The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-08-09
AN INTERESTING TRIP
The Editor and Family on Their De-
lighttuI Vacation With National
Editorial Association.

Editorial Association.
Canadian air is great for sleep, or at
least the majority of our party thought
SO when the porters routed us out of
our berths when we were nearing
Kingston about four o'clock in the
morning, for we were to board the pala-
tial steamer Toronto at o'clock for a
days ride down the St. Lawrence river
through the Thousand Islands to Mon
treal, days pleasure which we had
been anticipating ever since we started
on our trip. Kingston is the Sandhurst
or West Point of Canada, with it's Mill
tary College, it's massive grey stone
forts, it's Martello towers and imposing
public buildings. 1t is beautifully stu
ated at the foot of Lake Ontario, at the
head of the St. Lawrence river, and at
the mouth Of the Rideau or Great
Cataraqui river, which with the
Rideau canal connects it by water
way with Ottawa. A settlement was
made here by the French in 1872, for
the purpose of protecting the fur ira
ders from the murderous depredations
Of the indians. A few years later the
French built massive stone fort here
named Fort Frontenac, and it was
alternately seized and occupied by the
French and English until it was finally
destroyed by Col. Bradstreet in 1853.
1t was again rebuilt under the name of
Fort Henry which it retains to this day.
At the time Of the union of upper and
lower Canada in 1s41 Kingston was
made the capital, but the seat of
government was removed the same year
to Montreal, then in turn to Toronto
and back to Kingston until in 1853
Ottawa was chosen as the permanent
capitol by the late Queen Victoria.
The day was perfect for the ride and as
we steamed out upon the majestic St.
Lawrence, the first sight we see across
the river is Garden Island, with it's
cluster Of shipping, and City View Park
on Wolf island, with it's beautiful
groves. Before us lies the entry to the
sinuous channels of the famous archi-
pelago of the Thousand Islands. These
commence at Kingston where the wat
ers of Lake Ontario issue into the broad
channel of the ST. Lawrence, and extend
down to Brockville, distance of some
fifty miles. They number little over
seventeen hundred, varying in size,
shape and appearance from small,
barren rock projecting from the sur
face of the river to the large fertile
area Of land crowned with richest foli-
age and lofty trees, many of them orna-
mented with summer residences, rang
ing from the modest little cottage to
the palatial homes of millionaires from
New York city and other places. AS
we wind in and out amid these charm
ing islands, the rapidly changing pic
ture almost bewilders us. The islands
were the scene of several thrilling and
romantic adventures during the days
OF the rebellion. The burning of the
"Sir Robert Peel" occurred here in
1888, by band of outlaws headed by
"Bilr" Johnson, a kind of a political
Robin Hood, who had conceived the
idea of comforting on Canada the boon
of freedom. The story of his devoted
daughter Kate who rowed him from hid
ing place to hiding place and kept him
supplied with food, gives touch of the
charm of legend and adventure to these
rocky mazes. The beautiful and roman
tic scenery of these islands, the advan-
tages for rowing, fishing and camping,
and the purity Of the atmosphere, con-
tribute toward making this region the
most unique of Canadas pleasure
grounds. The passage through the
islands occupies several hours, the
steamer passing between Howe and
Void islands, past Grindstone Island
touching at Clayton, N. Y, and then we
take the American channel of the river
to Frontenac island, which is one mile
by fourteen hundred feet, and one OF
the most beautiful islands of the group
A few miles further on, in the very
heart of the archipelago, we pass
Thousand Island Park, on Wellesley
island, an extensive summer resort, laid
out in small parks and avenues, and
occupied by five or six hundred cot
tages. Originally established as de-
nominational resort, it is now conducted
by businessmen as an undenominational
resort, where as at Chautauqua the best
speakers of all denominations are heard,
and summer schools and university
extension lectures are available at
moderate charges. The scenery from
Thousand Island Park to Alexandria
Bay is the most beautiful of the trip.
Hundreds of islands lie across the course
of the steamer, all differing in size,
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