The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-08-28
RURAL SURVlvALS.
"reminiscences of the Past About tn
Northern waterways.

Northern Waterways.
You find everywhere "reminiscences
the past clinging like a green growth
about the northern inland waterway
"reminiscences of those past days OF
which old LOSING, in his ever-delight
full Field-Book, writes of "a neat little
canal packet, it's cabin crowded with
passengers and a well-supplied dinner
table, and it's deck piled with as much
luggage and as many loungers as low
bridges and q hot sun would allow
and of which he says: "For loiterel
who takes no notice of the passing
hours and who loves to glide along list
lessly amid green fields and shady
woods, u voyage upon canal may be
really delightful, especially if the face
of nature is attractive, and companion
or agreeable book assists in smoothing
the passage of time" The old fellow sc
wrote his delightfully."- stiff and formal
phrases about 1850. That was in the
very palmy days of canal travel, and ii
is of those days that "reminiscences
still cling about the purlieus of locks
and of open basins.
I spent nearly an hour of one still
and tranquil evening with an old lock.
keeper, listening to his narratives OF
those bygone days. He told me with
great circumlocution of how the rival
packet companies used to run thelr
boats with 12-horse teams and great
show of colored trappings and jingling
bells; of how the crews of the packets
- n
meet; of how the companies always
provided crews of fighting men to
punch the heads of the crews of the OPP
position line He told of how the pas.
sengers used to crowd the decks; OF
how the gentlemen used to step ashore
at the locks; of how the bar could not
supply them fast enough with drink.
The presence of the smooth, CLASSY
stretch of waterway, and the cataractal
rush of water overfowing the upper
gate into the lock where the continual
accompaniments to his words, the
background to the narrative, and they
made it all seem very real. could pic
ture to myself those old-time packets,
their decks crowded with passengers
tho men with bell-crowned hats,
high-rolling collars, and stocks; the
women with smoothly brushed hair,
big bonnets, ample skirts and leg-of-
mutton sleeves. I could fancy the
Homeric battles of the fighting crews,
their red shirts, the hair curled for,
ward over the cheeks, the trousers
tucked into their top boots. could
imagine the shouting and brawling
when the packets met-the screaming
of the ladies and the confusion of the
gentlemen.
The old loclkeeper got up to open
the gates to some on-coming boat, and
I sat down and watched the numbering
hulk as 1t sank lower into the lock,
with a vast and tremendous rushing OF
water out of the wickets. did not go
away, and by-and-by the old man came
back and resumed his "reminiscences,
and sat there far into the gathering
of the warm, starry darkness, behold
ing, through him, as it were, a glimpse
of other days and of another life, gone
never to return, excepting in the dim
twilight of the Imagination.
Those peaceful narrow stretches of
water highways! Those gentle, kindly,
simple folk Those slow-moving,
heavy-ladened barges, with the inno-
cent, pan-like music of mouth.organ or
accordion sounding distantly from the
little cabin-house upon the deck!
HAPPY I shall voyage thither among
them some time again; if not, those
things shall linger with me as swee:
and tranquil memery of q passage OF
very happy heurs.-Harper's Maga
zine