The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-02

course lead through busy towns, they
were enyied by ortfisas people watching
them from the tow path or from windows
of houses bordering the street beyond:
Was their way through the peaceful
country NO screaming Of whistles, clang-
| ing of car wheels or cry ef the peanut
and gum vender broke upon tine SWEEP
serenity of their reflections; while the
sounds of spring''-the lowing OF the
cattle on the hills, the songs OF the olros
on the trees, the whistle of the meadow
| lark, and the shrill command OF the ploW-
man to his patient tean-were all readily
heard.
Amid these surroundings the passen-
ger, not in haste, was philosophlcaliy
content to accept the situation ard MAKE
the most of his opportunities.
ones progress was slow, with the
Flooding horses strung along the towline.
seldom urged into faster step than an
| ample, and often to walk only, along
the smooth tow path.
During pleasant weather travel Ey
packet boat was found safe and, barring
some dlsoomforts, agreeable. Passengers
Ielt no peril OF exploding boilers or of
shlpWreok. The water never reached so
turbulent condition as to cause seasick-
ness; while danger signals, to warn
the .v1gllant mariner against sudden
squalls or nor'easters needed not to be
displayed on the Albany or Rochester
postoffice.
Ii is true the ambitious towline of
some other boat met on the way might
vary the monotony by startling tho deck
ioungers In falling to pass beneath the
| boat as intended and sweep the deck of
any loose belongings, Though seldom
serious damage resulted from it. as pas
sengers engioying tbs deck as an outlook
would have time to get out of harms
1 tn ODD iaf
to their wills, before being assisted over
board.
AS may be inferred the capacity of
| canal boat for passengers and their lug
gage was limited to vessel of perhaps 20
or ~ feet in length and 10 or IL feet
width OF beam and the cabins, dining
saloons, staterooms and storage could not
be luxurious, but like the menu, were
not criticized harshly. In truth, the
| staterooms were in the saloon and the
saloon was the dining room, and the
storage very likely undor the hunks.
The Kitchen and sculery were in a little
corner in the stern beside the stairs
| which led to the deck. The herths were
in tiers of three. for one person eaeb
so one may estimate the comforts implied
| IN the luxurious accom- rotations
There being usually six sections on each
side of the boat, curtain was stretched
across the cabin to separate the men from
the women, while garish calico cur
tains were hung before the berths st
night. The space through the middle
which must be sufficient for the tahl
allowed more breathing room than tie
modern sleeping car, with it's wider
berths, while the fayoring curtains
swinging across afforded greater freedom
ID the ordeal of (iisrobing.
The table d'hote would not have
equalled the layout of "a Hudson river
steamer of 40 years later but it was &C
oepted and reiished by the jolly pas.
sengers.
The versatility of either captain OF cook
was worthy of encomium and often en-
braoed the whole range OF duties on tbs
little craft.
Bridges were frequently reached and
must be passed under with caution and
| passengers soon learned to regard the
warning "Lowbridge," as one was ap-
| poached when all on deck were obliged
to stoop low to avoid a uhump or worse.
writer IN the Detroit Free Press re-
members some fellow IN Buffalo attend
| ing variety theater many years ago.
| One of the party thought he recognized
familiar face among the flashily attired
actresses and saving so asked his con
panlons to waitssa little, and sec. When t. Q
! star again appeared she as surprised b.
the Sudden and unexpected alarm, Low
bridge" and instantly bobbing her head
FeIlii6u In5lf r6cognlfl0n and change OF
| vocation from the humble duties of maid
! of canal boat.
| The world will never again indulge in
an experience such as our parents en-
loyt dior they did enjoy it--when to
| journey 100 miles from one's home was
the event of years for many; and to IN
dertake the hazardous enterprise of
| journey to Michigan elected bitter tears
| from anxious friends, and words Of final
separation were exchanged such as now
would not be heard were the departure
contemplated voyage to darkest AT
RIGA.