lligators were frequently seen sunning
themselves upon the edges of the banks.

At dusk the town of St. Mary's, in its wealth of foliage, opened to
my view from across the lowlands, and soon after the paper canoe was
carefully stored in a building belonging to one of its hospitable
citizens, while local authority asserted that I had traversed one
hundred and seventy-five miles of the river.

One evening, while enjoying the hospitality of Mr. Silas Fordam, at his
beautiful winter home, "Orange Hall," situated in the heart of St.
Mary's, a note, signed by the Hon. J. M. Arnow, mayor of the city, was
handed me. Mr. Arnow, in the name of the city government, invited my
presence at the Spencer House. Upon arriving at the hotel, a surprise
awaited me. The citizens of the place had gathered to welcome the paper
canoe and its owner, and to express the kindly feelings they, as
southern citizens, held towards their northern friends. The hotel was
decorated with flags and floral emblems, one of which expressed, in its
ingeniously constructed words, wrought in flowers, "_One hundred
thousand Welcomes_."

The mayor and his friends received me upon the veranda of the hotel with
kind words of welcome. Bright lights glimmered at this moment through
the long avenue of trees, and music arose upon the night air. It was a
torchlight procession coming from the river, bearing upon a framework
structure, from which hung Chinese lanterns and wreaths of laurel, the
little paper canoe. The Base-ball Club of the city, dressed in their
handsome uniform, carried the "Maria Theresa," while the sailors from
the lumber fleet in the river, with the flags of several nationalities,
brought up the rear.

When the procession arrived in front of the hotel, three hearty cheers
were given by the people, and the mayor read the city's address of
welcome to me; to which I made reply, not only in behalf of myself, but
of all those of my countrymen who desired the establishment of a pure
and good government in every portion of our dear land.

Mayor Arnow presented me with an engrossed copy of his speech of
welcome, in which he invited all industrious northerners to come to his
native city, promising that city ordinances should be passed to
encourage the erection of manufactories, &c., by northern capital and
northern labor. After the address, the wife of the mayor presented me
with two memorial banners, in the name of the ladies of the city. These
were made