THE ST. LA^VRE^'CE RESERVATION. J T) 



rocks have been blasted away in places, or artificalty arranged in others ; castles and 

 outbuildings have been built and artificial ruins erected, imitating, or at least 

 recalling, the sightly, interesting and historic places in foreign lands. Artists and 

 architects have been called into service, and sometimes it seems as though an 

 attempt was made to outdo all previous efforts in beautifying the surroundings of 

 pri\ate cottages. 



Of course, but a few places have been ornamented with a view to gratifying the 

 eye of the traveling public; but, while building and beautifying for themselves, 

 they have incidentally created a fairyland which cannot be kept from the view of 

 the passing tourist ; for the water which flows at the very doors of the private 

 cottages is a public highway, and all that desire may enjoy the outward attractions 

 provided bv the fastidious residents for self and guests. While many islands and 

 points of land have been occupied in tliis manner, and improved for exclusive 

 private use, those not desirous of living apart from others, or not having the means 

 to maintain such elaborate villas, have developed villages, locally called parks, which, 

 in most instances, are laid out symmetrically in avenues or streets, with many of the 

 conveniences of city life — post office, telegraph and telephone service, running 

 water in each cottage, and an efficient sewerage system. At these places may be 

 found a general store, meat market, and the ubiquitous dealer in Indian baskets 

 or souvenirs of local interest. At these parks nearly as much variety of architecture, 

 may be observed as in a city, eliminating, however, the tenements of the laboring 

 class, and, also, the marble residence of the man of means. The population of 

 some of these parks embraces many thousands. 



Few people remain long at this resort without taking advantage of the excel- 

 lent fishing. No fishing picnic is considered complete without landing at some 

 shady place, where the party indulges in a specially prepared fish dinner cooked by 

 the guide, or " oarsman " as he is locally called. A man is not considered a compe- 

 tent guide unless he can properly prepare an outdoor dinner, including fish which 

 are caught during the forenoon. To prepare such a meal a fire is built, fuel 

 being generally found in some nearby woodland in sufficient quantities for that 

 purpose. 



Now, one of the results of these outdoor dinners was the littering of the grounds 

 nearby with the refuse of the meal, including in many instances broken glass, 

 entrails of fish, and remnants of vegetables. The owners of the places where land- 

 ings were made sometimes objected to the practice of preparing dinners on their 

 premises, not so much at being annoyed by trespassers as at having their groves 

 endangered by fire and thuir grounds left in an unsightly condition. In some 



