GUIDES. 37 



the utmost to excel. Between these and the hotel 

 guides there exists a rivalry, and I might employ 

 a stronger term. The independent guide feels, 

 and is not slow to assert, his superiority. He is 

 justified in doing it. The system of hotel guiding 

 is WTong in theory and pernicious in practice. 

 Every guide should be immediately responsible to 

 the party hiring him. His chances of futiire em- 

 ployment should depend upon his present success. 

 This is the only natural, simple, and equitable 

 method. It is beneficial to both parties. The 

 sportsman is well served ; and the guide, if he is 

 faithful, secures constant employment from season 

 to season. Many of the best guides are engaged 

 a year in advance. 



I cannot let this opportunity pass unimproved 

 of testifying to the capacity, skill, and faithfulness 

 of a great majority of the guides through the 

 Adirondack region. With many I am personally 

 acquainted, and rejoice to number them among my 

 friends. I have seen them under every circum- 

 stance of exposure and trial, of feasting and hun- 

 ger, of health and sickness, and a more honest, 

 cheerful, and patient class of men cannot be found 

 the world over. Born and bred, as many of them 

 w^ere, in this wilderness, skilled in all the lore of 

 woodcraft, handy with the rod, superb at the pad- 

 dle, modest in demeanor and speech, honest to a 

 proverb, they deserve and receive the admiration 



