My arrival in Albany and lecture at Tweddle Hall on the evening of the eighteenth were to me among the notable events of my journey. Colonel J.
M. Finley, who accompanied me from Boston, a veteran of the late war and manager of my lecture course from Boston to Buffalo, introduced me.
Called at the Capitol on the nineteenth to see the adjutant-general in relation to my lecturing in the interest of the fund for the erection of a Soldiers" Home which at that time interested persons had proposed to build at Bath, New York. I was presented to General Townsend by Colonel Taylor, a.s.sistant adjutant-general, whom I had known for several years.
Found that General Townsend was not, as I had been informed, the treasurer of the fund. Colonel Taylor then went with me up Washington avenue in search of Captain John Palmer, Past Department Commander, G.
A. R., whom I was advised to consult on the subject.
These matters attended to, I went in pursuit of Captain William Blasie and Lieutenant Arthur Richardson--acquaintances of many years and both of whom had been the companions of my captivity in Southern prisons during the War of the Rebellion.
My stay in Albany was prolonged by preparation for lectures at Troy and Schenectady, and by needed information concerning the early history and development of the former city. The second Sunday of my journey found me here and I went in the morning to the Presbyterian Church at the corner of Hudson and Philip streets.
[Ill.u.s.tration: VIEW IN SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.]
CHAPTER VI.
ALBANY TO SYRACUSE.
Fourteenth Day.
_Given"s Hotel_, SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, _May 22, 1876_.
Left Albany at eleven o"clock. My journey to this city led me over the Schenectady Turnpike. Was compelled to ride between showers all day as a rainstorm had set in just as I was leaving Albany. Stopped for dinner at Peter Lansing"s, whose farm is about midway between the two cities. This genial gentleman of old Knickerbocker stock greatly amused me with his blunt manner and dry jokes. I was sorry to leave the shelter of his hospitable roof, especially as the weather was exceedingly disagreeable, but my engagement to lecture in Schenectady obliged me to go on. I found it necessary to ride the last three miles at a gallop in order to avoid an approaching shower. Reached my hotel at four o"clock in the afternoon, and lectured in the evening at Union Hall under the auspices of Post 14, G. A. R. Several representatives of the city press were with me on the platform, and among them was Colonel S. G. Hamlin, a fellow-prisoner in "Libby" during the war, and now editor of the _Union_. In the morning Colonel Finley went over to Troy to a.s.sist Mr.
Farrington, my advance agent, in arranging for my lecture in that city.
Fifteenth and Sixteenth Days.
_91 Centre Street_, SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, _May Twenty-third--Twenty-fourth_.
Accepting an invitation to spend a day or two with friends, I went to 91 Centre street after my lecture. While here I was occupied chiefly in posting my journal and in attending to business and private correspondence. A telegram from Colonel Finley told me that he had fixed upon the next evening for my lecture at Harmony Hall, Troy. Acting upon this plan I went over to Troy the following afternoon by way of Albany.
Called on Captain Palmer in the latter city, and handed him the proceeds of my lecture at Schenectady, which he at once transmitted to the fund in aid of the Soldiers" Home. While in Troy I met R. H. Ferguson, Hon.
Martin I. Townsend, the McCoys and many other friends and acquaintances of Auld Lang Syne. I may add that this was the only instance in my journey thus far in which I had deviated from a direct line of march.
Seventeenth Day.
_91 Centre Street_, SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, _May Twenty-fifth_.
Returned to Schenectady by way of Albany after my lecture at Troy. Was very busy at this time in organizing for my lecture campaign between Schenectady and Buffalo. There was rather a surprising announcement in the afternoon"s _Union_ to the effect that I had left for Little Falls.
I did not learn from what source Comrade Hamlin of that paper received his information. Colonel Finley went on to Utica, where he was joined by Mr. Farrington.
During my stay here I became interested in the place and found that Schenectady was as rich in legends and story as her neighbors. She counts her birthday among the historic dates of America, having begun her career in 1620, when the Mohawks were still holding their councils of war and spreading the terror of their name. Here in their very haunts a band of courageous Dutchmen established a trading-post and began the work of civilization. This brave colony did not find life as peaceful as the innocent aspect of Nature would suggest, however, for in the winter of 1690 the French and Indians began their terrible work, burning the houses and ma.s.sacreing the inhabitants. It was only through a baptism of blood that the small trading-post developed into a city. Now it was one of the most flourishing and important towns in the valley; and the transformation was so complete that it is almost impossible to realize that this was the scene of so many struggles. The Schenectady of to-day is a busy manufacturing town, with a prosperous farming district about it, whose cornfields and orchards attest the richness of the soil. It is the seat of Union College, a well-known inst.i.tution of rich endowments and possessing a handsome library of 15,000 volumes. The college was founded in 1795 by a union of several religious sects. Its buildings are plain and substantial, their stuccoed walls suggestive of the good solid work that is accomplished within them from year to year.
Eighteenth Day.
_Union Hotel_, FONDA, NEW YORK, _May Twenty-sixth_.
Moved from Schenectady at eight o"clock in the morning. Found the weather delightful and the scenery charming. On either side were the meadows dotted with spring flowers and fertilized by the river, whose sh.o.r.e line of willows and elms was bright with new green. If I were to except the Berkshire Hills, I saw nothing in Ma.s.sachusetts to surpa.s.s, or even equal, the Valley of the Mohawk. It surprised me that poet and novelist had apparently found so little here for legendary romance.
Had dinner at Amsterdam, sixteen miles from Schenectady, and while halted here had _Paul_ shod for the first time since leaving Boston.
Resumed my journey at four o"clock and reached Fonda two hours later.
Made twenty-six miles during the day and was now 243 miles from the "Hub." Through the courtesy of Mr. Fisher, my landlord at this place, I was given a verbal sketch of Fonda which made a pleasant addition to my own small store of information. There were no striking characteristics here to attract the traveller"s eye and history had not chronicled its modest advancement, but for those who enjoy the sight of peace and prosperity, Fonda has a charm of its own. Around it on all sides the grain fields were under excellent cultivation, with here and there a well-stocked farm, suggesting an agricultural and dairying centre. I found a good night"s rest here, envied the people their peaceful existence, and rode away with a sense of complete refreshment.
Nineteenth Day.
_Briggs House_, SAINT JOHNSVILLE, NEW YORK, _May Twenty-seventh_.
Called for _Paul_ at eight o"clock, and after halting a moment at the office of the _Mohawk Valley Democrat_, crossed the river to Fultonville, which is connected with Fonda by a substantial iron bridge.
Pa.s.sing through this town, an enterprising one for its size, I continued my journey along the south bank of the Mohawk until I reached Canajoharie, where I stopped at the Eldridge House for dinner.
[Ill.u.s.tration: A MILL STREAM IN THE MOHAWK VALLEY.]
Here I met another Socrates who had a "favorite prescription" for healing the sore on _Paul"s_ back. Spent an hour very pleasantly in the office of the _Mohawk Valley Register_ at Fort Plain, where I learned that Charles W. Elliott of this paper is a son of George W. Elliott, author of "Bonnie Eloise." For many years this song was a great favorite, not only along the Mohawk, but all over the country, and is certainly one of the sweetest ballads of America. There is a swing to the rhythm and charm in the lines which keeps it in memory, and in riding along through the scenes it describes, my thoughts go back to the old days in Rensselaer County, where as a boy I first heard the words.
"O sweet is the vale where the Mohawk gently glides, On its clear winding way to the sea; And dearer than all storied streams on earth besides, Is this bright rolling river to me.
But sweeter, dearer, yes, dearer far than these, Who charms when others all fail, Is blue-eyed, bonnie, bonnie Eloise, The belle of the Mohawk vale.
"O sweet are the scenes of my boyhood"s sunny years That bespangle the gay valley o"er; And dear are the friends, seen through memory"s fond tears, That have lived in the blest days of yore.
But sweeter, dearer, yes, dearer far than these, etc.
"O sweet are the moments when dreaming I roam Through my loved haunts now mossy and gray; And dearer than all is my childhood"s hallowed home That is crumbling now slowly away.
But sweeter, dearer, yes, dearer far than these, etc."
Reached this place at seven o"clock in the evening and will go on to Little Falls after dinner to-morrow. In the morning I had an opportunity to look about me and admire the unusually fine scenery whose romantic aspect was heightened by a rugged tip of the Adirondacks which runs down into the valley at that point. At the foot of the mountain lies the brisk little town of Saint Johnsville, whose manufacturing interests have given it a reputation for miles around.
Twentieth Day.
_Girvan House,_ LITTLE FALLS, NEW YORK, _May Twenty-eighth._
Rode to this place from Saint Johnsville after five o"clock in the afternoon, taking the north bank of the river. The effect of the scene in front of me as I traced my way along the valley was most striking.
Nearer the town my eye caught the picturesque ma.s.ses of rock lifting their rugged sides to a height of five hundred feet, the swift waters of the Mohawk rushing along between them. The homes perched all along on the steep hills suggested Swiss scenes and Alpine journeys, but the busy hum and characteristic American push soon dissipated these fancies. The rapid fall of the river here is of great benefit to the manufacturers who are making good use of their excellent water-power in the paper and woollen mills.
Soon after my arrival, several citizens came into the hotel to learn the particulars of my journey, but before I had time to register, Postmaster Stafford made himself known and introduced me to several of his friends and acquaintances, among them General Curtis and Major Lintner. A laughable story was related which afforded considerable amus.e.m.e.nt soon after I rode into town. It seems that a credulous old lady from the country had been led to believe that a cavalryman would ride through the place that night on the horse which General Washington rode during the Revolution. A story suggested, no doubt, by the subject of my lecture.
She had come in to sell her firkin of b.u.t.ter and had waited until long after dark for the rider and his ancient steed, while the objects of her misguided interest were resting in Saint Johnsville unconscious of the disappointment they were causing.
Let us hope that she never discovered her mistake, for the old are often sensitive on such points. It is better at times to suffer keen disappointment than to find we have been too credulous.
[Ill.u.s.tration: VIEW IN THE MOHAWK VALLEY.]