The boatmen on the
Erie Canal announced their entry into the Albany basin by blowing a
horn, commonly a tin horn, harsh and discordant. The passenger packets,
however, having to "come into port grandly" sounded a bugle flourish,
sometimes really melodious. It may have been these bugle notes,
impressing their sweet succession on sub-conscious young minds, that
afforded the first suggestion of the Brook Farm call.
* * * * *
As my readers may note with more or less patience, it takes time for New
Netherland folk to get started on a long journey. Ours was a long
journey, in truth, as it required two days and a night to accomplish it.
The express schedule on the Boston and Albany Railroad is four hours
between the two cities; but there was no express travel in the forties
except by passenger packets on the Erie Canal, above referred to. These
fast flyers raced along at the top speed of four miles an hour making
stops only at the locks or bridges or to change horses or to take
someone on board or to let someone step ashore.
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