Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-21

Rapid Transit Tho Improvements
About the Lake-Nevv CoetageS-The
Artist WilsOn-Camping Out-Rall-
ways. Boats and straightforward
Notes.-The Malls, Etc.

opeciai Correspondence OF The EVENING STAR.
CALDWELL, LAKE GEORGE. N. T., July 10, 1888
fravei 10 this point, once very tedious, has now
become very easy and rapid The Saratoga express,
leaving NewYork at m arrives at the pretty rail-
ROAD station here. close by the Fort William Henry
motel, at 4 % p. m. We had the benefit or q cool
day for travelling, and, safe In the cars, enjoyed
seeing magnificent storm on the Hudson river.
between New York and West Point, and heard the
thunder echo among the hills made classic by
Irving and N. P. Willis.
Speaking OF storms, I found the Fort William,
Henry hotel here minus flag staff on ITS roof the
lightning having, on the 4th OF July OF this year.
shlvered the one 1t had during particularly fierce
Storm AS the roof Is slate, no damage whatever
was done except to the flag stan. Mr.. Roessle
says he had similar experience once at the
pr1sed at any time to hear that the Arlington
hotel flag stan at Washington had gone to meet
u.s. It's colleagues This week the flag stan on the
height
LAKE GEORGE CHANGES
Coming here for the first time after an absence
OF several years, have been amazed at the i'm
proVementS have found from one end OF the lake
to the other, and the number OF new residences
scattered all along its shores. But 1 find the
scenery still unrivaled in beauty and variety
Lake George. with railroad coming to the very
shores OF its headwaters-which, as all are aware.
are az this the SOUTH end OF the Lakeland an
OF Its largest hotel, longer be called primi-
tive, but it has lost none OF its picturesque
With the march 70 Of or gnst
are sixty hotels varying in size and advantages,
now on the shores Of the lake for the benent Of
village which are open all the year round, and
four within two miles OF each other in this neigh
wne s s5s the
est OF the number), the Fort William Henry (the
largest and most ornamentaD, the Fort deorge
years., and Crosby-slde, about mile beyond the
latter on the east side OF the lake, at the foot of
French mountain This now has several cottages,
In an ornamental style OF architecture as depend.
enctes.
Caldwell is pretty little village-the county
some brick court house and three churches besides
some very nice shops, and drug store, which was
q, needed addition long before It was established.
the churches are st. JameS-Episcopal, which
claims majority OF the residents as attendants If
not members, and which is built Of stone, and has
IN he and glass
Roman Catholic chapel Both of the latter are
frame i buildings No other denominations are re-
Paullst Fathers who have a monastery as a sum
mer home for priests and students, on the east
bank OF the lake, opposite this village The land
twenty acres-waS donated to the order over ten
years ago by Hon. Chaa O'Connor, OF New York,
who had small cottage in the grounds, which he
a monastery, has been erected since he gave the
land, and contains chapel and private oratories,
as s Weil as sleeping rooms. refectory. &c.
village, and the only Queen Anne house have
seen see, Is the parsonage OF the Episcopal church.
running down to the edge Of the lake.
The number OF cottages along the shores Of the
lake are increasing every year, and now the ma
landings for the large boats are built upon. Evi-
IDENTITY the beauties, as well as the cool healthful
found on the banks Of Lake George are appre.
ctated.
THE ARTIST WILSON,
Mr. Matthew Wilson, the artist, who had q
studio last winter in the Corcoran Building, has
summer residence on Lake George, opposite Cald-
well, and about mile and a half from the Fort
William Henry Hotel. His cottage has a very
pleasing situation, on small promontory, which
has been artl1cialy extended into the lake. so that
u commands views OF the lovely sheet OF water in
the green trees OF French mountain. just outside
the cottage is Mr.. Wilson's studio, which Is OF
stone and one story in height, with skylight
and one Or two which are DONE Among the latter
Is very fine one of President Arthur, which
belongs, think. to the Corcoran Art Gallery: He
is finishing another one OF the President, which
promises TO be even better than the first The
coiorng OF both Is especially fine He is also I'm
Secretary Welles, which he began while that gen
tleman was living. One Of his portraits OF Pfesi-
dent Arthur IS to go to the Louisville exposition.
THE STAR OF portrait saw there at the residence
OF the widOW7 OF the late Joshua Speed, OF that
myself considered the most tfe-ike and altogether
pleasing one we had seen OF him. / find that Mr.
Wilson painted that. He has one now in his
likeness.
As AS there are SO many settlements, large and
families have cottages on its banks, or r. on the
Islands, most people who come to any part of
Lake George have friends at some other point,
whom they visit by means OF the boats, which are
constantly plying up and down. l am informed
that no more Islands can now be bought On this
lake, as the state OF New York prefers to leave
them free for summer squatters, so that any one
who wants to camp out, Or put up temporary
shelter on an island in Lake George not already
occupied can do so.
CAMPING OUT.
I saw, while on trip among the islands, whose
beauty no mere words can convey, the island on
which Judge and Mrs. Ferrlss and another Wash
lngton family passed last summer. and where
they expect to be again in Auguit 1t is not far
from "FOurteen-M Mile Island" and has very pic
turesque situation. The party occupy q comfort
able, but primitive, cottage there, and by their
main land, and by means OF the large boats. which
Will land there when signalled, keep up commune
cation with the outside world.
Camping parties bound for the islands are now
beginning TO arrive, and saw one consisting OF
twelve women and three men, all suitably clad for
boat Lille Price. They went to an island On
which they had carnped last year, AMI seemed in
nigh glee at the prospect OF revSiting It. It IS
opposite the 'One Hundred Island House," and
near "FOurteen.Mile-Isiand." 1t Is astonishing to
see on how many Of these small islands are tele-
graph stations.
RAILWAYS, BOATS AND STAGES.
Bringing the Delaware and Hudson Canal Co. g
railroad from Glen's Falls to Lake George,.a dis.
lance OF about nine miles, formerly passed over In
stage-coaches at very slow pace, has hurt the
stage-coach line only, for the boats on the lake.
am told, carried more passengers last year, the
nrst summer the railroad was open, than ever
before. The round trip from SARATOGA mere And
return Is now made inside twelve hours. and
includes trip the full length OF Lake 0eOrpe bY
boat, and pause at the head OF the lake fof DIM
ner II desired
There are great variety OF boats On <he laks.
from very large steamb0at-the HOrtc0n-wnfeS
can carry 800 passengers, and two smaller ones,
the Lille Price and the GanOuskis, which make
daily excursions through the prettest parts OF the
lake. TO an inhnite number OF steam launches and
row boats and few sail boats. A number of
families who spend their summers on the lake,
either In hotel or In their own cottages have little
steam launches OF their own, and one OF them is
no larger than good-szed row boat In fact,
there are, BY actual count, twenty-six boats OF
various sizeS propelled by steam on the lake, and
another boat nearly as large as the HORIZON is now
being built, and It is expected will be ready for
trips next month. The little steamboats, are ali
SS4 sn9or lifted r. but with no attempt at