The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-07-18
A SU M NJ Err EDEN.
Lake George, N. Y.--The Most
Delightful Region on Earth.
LAKE GEORGE

Lies at the head of the Valley OF the 1t
Lawrence, extending southwark through
Vermont and New York, and reaching
nearly 10 the Hudson river. II is the larg-
est and most easterly Of the Adirondack
Lakes, and is thirty-two miles from Sarato,
ga. 1t is about thirty-fve miles long and
four miles wide. AT its southern end lies
Caldwell, the metropolis Of the Lake George
region, but when down TO the even tenor
Of its ways-that is, when the summer
tourist feeth-lt is only village of about
800 people.
Every poet worthy the name has honored
the Lakes; and were gifted, what would
not sing in praise of this Summer Eden
in whose crystal waters the duplicated heav-
Ems view their frowns, and the sun, moon
and stars look upon themselves with added
beauty as in an exquisltely framed mirror.
Although the region of Lake George has
no ivied ruin or lordly hall to boast of,
there is no lack of antiquity for among
the lofty hills are peaks that were laid bare
before old Eden doomed, towers more an.
cient than Babel, and nature.coyered crags
that rejoiced In the suns rays before Mem
non began to sing.
Like that which the Prince of Como
pictured to the fair Pauline, this lake Is
shut out by Alpine hills from the rude
world" from whose mountain brooks and
bubblng springs an unfailing supply OF
water is received and that of so pure and
crystalline clearness that the early mis-
sionaries gave it the name of
"LAc DU SAINT SACRAMENT
by which name II was called for more than
century, or until 100, when, yielding to-
British impulse to apply the names of the
Royal Family 10 every object in nature
from the farthest star to the remotest lake,
"Holy Sacrament had to give way to-
George
Only a small portion of the lake is yisi
bic at single view. There is no broad
and striking expanse of water. The lake
assumes more lnt tlIlidItci VI h'pi' ii'-
er, flanked by highlands, and whaling Sc
renely on its way among the verdant hills,
il gradually unfo!ds its wealth OF beauty,
surprising aud delighting at every turn by
some new and exquisite scene The pas
sage up or down the lake presents an ever
varying panorama of beautiful and distinct
-.t,v H. "a al RI IA
abruptly from the banks; at others, quiet
valleys, followed among the hills, reveal
the grand proportions of more distant
heights. The islands-three hundred and
siXty.fve in number,-one for every day in
the year, with a little one that evades the
count except in leap year,--add beauty TO
the scenery of the lake. Some of these
islands are Of considerable size and a few
OF them are inhabited-many Of them in
summer, Some are rugged cliffs, crowned |
with shrubs or meager Vegetation; while
Others are low, bare rocks, or mere points
protruding above the water
A. with the scenery, so with its historic
associations in which no lake is richer
There is hardly spot that has not been the
scene Of some warlike exploit or heroic ad-
venture. In colonial times IL was the chcs
en- battle ground of the French and Eng
lish, who, in connection with hostile Indian
tribes, waged barbarous war on each 9th
er. Here traversed the soldier, the savage
and the monk Hither came the pious
Father Jaques, the Jesuit the brave Mont
calm, Putnam, Rogers the Ranger, "king
and a multitude Of others who
are crowned with historic renown, the story {
IF whose deeds Cooper has invested with
thrilling interest in "The Last Of the Mo.
means" Ii Is easy to imagine the animate c
appearance OF Horizon Silver Water, G
s the Indians called Lake George, when $
he grand armies of Abercrombie, Amherst a
nd Montcalm were marshaled In battle ar. {
Az, with all the pomp and Circumstance b
f war of their day; but how peaceful it c
ppears now at the head of the lake, around Il
le ruins of old Fort George, and the grass l:
rown site of Fort William Henry! Here d
rough the long and bloody wars the cross u
ST. George waved defiance TO the lilies II
France. Here forts and palisades went Il
J, opposing trenches were dug, to be Is
zen and re-taken, razed and rebuilt, as ID
tory slighted on either hostile banner. ar
rmies were seen to bury themselves In OF