The Yale expositor., 1900-08-03
ON LAKE NIPISSING.
Callander, Ont, July 25th, 1900.

Callander, Ont, July 25th, 1900.
Brown as a berry, is the usual form
of expression applied to tourists return
ing from trip to lake or mountain
but applied to me has no meaning after
two days fishing excursion this week
"Red as a beet" fills the bill better. The
sun was hot, sizzling, blistering, anC
Michigan cheek wasn't in it at all. A
buttermilk poultice, however, after {
twelve hours application reduced the
high color to its Sunday shade.
1t is only part of the fun Of an eX
cursion, catching fish. One requisite
for an out and out days sport is get
ting the right kind of company. Eel
lows afraid of getting their pants wet
or who wear faces long enough to eat
oats out of q wooden churn; thems the
chaps to leave at home. My minister.
al friend here is a good one, and his
unco quidneSS does not stand in the
way of joke, given or taken. A friend
of his from Hamilton, preacher too
comprised the crew of a two days fish.
ing trip this week; Mr.. Jeffrey, of To
ronto, placing at our disposal his cot
tage on Rose Island.
This island contains 135 acres, is one
of q group at the foot of the main lake
and is an ideal spot for day or two's
sport. 1t is heavily wooded down to
the waters edge, with occasional breaks
of low rocks gradually rising from the
shore; and again bold sharp bluffs,
rough, naked and raggy. The cottage
is built on an elevation on the western
shore, looking out to the main lake
which to the opposite shore is 60 miles
A setting sun view from the balcony
of the cottage is well worth the price
of a trip here.
1t has grown into habit, or rather
is an old habit revived, when wander
ing around any old spot that has any
historic interest attached, TO sit down
and let imagination have full sway; and
it seems to me on such occasions that
the spirits familiar with, and partici.
pants in the events of the long past
are lowering in the air, and lurking in
every nook and corner, waiting and
watching to take possession of any
earth spirits found in their former
haunts, and pour into their ears songs
and whispers Of veal or woe, that once
stirred their own hearts when actors in
the great tragedy of life.
These islands have history, and a
quiet hour musing before retiring, was
really an enjoyment. Long before the
white man dreamed of western hem
isphere, his red brothers bark canoes
skinned over these waters; his tents
lined the shores; his squwas, pappooses,
dogs and bow-arrows, and venison; and
for diversion the scalps of his foes fill
ed up the sum and measure of his life.
All this has passed away, and a few
desecrated graves are the only remind
ers left of the once happy, contented
occupants of these islands. An occa-
sional relic is to be found; but they
are very rare now. They have mostly
been secured by the Canadian Histor-
ical Society, of Toronto.
A stone hatchet, considered quite a
rare find, and of very early date; fell
into my possession through the kind
ness of a friend. Lately these islands
were visited by a French Count, who
with a retinue of French servants and
a number of Indians, canoed up the OF
tawa, and down the several streams
from its headquarters, into Nipissing
Lake. Finding these islands very beau
tiful, the lake teeming with fish, he
made quite protracted Sojourn. Relic
mentoes of his visit, but these have
also mostly passed into the hands of
the above society.
Next morning we were astir by four
o'clock, cooked our fish and had bach
elor breakfast, and it was enjoyable,
and by FIVE o'clock were at the fishing
grounds-morningsa and evenings being
the best times to catch fish. We had
plenty of luck; enough to satisfy any,
one not in it for a business. Having
due regard for the preservation of We
racity, will not state how long string
we caught. But one thing may be said
truly; we had very enjoyable time
and lots of fun before that days dark
ness shut down on us.
1t is quite an accomplishment to for.
get for the time being that we are get
ting old, and to turn the tables on old
father Time, and to be boys again, free
from cares and anxieties of business
To enjoy this kind of life, it is abso.
lutely necessary TO do this very thing
and we succeeded tolerably well, as the
sequel will show. We had got tired
of rowing and trolling and hauling in
fish, and concluded TO try a catch with
rods and lines from the shore. There
was spot on the other side of the
island known as good place for black
bass; but it would take q row of mile
from where we then were to reach it.
although only about ten rods across.
But TO reach the shore next us, a
rocky ledge reaching out about four
rods, and from two to eighteen inches
L. a L. - A A. Wa