142 OCEAN TO OCEAN ON HORSEBACK, 



traced my way along the valley was most striking. 

 Nearer the town my eye caught the picturesque masses 

 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 Ameri- 

 can push soon dissipated these fancies. The rapid fall 

 of the river here is of great benefit to the manufactur- 

 ers 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 him- 

 self 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 amusement 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 butter 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 Johns- 

 ville 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 

 dnd we have been too credulous. 



