Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1876 — Notes of Travel. [ARTICLE]

Notes of Travel.

Niaoaba, Aug. 81, 1870. Editobs Rbmsulamb Union: My last to you left our party doing the CenteuniaL After ajten days sojourn in the city of “Brotherly love,” during which time a dying glimpse was taken of the main points of interest, we left for New York, where we registered at Earls Hotel, on Centre and Canal streets, near Broadway. Wall street, with its gold maddened ihrong, leaves a strange accompaniment to Trinity church cemetery at its head, where repose the dead of two centuries. Eminent divines mostly absent taking a summer’s vacation, which deprives excursionists of the privilege of hearing those clerical celebrities, who dispense the gospel in an artistic manner for an artitlic salary. Spent half a day in shopping at Stewart’s, Hearn’s and other houses on Broadway, putting 'the pther half at Central park. First a back was taken for the prin•pal drives, then on foot the chief tractions were sought This park contains many fine pieces of 'statuary; the cave is quite as gloomy and the inhabiting owls as large eyed as could be desired, the walks as delightfully romantic and picturesque, but the natural grandeur and magnificent proportions of Fairmount park at Philadelphia far surpass all this. Our nation's metropolis is said to contain, at the present, thousands, who from lack of employment are on the point of starvation. Many bouses shut up entire, and those open operating with as small force as possible. A run from New York to Long Branch by boat, “Crystal Wave,’’ to Sandy Hook, then by rail secured an ocean glimpse at the Hook, and a touch of sea sickness while tossing oyer the billows of New York Bay. At Long Branch all seems leisure and ease. Hotels well filled, but quiet and homelike. A bath in the surf gave a good taste of salt water in both mouth and ears, compensated only by trophies in the shape of snow white stones and shells, seaweed and a tiny wavelet secured in a Crystal prison, but recently vacated by violet perfume. Yes; and one has the supreme satisfaction of laying away in memory’a ‘ gallery the graceful appearance of themselves and fellow bathers in those navy blue and other colored nondescript suite, rented at extravagant rates, by the various hotel bathing houses. A three mile drive on Ocean avenue shows the principal hotels, among which the “West End” ranks first, being the most aristocratic, commodious and expensive Here also may be seen the various cottages of the “favored <ew” who frequent this summer capital. Among these are the residences of Bishoo Simpson, Maggie Mitchell, Jno. Morrisey, James Fisk (that was), U. S. Grant and many others. The president occupies the cottage presented him, while his other and outwardly more attractive one brings a rental of eleven thousand dollars per annum. Back to New York; up the Hudson river on day boat, “C. Vibbard,” through the magnificent, renowned scenery on either band to Albany. Thence by rail to Buffalo, and here. Niagara Falls is, proverbially, a place where you cannot breathe without incurring expense. Well, that depends somewhat upon the capabilities of the breathist. Should he be deliberate, and do a little thinking and walking, be may be enabled to behold the beauties of the glorious work of the Creator without actual bankruptcy. It seems as if the awe inspiring sublimity of the Falls should be accessible to all the world. But sober thought whispers that expenses of those two magnificent suspension bridges, to say nothing of the smaller ones, walks, drives, etc., must be met, and that the yearly harvest is but brief. Many thousands from various parts of the World are here, but daily changing. Those who to-day stand wrapt in admiration, watching the millions of tons of rainbow frosted liquid thunder with an almost Irresistible longing to plnnge into the seething spray and rush away with the mad waters, to-morrow may be dreaming, not so lengthily as Rip Van Winkle, but almost as oblivious of the great busy world, at some aerl>l retreat among the Catskills, or

rushing pellmell over mountain and plain to greet the loved ones in a western home To-day at your hotel you may dine with him, meet him in a drive on the Canada side this p. m. and pass him in that wouderfbl inclined railway car which takes you to the very edge of the “whirlpool.” To morrow he is h sit way to the “Centennial,” or homeward bound to tell of America to those beyond the sea. But—l'm terribly sleepy. Niagara river is rippling under my very window; the operalie strains of the bands have ceased to fill the charmed air of the hotel veranda, and the runhing, tumbling waters of the cataract but a few feet distant, seem telling me good night as they hurry their moonlit surfaces away to mingle with the roar beyond. Almost asleep.

CELIA WILKINSON.