The Bossier banner., 1892-04-21
NEVER IN A HURRY.
a Place Where Time Is of the Least Pos
sible Consequence.

sibIe Consequence.
The contrast between travelling by
the inexorable time tables of New En-
gland railways and by the steamboats,
which ply through the lakes permeating
Cape Breton and justly giving it the
bad name of IAN island turned inside
out" is as if one substituted fire.
crackers for dynamite. A single expe-
rience is probably typical of the Bras
Dor steamboat methods
On an evening in August last summer
two travellers had to leave Baddeck,
village most picturesquely dropped
down, as it appears, in one of the lakes
fairest hooks The first information
gained about the steamers hour of
leaving led the travellers to think that
if they were ready by 10 o'clock all
would be we'll. They were quietly
taking supper when at quarter past
seven mime host of the house that
sheltered them remarked that half-past
seven was the boats time.
Thinking the first informant had of
course been wrong, the travellers rushed
to their room, threw everything into
their bags, hastily paid their bill, and
expected to be driven madly to the
wharf. Not so; it was then admitted
that though half-past seven was the
| steamers nominal time, she was often
as late as eight, and probably would be
that night
Her course from the stopping place
above Baddeck brought her into sight
from the hotel, and the travellers were
urged to abandon all anxiety, as they
| would be notified as soon as she ap-
| peared. One of them remarked to a
boy of the village: Il suppose she'll
be along about nine or after" 'Yes, "
he said, that's her usual time"
Here was more encouragement to be-
lieve the ten o'clock man truthful after
all; yet not long before nine she was
really announced. 1t was not conceiva'
BILE that the passengers and freight OF
so small a hamlet could keep the
steamer at the wharf more than two
minutes, and the travellers hastened tc
embark.
Safely on board, fully fifteen min
utes must have passed before the haw
sers were cast off and the boat puffet
out into the lake. Off at last, the trav
elers thought with relief for, once
obliged to leave the charming spot, they
wanted to be away.
Not far from half mile out, how
ever, the boat began to display strangt
symptoms of returning to Baddeck
Yes, back she was going, and soon wa:
safely tied up again to the wharf.
What is the matter?" was asked il
despair.
''Oh! woman has left her basket.
Could that truly be all? Indeed, tht
purser and another man were soon seel
peering behind piles of wood and bar
rels on the dock, unlocking aud search
ing a dark wharf-house and at las
meandering up the main street of tn
town. When their twinkling lights re
turned five or ten minutes later, Il
the two men bore a basket between
them, and very little short of ten 'cloc
the boat once more, this time in dea
earnest got under way.
The captain was heard to remarl
"Too late now for the drawbridge a
Grand Narrows" A freight train we
to pass, and the custom of the regio
demands the closing of the draw for
full hour in the neighborhood of trai
time.
. The old woman had her basket, b'
: at least fifty passengers good-naturedl
endured delay of an hour and ha
to procure it. Such are the comfortin
= ways of Cape Breton people. VIII
- wonder the island is gaining popularit
as a resort for summer rest? = Youth
e Comnanion