QUESTION ABOUT A NAME. 283 



CHAPTER XXX. 



UP THE NORTH KIVER. 



FOR twenty or thirty miles above New York, the North 

 River, as it is there called, is of its ordinary width, and 

 runs in a pretty straight course, with a range of lofty and 

 precipitous cliffs on one side, and a series of charming land- 

 scapes, consisting of groves, gardens, pleasure-grounds, vil- 

 las, public institutions, and pretty little landings leading 

 to them, on the other. For an hour after leaving the pier 

 at New York, Lawrence and John remained at their seats 

 upon the upper deck, in the midst of many animated groups 

 formed of the other passengers some talking, some read- 

 ing, some sitting quietly in silence, but all enjoying the 

 mild and balmy air of the evening and the beauty of the 

 scenery. 



" Why do they call this river the North River in New 

 York," asked John, " while every where else it is called the 

 Hudson River ?" 



" That is certainly very singular," said Lawrence. 



" Even the same people," continued John, " call it the 

 North River when they are here, and call it the Hudson 

 River when they are in Boston." 



" Not always," said Lawrence. 



" No, not always," replied John ; " but why do they 

 ever? What is the use of having two names for the same 

 river at all ?" 



"It is very common," said Lawrence, "to have two 

 names for the same thing, to be used indiscriminately; 

 but this seems to be a case where the use of one word or 



