The clarion., 1886-08-25
Among the Thousand Islands,
St. Lawrence River.
OGDEN's ISLAND, Aug. 5, 1SS

L. LdWICnCC
OGDEN's ISLAND, Aug. 3, 1886.
EDITOR CLARIoS: During these idle,
sultry, summer days, perhaps some OF
the CLARIoN's many readers would find
time to read some hasty thoughts |
gather from this world of beauty and
grandeur while sailing up this broad
and mighty river, dotted all over with
bright, green islands, lifting their heads
towards the sky from their watery sur
roundings. What field of dreams and
air castles 1t seems as if wealth and
artistic taste is all centered in this
American Venice. Surely, at least, l
have never seen any thing so pictures
quely beautiful.
From Ogden Island, where | am at
present, visiting with one of my charm
ing Hudson River school-mates to the
Thousand Islands, is an uninterrupted
view of exquisite and matchless beauty.
At 6 O'Clock, a. m.-together with
merry party, we boarded the yacht
burg we reinforced our party, and then
settled ourselves for a day of enjoy
ment. The finest view we had of the
river WAS dI AlcAdHuiC lhClC ~
is twelve miles wide and uninterrupted
by any islands One of its chief beau
ties is its clear, rippling water. Between
Kingstone and Brockville are 1900 little
emerald Jewels, which dot the bosom of
the river-some just large enough TO
hold the picturesque little villas which
adorn them. We sailed around these
homes of beauty for many hours. To
IL. a0ta
"Melrose Lodge" which is the home of
Mr.. Pullman, of palace car renown. 1t
is beautiful turreted mansion, the steps
being cut in solid rock to the very
waters edge just little creative brain
work gave Mr.. Pullman this beautiful
home; but as the same brain-work has
blessed thousands who travel at ease by
his great invention, none will envy him.
Then there is Manhattan Island,
owned by Judge Spencer, of New York.
"Summerland,' is the property of an
Ogdenburg club. But the most noted
of all these island homes is "BoDnie
Castle" the home of j. G. Holland,
the poet. 1t is not so handsome as some
others, but with its gabled windows and
its Indian coloring, it seemed fit home
for such sweet thoughts as Holland
NIOlc. Littic uc WHtI ouCc d
poor school teacher in our own State,
that he would one day be the possessor
of so chaming home as this. Between
the two islands, 'Point Comfort" and
"New Mabin," is beautiful arched
bridge.
Enfoute we passed many handsome
steam yachts. The most elegant were
the Sport and the Lucille. At Alex
andre Bay we were joined by four
Columbia College boys, who greeted us
with their college cheer, while their glee
songs added merriment to our party.
Here are two splendid hotels, and the
place is quite fashionable resort. Far
ther on, about ten miles, is the "Thous-
and Island Park" This is on "Wellesly
Island the largest of the 1900, being
seven miles in length. We here left
our yacht for several hours, rambling
through and among these unique and
elegant cottages There is not much
difference between this and all other
watering places, the same plurality of
sweet girls to the few sauntering dudes.
Lawn tents, baseball, morning Germans,
music, and dancing seemed here, as at
other watering places, generally the
regular programme. We returned home
by moonlight. | wonder if our moon
lights in dear old Mississippi are half
so beautiful as those on the grand ST.
Lawrence. Italian moonligEts are world
renowned, but Imagination cannot make
them more beautiful than these At
eleven o'clock we landed once more at
Ogden's Island.
Before closing, | must say something
about this beautiful island home of the |
Crapsers. 1t reminds one of the coun. |
try homes one reads of in England. |
The island, until late years, belonged, |
indeed, to an old English family of |
Ogden. 1t was built before the war of |
1872. 1t is a great rambling mansion,
containing about sixty rooms, with wide |
galleries. running the entire length of |
the house. BY improvement and the
exquisite taste of its present owner,
ldr. +. ). Crapser, it has become one of |
the most valuable, as well as de-
lightful homes on the st. Lawrence.
With all the added improvements,
many historic relics have been left.
Daniel t,ebster's autograph and that
of sweetheart of his, is plainly carved
on stone pillar. In repairing the
cellars an opening into sort of dun
geon was accidentally discovered. Five
large stone arches led into it. The
drippings of moisture for nearly a CEN
tury, had formed stalactites. 1t seemed |
strange indeed to. 90 a few flights of
steps from the elegance of the modern
room, and come to this upioue
and antiquated chamber, reminding one
of some slumbering ruins of another
age. The Crapsers live here the entire
year. 1t is not only a summer home.
but the most extensive Creamery is here L
l ever saw. | thought while going
through these creameries how much Mr..
Odeneal or Col. Hemingway would en-
Joy seeing all The new improvements
which seemed tome so wonderful. Att
Mr. Crapser's one creamery has made
2500 pounds of butter daily This
seemed incredible to me at first, but not
after seeing the Separator where. soon
IS the milk is brought in, the cream is
taken from it.
Just across from Ogden's Island is
quite pretty little village.
It is connected with the island by a |
bridge, as are most of the islands in the | :
immediate vicinity; so we were not !
entirely isolated.
Several times we have been over into q
canada In few days we are to 90 to |
Montreal. We went through the Rapid
iu Platte few evenings ago. 1t was
,nough to make a Drawer heart than =
nine quail. For three miles they are Z
urging, boiling, cauldron, dashing at
me time against some huge frowning +.
ock, then mounting in mist, high in ?
he air. The river is full of these rapids. !,
which to the eye appear dangerous in i
he extreme, bat are not, as we went b
through in row-boat. 81
Ny visit here is fast growing to a / i
lose; my next place of interest will be a
AXE Champlain, where may be some
veeks, and then will be in the Adrion-
ack Mountains until perhaps the
Tintry winds drive me Eway. From
ach Of these places / may drop Won : Q
hort letter, 20 that my friends may not 2
orget me this summer.
BEULAH s. WARE. :