304 THE ADIRONDACK. 



white and cold against the wintry heavens — the snow five 

 feet deep on the level — the single highway blocked with 

 drifts, and the wind howling and shrieking through the 

 deep gorges, I should suppose a man would feel solitary 

 and desolate beyond expression. I asked him if he 

 never did get lonely. " No," he said, " I never was 

 lonely but twice in my life, and then I was in New 

 York City. Both times I was there I got very home- 

 sick.'''' 



What creatures of habit and education we are ! The 

 Highland Chief finds the lowland castle all too confined 

 and cramped for his free heart. The Arab spurns the 

 city, and joyously scans the open plain. 



" With his trusty firelock in his hand, 

 The only law of the desert land." 



The Laplander must have the reindeer — the Esqui- 

 maux his dogs and seal-oil — the backwoodsman the 

 forest, and freedom from conventional restraints — from 

 each and all of which the town-bred man turns wearily 

 to the comforts and luxuries and enervating pleasures 

 of city life. But who is right — who is the wiser man 

 after all ? 



