The New York herald., 1921-06-26
New Yorks Greatest Forest Is Explored by the Historian

You have a chance was his verdict. 1 can't
do much for you, but l can tell you what
to do for yourself He told me. / did It.
And here l am, after twenty-five years.
writing about it,"
Mr.. Donaldson's chapters upon Paul Smith
and all his works engaging as any
thing in this delightful rambling, discurs-
i've. informing book. OF "Bartlett's" and of
DIR Romeyn the author writes with the re-
rret of a true lover of the wilderness for the
TOO early passing of what DIR. van Dyke has
called "the healthiest, quaintest, cosest place
in the Adrondacks." Such was "Bartletts in
its palmy days" OF Paul Smith, Mr.. Don
aldson says:
"He was the dean of pioneer guides ana
hotel men. He outlived them all and out
shone them all in success and popularity
Oddly enough. the name that he made IA
nous and which was often on mems lips
was not his given name. He was baptlzed
Apollos The first contraction of this was
Pol but this unusual abbreviation was
quickly slurred into Paul by native tongue
and earAand Paul il has been ever since
He accepted and adopted it and used 1t
throughout his life
The story Of Paul Smiths unique good
fortune as an innkeeper Is told with charm
ing simplicity and cearness. The fine. up
standing figure OF this most famous of all
the pioneers is shown to the best advantage
in these friendly pages. And finally:
when Paul Smith died the curtain fell
upon the era of the pioneer. His lifetime
spanned the long transition from oxen 10
automobile. from corduroy to macadam. from
hardship to luxury. He closed the reigning
dynasty OF the old time guide and genial
tavern host His passing ushered in the
twilight of the Adirondack gods"
Chapters upon the old stage lines and
drives Franklin Falls. "French's," Upper
and Lower Jay. Ausable Forks, Wilmington
and Lake Placid are filled with memories
and memoranda of we'll known individuals
who came from all quar- ters of tho earth to
win new distinction as personages In the
Adirondacks. A long chapter on John
Brown at North Elba" tells the fascinating
tale Of his adventure upon the land opened
by Gerrit Smith. the notable abolitionist of
New York who threw open a hundred thou
sand acres OF his wild lands inherited from
his father, lying in Essex county and in the
town OF North Elba. AS colonization place
IL did not appeal TO the negroes. but John
Brown was deeply impressed by the natural
beauty OF the place. and It's seclusion was
favorable as an asylum for fugitive slaves.
In is4s he moved his family there from
Springfield The story OF his goings and
comings, the tragedy at the end and the
honor in which he was held by those who
knew him best are noted with skill and pre-
cision.
The inclusivenees of Mr.. Donaldson's book.
together with the charm OF its style. must
insure II permanent place as a historlco-
geographic standard for any student Of this
remarkable district, where the air seems TO
be literally filled with the elixir OF life. To
the many thousands who have come to hold
the Adirondcks as the most distinctive place
in all eastern America this book will be a
treasury and "a reminder II Ia great
Adirondack tapestry. into which are woven
all the history, natural beauty and romance
of the district. And TO all who care for the
more intimate history of our country II will
prove mine which apparently can never be
worked out