I do not propose to take the Club any farther along the course of this river. At Sunbury it receives the waters of its principal tributary, the west branch of the Susquehanna, itself a goodly stream 200 miles in length. Afterwards it receives the Juniata; and thence flows into Chesapeake Bay.

We now turn to some points of interest on the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers.

The Delaware offers many attractions to the landscape-loving tourist, besides being a river of great historic renown in the history of this country. Like its sister the Susquehanna, it rises in New York State, its beginning being the union of two little streams flowing from the Catskill Mountains. For about seventy miles of its course it forms the boundary between New York and Pennsylvania, and afterwards it divides Pennsylvania from New Jersey.

DR. PAULUS: What is the origin of the name?

LAURA: From the first governor of Virginia, Lord De La Ware, I believe. GILBERT: Is there not an Indian tribe of the same name?

LAURA: Certainly the Renappi, as they called themselves, but they were christened Delawares by the English because their home was on the banks of our river.

The Delaware Water Gap, at the northern extremity of Northampton County, and on the line of the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad, is a defile in the Kittatinny or Blue Mountains, with nearly perpendicular rocks 1,200 to 1,600 feet high on either side. The gorge is about two miles long, and at the southeast end passage is so narrow that the river and the railroad have, so to speak, to crowd close together to get through.

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Just above the gap at the north end is a valley called Minnisink-Indian, "whence the waters are gone." A great lake once had its waters here, and where it has gone to is the mystery which has come down to us in its Indian tradition and name.

This is a lovely spot and is much visited. Of the two mountain barriers, that on the New Jersey side has been named Tammany, after an Indian chief; and I suppose that this is the origin of the name assumed by a political party in New York city. The other side is named Mt. Minsi, also an Indian name I suppose. MR. MERRIMAN: The illustration shows only one side of the gap-which is it?

LAURA: The New Jersey, or east side-Mount Tammany. It rises up, steep and bare, with a frowning, ominous outline. On its summit is a beautiful little lake, a mile across. Of course the views are very broad and beautiful from both hills, and from many points. And, by the way, there is a "lovers' leap" from one of the promontories of Mt. Minsi, and an Indian legend, which I suppose I may give. MR. MERRIMAN: Let us hear it, by all means.

LAURA: Be it known that when the Dutch made their first settlements on the Delaware River, calling the place New Netherlands, in the beginning of the seventeenth century, a certain Indian maiden named Winona, daughter of the mighty chief Wissonoming, fell in love with young Hendrick Van Allen, an officer in one of the Dutch expeditions. The young man returned her affection, but unfortunately the expedition was not successful, and he was ordered home to Holland. For some time he wavered between the claims of love and of his country, but finally decided in favor of the latter. On informing the poor Indian girl of his decision, she sprang from his side and flung herself over the precipice.

KATE: I think he was decidedly mean.

LAURA Although I have only shown you one illustration of the gap, I would have you understand that the vicinity is full of romantic spots, hills, vales, and glens, and a summer may be spent very delightfully in this region.

Passing by the many picturesque spots in the upper Delaware, which tempt us to linger, we will now make a rapid stride to the Schuylkill River.

THE PRESIDENT: I think it would interest the club to be reminded of some of the historic attractions of the Delaware River, to which you alluded a few minutes ago.

LAURA: I had almost forgotten. I have already spoken of the early Dutch settlements. Besides this there were very early settlements from Sweden, and a portion of country west of the river was named New Sweden. Eventually all came into possession of the English, and, Penn having obtained a grant of Pennsylvania from Charles II., an adjustment of the boundaries had to be made, and for a time what is now the State of Delaware was part of Pennsylvania. It seceded in 1691 with the reluctant consent of Penn.

GILBERT: Why did it secede?

LAURA: I have not read enough of history to give the full reason, but it was dissatisfied with certain acts of the State Assembly and preferred to legislate upon

its own affairs. It was one of the most peaceful acts of secession which the world ever witnessed. It was fortunate for the settlers in the lower counties, as they were termed, that they had to deal with so peace-loving and honorable a governor as Wm. Penn, and that his spirit had been caught by the populations of the whole State. Little Delaware was allowed to depart in peace, and grew up to be a thriv ing community. Are tired of history?

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THE COLONEL: By no means; we cannot do better than make these beautiful views assist our memories as to the events with which they are more or less closely connected.

LAURA: It was upon the banks of the Delaware, that Penn held his first conference with the Indian chiefs. The land between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, where Philadelphia now stands, was owned by three Swedes. Penn purchased the interest of the owners and laid it out for a city, giving names to some of the streets, such as Chestnut, Walnut, etc., which they hold to this day.

In the war of Independence this river was the scene of many thrilling incidents, which cannot all be recounted this evening. You have all seen the picture of Washington crossing the Delaware on his march to Trenton. He had been chased with his small army through New Jersey by Cornwallis, and had had to cross the river as a fugitive. This was at the very darkest hour of American history, when the hearts of the tories were rejoicing at the prospect of Washington's utter defeat. But Washington rallied and determined on recrossing the river and recapturing Trenton. On the night of Christmas, 1776, he accomplished this feat, in the piercing winter cold, the wind cutting like knives, and the twenty-five hundred faithful soldiers of that little army poorly clad, weary, and faint with fasting. They found, as they expected, that the Hessian troops at Trenton were asleep or drunk after their Chrismas carousals. This victory was the dawn of better things for America, and the Delaware will always be associated with this crisis in her affairs.

You are aware also that the mouth of the Delaware, below its junction with the Schuylkill, was the scene of important engagements in October, 1776, between the British ships and the American forts, and that Philadelphia was for some time the head-quarters of British forces. You have also heard of the battle of Germantown; but this brings me to the end of my stock of reminiscences for the present.

NIAGARA FALLS.

HE seventh Conversational Tour of the series was undertaken at the house of Mr. Victor, and was commenced (after the usual introductory business had been transacted) by Aunt Harriet, who was invited to conduct the club to Niagara Falls.

AUNT HARRIET: I do not know but that I have the most difficult task of any, for I suppose every member of this club has seen "The Falls," and then they have been so often described that it is well nigh impossible to present them in any novel light. But I shall invite you all to take a liberal share of responsibility this evening, while I try to be as matter of fact and unconventional as possible under the circumstances.

You are aware that that portion of the St. Lawrence stream which lies between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario is called Niagara River, or river of "the thundering waters." This river intersects an isthmus thirty-three miles and a half long, dividing the lakes. As the level of Ontario is 334 feet lower than that of Erie, it is evident that the Niagara River must descend very rapidly. This descent is, at the present time, classified in three divisions: first, the rapids, which accomplish 52 feet in less than a mile; second, the Falls themselves, which have a depth of about 160 feet; and third, the river below the falls, which descends about 110 feet or more, leaving about twelve or fourteen feet for the descent of the river between the outlet of Erie and the beginning of the rapids.

The pouring forth of an immense body of water, the outcome of four mighty lakes, draining half a continent, through this channel into the abyss of Ontario, gives an effect which, for grandeur and a sense of irresistible power, has no parallel on the face of the earth. We can hardly conceive of the force involved in this plunge over the rocks of, say, one hundred millions of tons of water every hour, year after year, century after century. The mind cannot at once grasp the thought, and it is only after one has sat some time in silence within sight and

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