The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-20

men were extipct. and human existence
was a legend Of the past.
The last three or four miles OF the
route TO the lake passes under sort OF
vast crnbowered arcade very Striking
and majestic. The sunbeams filt@ed
through a screen OF foliage gives tho
light golden green tint that Is as rare
az II Is beautiful.
As the tourist approaches Lake Drum
Inond he is afforded no previous glimpse
nor other Indication OF it's proximity.
Not, indeed. till the Prov of his boat -
actually within few yards of its waters
tanned. At the lock through which his
skin must pass from the canal 10 TIE
lake. ne steps ashore and taking advan-
tage OF "a slight elevation looks out upon
Lake Drummcnd.
tbs LOVELY LAKE.
And verify IT is a sight well worth the
time ana money expended in a trip u see
II. IL lay flashing back the rays OF tne
bright sun. as noble sheet OF lIesh
water as one is apt to see rs far 3outh
OF tho great inland seas along our north-
crn boundary. Five miles In one direction
and seven in another it spreads an un-
broken surface from shore 10 SHORE.
Neither island, pcninsular, nor prCJec,,
ton of airy kind impcdes the dehSndcd
eye as IL ranges over the glittering M
uid expansc. The forest encroaches e'ose
to the waters edge. so close as 10 leave
not an inch Of bcach-'hardly footNay ior
a snipe or sanddipper between lake ana
land Indeed. until one hes roWci out
several rods. but q partial and uASatis-
factory view IS afforded OF what on" mas
been at such pains TO see. Embedded
thus in vivid green. and mirroring une
varied tints OF shore. sky and cloud,
the lake suggests an opal in an enciTtii
setting. II is an impressive ana indel-
ible experience. ones first sight Of his
magnificent cxpaDse OF water so beau
tiful and so deserted so utterly alone
Not sail TO dot nor keel 10 cleave its
glinting bosom Naught to break nor in
trude upon its deep silence and majestic
solitude. just as 1t looked ere a white
foot had ever trod upon American soil,
so may it well lcOk now. Yet. withal,
there is no weird nor untanny element
about the sceneato suggest IL as A suit
anle haunt for the spectral craft of
MCOrcS familiar legend. IT Is u pity
that point 50 attractive. 50 well worth
visiting lacks even the barcst accom-
mediation. AT the canals mouth stands
n wretched, hilapidated board vhaEty
that parties In Suffolk referred 20 as the
hotel" a hotel without furniture, food,
or any single necessary of life Tho
doors are without locks or fastenings of
any hnd-the windows have neither SASH
IS nor glass, and while such a tenement
might serve the turn of an Apache In
dian, II would hardly be deemed tocr-
able refuge even for a traveller not dis
posed to be fastidious, and still less for
the average tourist accustomed to tho
comfortable hOstelries of thus day ana
date
In 4 locality alive with reptiles what
chance would body have 10 keep clear
OF snakes In such a tumble-down carl
cature OF building? Here is d chance
for an enterprising man with medium
stock OF capital, nerve and patience.
A pretty, comfortable inn. provided,
Of course. with an adequate equipment
Of light craft for sailing. rowing and
fishing. liberaly and judiciously adycr-
tised for the first summer or two would
no doubt eventually develop d Profitable
and permanent business.
ATTRACTIONS FOR THE ANGLER.
Although, as l remarked before. a trip
to the swamp and lake offers little in
the way of variety TO a tourist whose
fancy must be tickled with ever rccur-
ring novelty, yet / venture TO say there
are men, and. too not a few, who would
deem their time and money well spent I'm
a visit TO this vast Jungle and the lovely
lake that nestleS In its reed and Juniper
tangled lap. Its utter savagery. deep sol
itude, mysterious s.1llness and cypress
Swallowed gloom offer attractions TO the
lover of nature that he instinctively COM
prehends and heartily enjoys. To the
angler Lake Drummond offers fishing of
the best Perch. trout, blackfish, pike, and
ana afford capital sport. OF waterfowl
| am not able TO speak with assurance
My impression Is that neNEer ducks nor
sCra abound. owing probably TO lack Of
the wild oats and wild celery upon which
they feed Certainly I saw no water
fowl OF any kind while ! was on the
lake. and had Ben Jackson. my boatman,
mentioned either as abundant | would
hardly have forgotten it. There is game
enough in the swamp. as, for instance,
bears. deer. wild cattle ard wildcats.
but / fancy, because Of the dense growth
and bOggy. uncertain character Of the
soil. hunting would be Likely to prove
rather an uphill enterprise. Should any
reader of this skit. however. feel dispos-
ed to try his luck in spite of such obsta-
G. II. X.