Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1897-08-28
"TO THE vANQUISHED
BELONG TaE SPOILS."
1000 islands Of the st. Lawrence as
Seen by West vlrginlan.

AhA @OLNMhAANNt
1000 ISLAND PARK, N. ",
August II, 1897.
DEAR HERALD.--A copy of the
leading Republican journal of the
eastern panhandle of West Virginia
recently found its way to the Islands
of the mighty river of the North, and
one of the first articles noticed was
that on "civii Service which de.
serves to be copied by every paper In
the United States. II is sound, solid,
sensible. II the so-called merit
system is to prevail in governmental
affairs, why should we not have a
fair and square beginning founda-
ton laid on which to build? Why
should not all employees of the Gov
eminent in Executive departments,
| in the Printing Office, etc, who have
been appointed through the "spoils
svstet,, inch they now so un,yar.
ingiy condemn) be required to submit
TO All examination provided by the
Civil Service Commission Tin praise
Of which they are now so profuse), in
order that tier fitness for the places
which they hold may be asceftalnedl
Justice, fairness, and iinpattia1ly
ought surely to characterize the en-:
forcefnent OF the civil service law, If
it has come to stay, all officers and
employees Of Government put under
its power and protection and share
alike in its burdens and benefits.
AS now enforced, the Jacksonian
motto has not been materially altered.
1t reads ito the vanquished belong
the spoils. But in this calm retreat
among the river isles composing
what is known as the 1000 Islands
of the st. Lawrence. service civil or
otherwise) does not seem to deeply
concern any one. All are here on
pleasure bent. And perhaps there Is
no more charming spot on earth to
find pleasure, rest, and heathful re-
creation than in this insular region.
Nature and art have both been lavish
in their effort to make it place I'M
surpassed for grandeur and beauty.
These islands commence near
Kingston and extend downward to
Rockville, distance Of over so miles.
They form the most numerous collec-
ton of river islands in the world, are
every imaginable shape, size, and APP
pearance, some being mere dots of
rocks few yards in extent, others
covering acres thickly wooded, and
presenting the most charming APP
pearance Of rich foliage conceivable.
The tourist is enabled to see the
islands by means light draft steam
ers. which daily thread their way
among and around them. The num-
erous fisher men and women who go
out each day in skifis do not return
empty handed; enviable notoriety is
attained by safely landing large
bass or pickerel.
The places of most importance in
this immediate vicinity are Kingston,
Ganonoque, Rockville, and Preston,
in Ontario, and Cape Vincent, Clay
ton, Ogdensburg, and Alexandria
Bay, in New York. Kingston is a
quaint, beautifully-located city, rich
in historic interest, legendary lore,
and poetry of romance. Visions Of
the days of Count Frontenac and Of
the subsequent struggles of the
French and English for possession of
this northern empire force themselves
upon the visitor as he enters the
spacious harbor and sees the old fort
and ramparts and the formidable
martello towers. Alexandria Bay,
the place OF greatest prominence as a
resort on the American side of the
river, is romantic and highly pictures
que, the large notes.-the Thousand
Island House and the Crosman-as
we'll as the town itself, being built
upon a massive pile of rocks.
If the Herald man would feast his
eyes upon scenery even grander than
that found among the hills Of the
Mountain State, and enjoy himself
with the rod and the gun, he would
do we'll to lay aside for little time
the pen. type, and scissors and come
this way. F. A. r.
When a man refuses to loan you