New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-16
THROUGH THE ERIE
The Canal Boat Offers Vacation
Possibilities Hitherto
Neglected.
BY Louise E. Dew.


ing you less than it would If you stayed
behind in the city and stiAed through tor
rid nights in an airless hall bedroom. In
possible? Wait a bit Consider yourself
offered the chance of months trip, a
thousand miles long, more or less. through
historic scenery and the gardens of a gar
den state, at cost to YOU of 81 week,
not to include meals. VIII you take 1t?
Once there was girl. Through tedious
winter and enervating spring she had been
teaching fiye-fnger exercises and the scale
of c major to small and restless beginners
at a rate per lesson so Low that she dared
not remember the existence Of seashore
and mountains. \ change she must have.
Yet even excursion rates back to the small
village in Erie County, y. Y. where she
was born. were beyond her fiat pocket
books contriving On the contrary, in or
der TO keep the financial end up until Eer
pupils should return from field and forest,
she took in hand the. copying le-inly and
putting in shape huge orchestral score.
Flooding back to the hall bedroom limited
at, with her bundle Of music manuscript
she paused to exchange greetings at GER
TAIN small SlQQlO dldl lllltllls 1 w lll'llN'NS
later the heavens had opened before hcr
and a joyous homeward voyage 70 Eri'
County, n. Y, and return was hers for
the taking In brief, she had been sud
denly elected fifth member OF the crew Of
the Jolly Mariner, bound from New York
City to Buffalo and back again. by water.
That the water mentioned happened 10 be
that of the Erie Canal took nothing from
the charm. She went. This was her eX-
penence.
Precisely SO was what il cost the little
music teachers four friends and herself -
charter for the round tip the house
part of the Jolly Mariner, canal5cat
then loading Up for her Western voyage
The passengers furnished their own pro-
visions, the captain-owner sleeping and
eating aboard the Mary Anne, which
came along some few hundred yards in
their wake during the entire trip. For that
small price the FIVE girls had entirely at
their disposal a roomy living cabin, With
three inclosed beds, hidden in the walls
behind sliding panels, and two couches that
turned into more beds when night came.
They had also the use Of modern cook
stove, running water from tank easily
filled. and all that was needed for simple
housekeeping routine.
They took aboard with them weeks
xupply of grocries--to be renewed. as con-
venient. in towns along the way. The two
art students bestowed cAnvases and color
boxes and easels in the capacious lockers
concealed by other panels of the cabin
walls. The photographer and the trained
nurse. Just freed from a nerve case"
~ III a
sewing machine The little music teacher,
fifth member of the crew, brought along
large stack Of music paper, a small suit
case. two bottles of ink and a mandolin.
From New York City TO Albany, alonG the
Hudson is something over hundred ana
forty miles. The Postal Service allows
three and a half hours for a letter 10 make
the trip ~ rail. The Jolly Mariner was
towed up the river by businesslike tug
and made the distance in just twelve times
three and a half hours. After leisurey
picnic supper the crew sat on the cabin
roof under an old awning and watched
the banks Of the Hudson River slide by
and change and grow dim in the twilight.
When II was time for sleep they called a
gay good night to Capn Cutie and the
crew of the Mary Anne and went below.
Instead of the Quivering heat, radlating
from baked city pavements, the cool river
breeze was fresh in the cabin. all through
the night, and the wash of the water
against the side Of the low craft never
aroused them.
Morning found the Jolly Mariner well up
above Kingston. with a cloudless day for
the Catskill region. Housework, little as it
was. went undone. as they rested and forgot
cities. The tide favoring. they passed Al
bany in the afternoon, hailing the Capitol
as they went along, and early evening
brought their vessel. like the black-hulled
ships Of yore, TO "the plains before Troy"
Here Cap'n Cutie. pending the arrival Of
his mule power" gave the crew Of the
Jolly Mariner an hours shore leave, TO
make any forgotten purchases before start
ing on their voyage through the canal itself
When they returned, laden with fresh
rolls, fruit and the evening paper they found
Tony and Finnigin waiting for them.
Strong shouldered big gentle and mouse
colored they were. the two mules that were
10 serve as motive power for the journey
between Troy and Buffalo. Capn Cut
tie greeted them as old friends when they
appeared. and Mother Prouty. first mate Of
the Mary Anne, came hurrying ashore 70
feed them sweet apples.
With a harmless whip crack the feet
moved OF TO meet the down flowing Mo-
hawk and headed for Schenectady, while
Mother Prouty down in the kitchen Of the
Mariner. gave the photographer a. lesson in
practical pastry making in return for a
snapshot % herself on her own cabin roof
Smelling pcGs
The next day they slid leisurely along
through Montgomery County and the "Rob-
ert Chambers country" finding, TO their de-
light, that Mother Prouty, who brought her
knitting across from the Mary Anne, was a
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