The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1892-08-03

OAK KNOLL COTTAGE,
EAST DENNIS. Mass. July 90.

OAK KNOLL COTTAGE,
EAST DENNIS, Mass, July 20.
DEAR FRIENDs:-To resume my jour-
ney you must go with me to Plattsburg
standing ut the head of that lake which
once formed great highway between
the Algonquins and Iroquois as well as
for the French and English on their
journeys to and fro between Montreal
and Fort Orange ALBANY that beau
tiful sheet of water that, for a century
and half, was the theatre of the most
savage Indian warfare, while some of
the bloodiest battles of the French and
English were fought near its shores long
before the American Colonies asserted
their independence.
Seven p. m. found us sitting on the
deck of fine side-wheel steamer and
throughout the forenoon we glided past
peaceful landscape that gave no hint
of the sanguinary struggles it had wit
messed, on our left the hills of the
Green Mountain state, on our right the
Adirondacks rearing their stately heads,
those pillars with which "earth props
heaven" At the lower end, the lake
constantly narrows and the scenery in
creases in beauty, an element of grand
eur adding force to the picture as we
swept onward past Fort Henry and
Crown Point, finally landing at Fort
Ticonderoga. Here the large company
that had crowded the decks of the
"Chateaugay," divided and part went
by rail direct to Saratoga the rest, in
Guiding your scribe, being unwilling to
miss the beauties of far-famed Lake
George and taking "A short railway ride
to Baldwin where another fine steamer
awaited our advent. This lake is so
narrow and winding, SO dotted with
beautiful isletS, its shores so enlivened
by elegant villas and picturesque sum-
mer resorts that it is difficult to remem-
Der it as lake, seeming, as it does, so
like some majestic river sweeping on
ward between wooded banks. AT times
it so strongly resembled some portions
of the st. Lawrence that we could al
most imagine ourselves back among
the Thousand Islands, though the eter-
nal hills which form the setting of this
lovely liquid gem render its scenery
even more beautiful than any portion
of the ST. Lawrence. No wonder that
poets have sung its praises for the past
fifty years, OF that thousands of tour
lists make an annual pilgrimage hither,
for surely no lovelier spot can be found
on all Gods green fOot-stool.
At Caldwell we reluctantly exchanged
the airy and comfortable steamer for
"A crowded railway car, and at 6:15 pm.
arrived at Saratoga and were soon set
tied in comfortable quarters at the Ken
more House, an exceedingly home-like
and well-kept hotel not more than five
minutes walk from the depot, yet finely
located at the north end of Broadway
and commanding beautiful outlook.
1t accommodates about 70 guests and is
a refreshing contrast to the great cara
vansaries filled with Fashions votaries,
such as the Grand Union, or Congress
Hall, and its gentlemanly proprietor, j
n. Ramsdill, spares no pains to make
his patrons feel thoroughly at home.
Another item to be noted is that it
charges the reasonable price of from
50 to So so per day, our special rates be-
ing even somewhat lower. We can
heartily recommend it to any of our
friends who may visit the great water
ing place immortalized by Samantha's
pen. We did not find it necessary as
did the latter, TO ask if Mrs" Kenmore
were expecting us, for we found supper
all ready and Immediately partook
thereof with great gusto.
That evening we took a delightful
drive down Broadway, over Circular
Avenue, and through Woodlawn Park,
the latter comprising noble sweep of
400 acres of woodland with ornamental
grounds and broad well-kept avenues
stretching away beneath over-arching
| forest trees, the fine statuary glinting
through the shrubbery reminding one
of the great excitement experienced by
| fret iphf IF
protected female alone in the woods and
apparently in great distress. This park
is private property and surrounds the
palatial residence of Judge Hilton, who
shows his public spirit by throwing it
open for the enjoyment of ALL The
rest of the evening we devoted to a
stroll through the verandas and parlors
of the four immense hotels that head
the long list of public houses prepared
to receive the thousands of summer Wis
itors. We stopped to rest and listen
to band concert in the inner court of
the United States hotel, which is built
in the form OF a hollow square, a con-
tinuous veranda facing upon grassy,
tree. shaded lawn, with pavilion in the
center, wherein fine band of some 30
pieces each evening dlscourses sweet
music to the assembled guests. From
nine o'clock until midnight, the streets
OF Saratoga are crowded with gay
promenaders, from every large hotel
issue strains of music often accompan-
led by the sound of dancing feet, and
the whole world of fashion seems to the
novice to be gathered into this one spot
The next two days we spent in con-
tinuous whirl of sightseeing, interrupt
ed only by an occasional stop at some
one of the churches used by the Ma
tional Educational Association for the
various exercises held simultaneously
in different parts of the city, the gen.
eral meetings which occurred morning
and evening being held in the Casino,
as the great Convention Hall is still un-
finished. The arrangements for carry
ing on this great convention were very
complete, but we could not see that the
talent displayed by those who took part
was anything above the average. We
were told that President Harrison's adj
dress las was to be expected)
aroused great enthusiasm, though
unfortunately it occurred at the OPEN
ing meeting, at which time large
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