The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1908-01-17
CANOEING IN MipWiNTER.

II was simply rresstible-Chr!st-
mas and an open river banksfull. So
we fastened into our sweaters, got out
our canoe and presently were pad
ding upstream. A brisk, western
wind. just cold enough to make pad
ding exhilarating, was blowing
| athwart the river and the swish OF the
paddles and the tapping Of the wave
let's against the bow of the canoe
brought back to memory June days
upon the river II man Is as old as
his arteries, those OF the canoeist
| should enjoy perpetual youth, for the
exercise of rowing Pushes the capil.
laries and favors elimination OF waste
materials from the system, the lnvig-
| Grating air gives to the blood oxygen
that burns up those deposits that age
the blood vessels and thus they are
kept elastic and young. The motion.
the scenery and the stimulation of the
fresh air soothes the nerves and brings
calmness to the mind Alas! someone
has invented a portable engine that
can be attached to a canoe with a
thumbscrew, and soon those afflicted
with the obsession Of speed.madness
will drive others who delight in pad
ding, from our streams, and all the
pleasures and benefits of canoeing win
be lost.
Seven miles upstream, measuring
the distance by the windings OF the
river, we left the town behind and
encountered the rapids caused by the
dam at the sugar factory, which give
fall to the river of eighteen inches.
In attempting to force the canoe over
this fall my companion broke his pad.
die and we were helpless as bird with
broken wing. Fortunately we were
able to keep the canot straight with
the current until we drifted out OF
the white water thus avoiding a nasty
spill. We portrayed over the rapids
and continued upstream, passing
through magnificent natural groves
and beautiful scenery. We encoun-
tered sign bearing the legend, mo
hunting allowed" but as it did not
forbid canoeing we ignored it. How
prone we are to overlook the beautiful
scenery at our doors and search the
inaccessible regions of the earth to
gaze upon scenes less beautiful. Along
our native rivers are scenes of sur
passing loneliness, but to be seen at
their best they should be viewed from
the vantage of canoe. It Is to be
regretted that the increasing demand
for lumber is making serious inroads
upon the noble groves that fringe Ne
braska's streams, for these woods fur
nished shelter for game and song
birds, windbreak that modified eli
mate and place for recreation. "In
the woods" says Emerson, "a man
casts on his years as the snake his
slough and what period of life soever.
is always child. In the woods is per-
petual youth. Within these planta-
lions of God decorum and sanctity
reign, perennial festival Ia dressed.
and the guest sees not how he should
tire of them in a thousand years. In
the woods we return to reason and
faith. There I feel that nothing can
befall me in life-no disgrace, no ca
lamity Qeaving me my eyes) which
nature cannot repair"
Returning down stream we simply
drifted with the current. The wind
had died away and the setting sun
crimsoned the western sky. Not rip.
pie broke the placid surface of the
river. bittern rose from a sandbar.
a kingfsher challenged us with harsh
objurgation and golden.winged flick
ers passed overhead in swoopiug
flight. The presence of these birds
so late in the season gave a touch of
summer to the brown fields and skel-
eton trees. A great horned owl
alighted in a tree upon the rivers
bank. My companion, who occupied
the bow of the canoe, shot him and
he came down with a broken wing.
He put up a vicious fight until a crack
on the head ended the struggle. This
bird is an Infamous rascal and almost
the only member of the owl family
VINO is menace to the farmer and
sportsman. He has been called the
tiger OF the air." for he Is a poultry
and game killer with greed Unsuitable.
Number five shot for him, propelled
with three drains of powder. II wing
W. 10 NulNiul W htGp your uOR away
from him; you might wish to use the
dog afterwards. / mounted our speci-
men and he now adorns my den. He
measures twenty-four inches in length
and twenty-six inches around his body.
The shadows heightened and night
had fallen as we reached the boat
house and housed our canoe. With
the glow of exercise in the open stimu-
lating our senses and our pulses throb-
bling with oxygenladen red blood cor
puscles we expressed a great salts
faction with the totality Of our mid
winter half holiday. Thus we forsook
the superheated atmosphere of the in
doors and, without furs or foot-warm-
ers, enjoyed halliday in midwlnter
out Of doors in absolute comfort. Our
trip was replete with adventure with
varying scenes and incidents. with
beauty and color and we found them
all within few miles OF home.
]. II. MackSy.