The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-06-19
Voyage in q Bridal Canoe.


Since canoeing is ore of the most
charming and romantic of diversions, it
is not surprising that an American gem
tlemen of wealth and leisure and his
young wife are to take their bridal tour
in one. Their fairy craft will have
silken sails. A dainty '.jack' to match
the brides complexion will hutter from
the masthead. The mast itself will be
trellis for orange blossoms. A we'd
ding cake will bloom on the bow of the
boat. The oars, indeed, may not be
golden, but they will probably be hand
painted at the very least. The canoe
will be nickel-plated, in all its appoint
ments elegant, and will cost about
$1,000. Ordinary canoes cost from
fifty dollars to 800. A few of expen-
siYe build and ornamentation cost as
high as $500. The bridal canoe, which
has really been made, is the most beau
tiful and costly ever launched. May il
float on quiet waters.
Canoes are of two kinds: the Rob
Roy, built for rowing and shooting
rapids and the shadow which has a
keel-board and is designed for sailing
and adapted to portage around rapids.
The newly welded benedict has chosen
a shadow canoe to embark on his con-
nubial life voyage with, perhaps be-
cause dreams are shadows and marital
felicity is dream of shadows sub
stance He will embark in his craft
with his bride at Riverside Park. With
silken sails spread, and steered by a
hand-painted oar, they will glide up the
lordly and placid Hudson, the sun
dancing on the ripping waters and
casting glory on the silken sails; the
moonlight will sleep on the river and
battle in its soft radiance the romantic
landscape as they float through
the hills made famous by Irving.
1t is perhaps saying too much
to promise that they will dance on
the deck in the moonlight, for canoes
are not noted for their stability on the
water, and they might dance into the
river and waltz under the wave and
have some difficulty in polkaing ashore.
They will sail by Troy. where Helen
lived, make portage in a four-horse
coach to Lake George, launch their
bridal craft on its crystal waters and float
in the shadows of its shores. After some
delightful days spent on this beautiful
lake they will enter Champlain and sail
along its shores with their historic
places. They will not tempt the fretful
waters of the st. Lawrence River, but
will go to the source of the Connect
cut and thence glide down its peaceful
waters amid its charming pastoral
scenery. Slowed away in their boat
will be a tent, carpets, rugs, folding
chairs, cooking utensils, toilet articles,
etc. Every evening they will pitch
their tent in the incense breathing
woods and enjoy supper and the latest
fashion and sporting papers. A plan
which they had long cherished of
having valet and maid float down
behind them on raft they were re-
luetantly obliged to forego. At the
mouth of the Connecticut, rather than
dare the perils of the Sound, they will
have their canoe put on the deck of one
of The steamers plying between Hart
ford and New York and return to Man
haitian Island.
The 5000 canoeists scattered all over
the country will watch their trip with
interest. In fact the gentle sport of
canoeing has taken fresh start this
year and its votaries are rapidly in
creasing in number. A canoe of the
regulation length, that is, one fourteen
feet long, made of the best material,
may be had for $50 or 800. The cam
vas canoe, of which the frame work is
of wood, may be purchased for $50
Canoes designed for regions like the
Adirondacks, where portages are neces-
sary, are made as light as fourteen
pounds. Most canoes weigh about forty
or forty-fye pounds. They will carry
tents and all the camp equipage neces-
sary to the voyager He may beguile
his hours with books, or he may 90 to
sleep for that matter, for the canoe
takes care of itself when there is an
expert in it. The canoeist does not row
in the machine fashion of scullers, for
his boat is pleasure craft, not row.
ing machine. He floats idly along,
using his double-oared paddle at his will
or not using it at all
A canoe may make eight or nine
miles an hour. 1t usually goes five or
six miles in that time. The eanoeist
enjoys the finest scenery-the river
scenery-in this country.
There is enough excitement and
hazard in canoeing at times to give its
quiet and idyllic character contrast
N. 7. Journal.