. Early Mackinac. A sketch historical and descriptive . d winter sledgesand a few ox carts in the hill woods comprised al-most the total of animal draught power. A boule-vard drive-way along the beach, designed to en-circle the whole island, is in course of construc-tion. Water works and electric lighting and thetelephone system are among the present conven-iences of the old-time village. The large StatePark, embracing nearly one-half the woods of theisland, and threaded by the best of roads, and athing of State guardianship and care, is anothermodern feature. And the project of a beautifullit
. Early Mackinac. A sketch historical and descriptive . d winter sledgesand a few ox carts in the hill woods comprised al-most the total of animal draught power. A boule-vard drive-way along the beach, designed to en-circle the whole island, is in course of construc-tion. Water works and electric lighting and thetelephone system are among the present conven-iences of the old-time village. The large StatePark, embracing nearly one-half the woods of theisland, and threaded by the best of roads, and athing of State guardianship and care, is anothermodern feature. And the project of a beautifullittle park, at the foot of the fort and in the cur-rent of the village life, adorned by a memorialstatue of the early missionary and explorer, Mar-quette, whose name the park will bear, has been 114 EARLY MACKINAC. initiated. These are some of tlie changes, but inits natural beauty, its purity of atmosphere, itssurrounding panorama of mighty waters, and inall that makes its subtle charm and spell, the is-land is the same as of yore, and beyond the power. THE VISTA PATH. of mans enterprise to change or improve. It is asmall tract of land not subject to the prevailingconditions of other communities, and to an un-usual degree it preserves its pristine character. AN OLD-TIME PREDICTION 115 The following, written by a reflecting visitormany years ago, when the aborigines were stilllingering in the neighborhood of the island, andwhen modern life was in its day of small things,may well be repeated now. The prediction itcontains is seen to-day, at any rate, and doubtlesswill long continue to be realized: The Straits ofMackinac will always command attention. Throughthis channel will pass, for ages to come, a greatcurrent of commerce, and its shores will be en-livened with civilized life where at present theIndian still lingers, but alas! is fast passingaway. CHAPTER XI. Early Mackinac had among its citizens, sparsethough its population was, a number of men ofstrong character and great bus
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