The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-04

Her Irritation with motor boating over,
the New York girl went to Canada for
canoeing and to take hand at duck SHOOT
ing. And there she learnt to paddle a
nice Canadian mans canoe In the st. John
River.
That this should be accomplished.
beautiful paddle just her own height was
ordered for her OF shining white maple,
to be the workmanship Of the most expert
Melicete Indian, a paddle fitted to her
little hands and curved and balanced to
make her stroke as graceful as the Cana
dian felt 1t must be to justify his admira-
ton. For to paddle badly involves the
same dire irrevocable disgrace In the eyes
Of a Canadian that to sit on horse oadiy
brings in the eyes Of an Englishrnan.
The canoe was a genuine Melioete oiron
bark structure, light and small and won
derfll curve from bow to stern, and the
paddle in the girls hands gave her the
suggestion Of a nerve connecting her brain
with the delicate little bark, so swiftly. 80
exquisitely alert was the response.
At the very start she was to paddle at
the stern, and the solemn, patient master
Of ceremonies to issue orders from the
bow The New York girl knelt and faced
her Instructor, padding uncertainty right
and left, laundering, laughing working,
ooquettng, loving every dip Of the blade
in the tawny brown water, thrilling with
delight at the flight Of the canoe under the
difficult, uneven stroke. listening for the
sound Of paddle meeting water, joyous
with the pull at her strength, forgetting
wholly that her motor boat had been out
down in the days OF It's youth, forgetting
New York and-lovipg Canada
But harder work followed the first les
son Of haphazard excitement. 1t was to
learn to paddle on one side only, which was
like learning to ride side saddle after
taking your first canter astride.
She had already acquired tho correct
hold on her paddle, her left hand gripping
the curving top and her right hand clasp
ing the paddle. but not gripping 1t, just
above the swell of the blade-just such
hold as she had cultivated for q curb bit,
close enough to respond and yet discreetly
loose for an emergency.
And then the stroke, q firm long press
ing through the water with the fat
of the blade turning so that at the end 1t
out the water and came out edgeways.
Thus for some time, until the canoe ac-
ahead.
or course the position was part Of the
first lesson, the kneeling squarely, on coats
or a tarpaulin, or hemlock branches II she
was to be a real Blue Nose canoeist, with
spine straight, chest high and all the motions
with the arms, not q full sweeping bend at
tho waist, which Is the Canadian Indian way
and less firing. though also less finely erect
and graceful. 80 ,4
These first canoeing lessons were q de-
lightful experience to the New York girl.
There was always the tang Of frost in the
clear blue early Canadian morning, a joyous
sense Of strength to work or play hard and
feeling Of room enough for sweet air.
And she practised steadily and patiently
and happily, watching the critical eye Of
the captain, working hard for q word Of
commentator, looking despairingly lovely
over her blunders, mocking at hattery,
and there was mono too much Of 1t, giving
all her strength to her paddle, yet remote
personal recognition to the man, CLINT Of
her eye, curve Of her mouth, not wholly
for the sport.
After testing her courage and her enjoy
ment OF the sport, and catching q glimpse
of her true Sportsman feeling toward active
DANGER, IneTe WASH ITlp Jldhiieu Oh bVoIIly
day, a day with an up river wind and tide
flowing out, a choppy sea. conflict between
rushing current and wild. undisciplined
waves that would play ball With a canoe not
expertly managed.
The New York girl was the passenger list
and the big Canadian was the mate and the
cook and the captain bold and the crew Of
the tiny bark. There were enveloping
tarpaulins and Tam o Shanter for tangle
Of yellow ourls, longer paddle for the
crew and an extra one In case Of emergency.
There was breathlees second at the start,
the canoe quivering with excitement, wait
ing for orders, and then ip an instant the
passenger, the captain and the canoe were
all an Intoxicating part Of the fury Of the
storm.
There was no resisting u,s waves or fight
ing the current. There wAs a sense rather
Of belonging to the whole wild exhilarating
scene, of tossing with the waves, bot through
them, Of creeping over the breast Of them
through sheer love OF nearness, Of dipping
and bending to the wind as fir tree bends.
1t was all a joining In the revelry Of a mad