By Water to the Columbian Exposition | Page 4

S.J. Schermerhorn,
three well known and highly estimated gentlemen from Schenectady.
At 11.40 A.M., Mr. James gave orders to haul in the lines attaching the
boat to the shore; and a gun-shot at departing announced to the
numerous spectators that the "Marguerite" was on the point to set out
for her unusual, but most interesting trip.

We had been sailing only a very short distance, and were just facing the
buildings of the General Electric Company, when our attention was
attracted by a photographer who seemed to be very desirous of taking a
photo of the yacht and her passengers; for he aspired to gain the most
favorable posture, apparently quite a task under the circumstances.
How well he succeeded in his endeavors, the readers can judge for
themselves by glancing at the frontispiece of this book.
Resuming our journey, we soon had opportunity to admire the beautiful
and fertile Mohawk Valley, once the home of one of the tribes
composing the Five Nations. Arendt Van Curler, the noble founder of
the "Place Beyond the Pines," pronounced this picturesque region the
most beautiful the eye of man had ever beheld, at a time when the
country was yet in its infancy. Though great changes have taken place
since that remote date (1642), the grandeur of the scenes spread before
us evidently showed that the country has lost little of its beauty, even at
the present day, nothwithstanding the white man has established in
many places his smoking factories and noisy looms.
At the second lock Mr. Schermerhorn, who owns a beautiful residence
near this place, in the Township of Rotterdam, joined our party,
whereupon we continued sailing on the smooth surface of the canal
with accelerated speed.
At 2.40 P.M., after having passed five locks, we approached
_Amsterdam_, an enterprising and prosperous city of over 20,000
inhabitants, located in the midst of romantic scenery. We halted at Port
Jackson for a few minutes, since this was the terminus of the voyage of
Mr. Hastings and my father.
When parting with me, my father said:
"This short tour has sufficed me to perceive how delightful your
voyage promises to be in company with this amiable family. Thus I
leave you, feeling very happy that so many pleasures and enjoyments
are awaiting you."
I answered his kind words with a hearty parting kiss, as a token of my
filial love.
The two gentlemen, after having abandoned the yacht, ascended the
bridge that spans the canal at that point; and bidding us farewell once
more, they pursued us with their eyes until the graceful lines of the
"Marguerite" had become invisible in the distance.

Continuing our voyage, I was in perfect rapture with the ever varying
magnificence of the luxuriant Mohawk Valley. In the afternoon the sky
became overcast and the quietude that had been prevailing was
interrupted by a thunder-clap, which gave us the signal to prepare for a
shower. After the expiration of a few minutes the full-charged clouds
poured their deluge upon mother earth. This natural phenomenon,
however, was only of short duration; but sufficient to render the
atmosphere most delightfully pure and refreshing. It was now a
redoubled pleasure to view the many hills and dales, adorned in every
shade of verdure, varying with romantic forest scenes; all mingling into
one inexpressibly rich garniture in which Nature had royally clad
herself in order to give us greeting on our way.
As we reached Fultonville, a suburban village of Fonda, about
twenty-six miles from Schenectady, Dr. Veeder and Congressman
Schermerhorn parted with us, wishing us a pleasurable voyage.
The "Marguerite," gliding along, neared the vicinity of Sprakers when
suddenly the "heaven grew black again with the storm-cloud's frown,"
and a flash of lightning illuminated the sky with crimson radiance. It is
for a moment as if the horizon was in flames, a spectacle glorious to
behold. Another minute and a peal of thunder reaches our ears. Then
the dark, heavy clouds discharge their contents in copious abundance.
"In grateful silence earth receives The general blessing: fresh and fair
Each flower expands its little leaves As glad the common joy to share."
While it is still raining,
"The sun breaks forth, from off the scene Its floating veil of mist is
flung. And all the wilderness of green With trembling drops of light is
hung."
A magnificent rainbow, spanning the boundless arch on high,
embellishes this superb panorama.
As the sunset was bathing all summits in soft, crimson light, and the
pale lustre of the orbed moon appeared in the east, we arrived at
Canajoharie.
This small town, noted for its fine stone quarries, was chosen for our
abode over Sunday, and busy hands carried out the order to safely moor
our craft near the bridge pertaining to the main street.
When taking