Pueblo chieftain. (Pueblo, Colo.) 1889-current, 1921-10-06
By FREDERIC J. HAsKIN

Alexandria Bay. y Y, Oct Sill
bert X Chesterton in his talk on the
iznorano. of the educated might nave
used the Thousand Islands as an apt
illustration OF his text: Ignorance is
rot so much what people don't kno1 as
il is their knowing so many things
that aren't so
Thousand Islands arc to most people
a group of approximately Loco dots Of
Land in tho ST Lawrence river. A
uatiy. Of this place who has lived in or
near the islands all her life says that
there are exactly 100 Islands in the
group And her tone implied; If you
dotb, 1t, count 'ennvoursef
Yet the fact is that the Thousand
Islands number close to i.5rs. The
early French explorers sailed thru the
maze Of >islands and dubbed them with
the name they still carry Thousand
Islands II a .uphonious name. Suzgas-
tive Of romance and the history OF the
islands has run accordingly.
The romance Of the French days was
Indian tradition. The Trcquois had a
picturesque tale to account for the
origin OF this long stretch OF Islands in
the St Lawrence
The Great Spirit they said wanted
peace on earth So be gave 10 the s,
Lawrence region as a sfxn an island
shaped like a peace pipe. This island.
called Calumet, is still pointed out near
Clayton Somewhere near there was
the garden of the Great Spirit But
when his people ignored the peace pipe
and brought war into the land. the
Great Spirit in disappointment seized
his garden NJ In a blanket to lsave the
place. The hlanse; tore and the gar
den falling into the ST Lawrence
river. broke into a thousand islands
that lay on the surface OF the water.
( This origin. the story says. accounts
Tor the beauty OF the islands.
Tn. region. 100. Is claimed by Some
students Of Indian lore as the scene
o. the Hiasatha story. as it actually
occurred in Indian history. Hisvaths.
, according to these authorities, was the
orondaga hero. Michabou. Great Hare.
, whose wisdom and proves set him for
ever in Indian affairs as the grea,
. leader and example
To-day. Indian souvenirs in the shops
are the only signs left to remind tss
motor boats OF the times when Indian
canoes dotted the Sc Lawrence.
A MODERN ROMANCE
The romance for today Is supplied ny
modern stories Just cross from Alex
and-ia Bay. for instance. Is Heart Is
land with its novel history. A beauti-
full castle stands on this'isIand. a typ
zeal mtfltonairee residence. But the
windows are suffered The doors arr
boarded.
Eighteen years ago. they tell YOU. a
millionaire planned this castle for his
wife. There we're SO rooms and =
! baths. and Other details on the same
scale An underground passage 10 tire
castle from the dock was constructed
for freight Even the power houss
down on the waters edge was built
like a cluster OF towers million
dollars was put into the building and
unlimited enthusiasm and affection
Hearts we're painted into the tecora-
Z lions on the ceilings and cut IN the
carvings OF the stone.
But before It Vas finished the mis-
tress of the castle Aet. The millionaire
ordered work suspended at once Crates
of furniture were left standing I'm
I packed in the rooms.
Later. visitors TO the Islands were
! permitted by the ca-etaks-- 20 see the
castle. but so many brought pcuknive-
and carved their names on the beauti-
full woodwork. or otherwise defaced
Z the building, that IL was finally closed
entirely. Now 1t is rumored that the