New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-25
FROM FOG TO SUNSHINE.
MYSTERIES OF CANADIAN WEATHER

THE BEAUTIFUL ST. JOHN RvER-THE TIDE
QUESTION A SERIOUS ONE.
St. John. y. B.. Sept. 15-The NewBrunswlck YER
sion of the British National anthem is in your ears
1t weights your spirits with melancholy 1t comes
up TO your hotel from the water and rolls dsrnally in
your room. 1t seems 10 be weary with monOtonous
repetltions but it does not cease. Il Is the heavy
groan Of the foehom The air is gray and thick and
over in the dull mist bank you can sec the BRUSH
flag not floating proudly, as British flags always
loat in verse and song but hanging in limp, shame
fu way, like soaked rag.
What day for sail up the st John River the
Hudson Of Canada :" The decks Of the steamer are
sloppy and water runs mournfully down the rigging.
Every one is In a macintosh. The Americans Wish
they were in rubber boots, better yet dvingsuts
one man on the upper deck declares that is raining
and wants an umbrella. Near him is young woman
whose hair shows In dampcned curls. There is o
soft tint her check, and her skin
is smooth aud freshlOoling All young women
in the province of New Brunswick have beautiful COM
ple1lons 1t is the fog, every one says, that gives
that delicate color 10 their checks 1t must be So for
they ali have 1.-THE who live in the handsome
homes on the IIill7 OF ST. John, The young women
who sell American cigars tn you and oHcr you, with
a pretty smile box of American matches, the young
nursemads the white-capped. prettyfaced CANADIANS
who take your card when you make emil. the shop
girs-they all have that fine colorng Of pink. So the
Canadian women are patient with the fog.
But to come back 10 the upper deck and the young
woman whose cheek suggests that Hash OF blush IS
always touching II americans reluctantly turn from
these marvellous complexionsL She Is Canadian
and saws:
"Ths isn't rain; It's a fine mist"
The steamer breaks away from her pier. YOn can
see along the shores through the fog many sewmllls
and here and there deserted limckl1. When your
boat runs in closely o the bank there are thou
sands upcn thousands OF logs which have been towed
down the st. John. Leary brings his big RATS from
here. which weeks afterward are hauled by tugs
through Hell Gate.
The Ilmekllns are apparently Of no usc 10 any one
under the sum- or the fog it happcs and the young
Canadian explains that the "Ameican tariff had
something to do with IT, At any rate they shut down
after the Mckinley act went into force
The river broadens here almost to bay, and
at a curve the steamer shoots swiftly ont
Of the gray clouds Of dampress into the
sunshine streaming from a nawlcSs sky and
striking CLEANS and flashes on the blue John River
Behind you the fog rises in wall. Ike the CLIFFS Of
Nova Scotia across the Bay Of Fundy. Where the
vessels PROV IS heading grass grown hills and the dark
green Of forests sweep mp close to the rivers edge
The CLINT Of the rocks where the water sho1ls around
the little Islands is dazzling. on narrow neck Of
land almost level with the rivers surface a moving
machine is dwelling a field Of hay. The rattle Of
the flashing scythe comes 10 the steamer family
and you sniff at the air 10 catch the fragrance Of the
newly cut grass but it is too far away. There is the
freshness OF brine in the air, which has up with
the tide.
This Is not like the Hudson. You would nkc TO say
10 please the pretty Canadian, but the Palisades
never The heights are not high at all The land is
too rolling There are breaks IN II ard down at
the bottom running back till the little valleys curve
behind hiIl are fields of wheat and corn topped with
yellow where the fall air has touched them But 1t Is
all picturesque enough. lIaycocks show plainly on
the hlsides. on some Of them stlll he the white
sheets placed there the evening before 10 catch the
dampness Of the night air. some Of them even
in their and spOtess that they look like
tented field at sunrise.
The farmers houses all seem set among trees They
are comfortable looking. and where rcd roofs look
through over ddrky shaded boIshs they pleas
ant TO the eye. There are few people 10 be on
the banks. Those who in view coming out in
small boats to be taken aboard the steamer or to get
packages from It. There pastures, though. with
eeklookng cows all over them, and easy living colts,
waiting for their time TO take 10 the plough This is
the country Of farmers and everything smacEs Of the
fields and pasureseverythng but The great, long log
RATS floating dowL to the mills.
Tie steamer has been winding along with the quiet
river for an hour two and where point stretches
far ont In the water ahead there Is Of scarlet
foliage. As you approach the flaming trees, the color
separates into purple yellow red and the blended gray
saffrO and scarlet Of oak leaves They are the
branches, on the river banks and clusters Of them
blown 70 the have formed gorgeousy ralnted
Islands.
From here autumn has colored oil he foliage, ex
cpt the cedar and pine and the fernbanks and water
grass Now the steamer sweeps in close 70 the shore
and passes uDcomforaby 10 the log RATS Voices
come up from the farm lands and at times IL seems as
one could leap from the deck into the hay fields.
On the homeward sail II i the picture seen again
In q new light until tho steamer is nearing 81. john
The air dnmpens rapidly, breeze has sprung up, and
ii carries with 1t wBps OF fog and then long ribbons
and dull patches. A rain is falling surely enough
now The banks are gloomy and coldloohng aid
every one seeks for sheltered decks.
The tide Is running swiftly, and that reminds tho
American Of a story. 10 is something Ike TINS.
I asked the first man ] met who looked like a
about St. John. lie said Il thirty feet The next
man said twenty. steamers captain tod me i
was twenty-five. Here some more OF them which
jottcd down banker eight feet; cabman slxty-nye :
hotel clerk, twenty seven fisherman forty. Tue
next FIVE this way twelve, sixty one, forty
three eighteen, and seventy-two. Now, what Is It
anyway ~
agreed. -,
girl afterward; it's just twenty-five feet
It's thirty one my dear said her mother. mildly
ats twenty six, MOTHER said the Canadian girls
brother. ......6 49, IN .,...