MISCELLANEOUS. 297 



atmosphere and the rich and attractive scenery made the time 

 pass most pleasantly. 



On the fourth day after our arrival, the wind having fallen 

 somewhat, the bright little steamer "Mary" arrived, and at 

 three o'clock P.M. we bade good-bye to the enchanting isle, the 

 " Gem of the Straits," and steamed out into Lake Michigan. 

 The water was still very rough, and several of the passengers 

 were soon seen hugging the guard-rails, looking pale as death, 

 and sadly sighing, " Oh, my ! " The run to Petoskey, a dis- 

 tance of sixty miles, was made in five hours. Arriving there, 

 we put up for the night, and at six o'clock the following morn- 

 ing we boarded the south-bound train on the Grand Rapids 

 & Indianapolis railroad, "homeward bound." 



While the trip had not been so fruitful of results, in a sport- 

 ing sense, as we had anticipated, owing to our having chosen 

 an unfavorable time, yet it has been fraught with other and 

 more important results. We have seen and explored a vast 

 tract of uninhabited wilderness, which, to the lover of nature, 

 is as fascinating as any in the United States. We have seen 

 a number of the noted summer resorts of the North ; we have 

 enjoyed the most refreshing and invigorating atmosphere to 

 be found anywhere ; have indulged in the most vigorous 

 physical exercises, such as walking, boating, etc., and have 

 returned home with greatly improved health and with such 

 ravenous appetites that our hotel and boarding-house proprie- 

 tors have already threatened us with an advance in the price 

 of board. 



We have had strange experiences ; have witnessed many 

 amusing incidents and encountered some strange characters, 

 whose portraits will never be effaced from our memories. The 

 warmest and most lasting friendships have grown up between 

 members of the party, where before only a passing acquaint- 

 ance existed. 



