
that he has robbed one poor little grouse of
the life with which benefcent creator had
endowed it,
One company of Sherbrooke gentlemen,
who are expert fishers and oarsmen, are pro-
posing TO set out on the Sd of September on
unique journey through the Maine woods,
down the Moose river to Moosehead lake,
and thence down the Kenebeck to the sea.
They 90 by rail to Gordon's Camp, thence
TO the headwaters of Moose river. They will
have a carry for the canoes of about twelve
miles The headwaters of the Moose once
reached, they will float the canoes, dip oars
and away on the journey through