The traditions relating to this miniature island commenced when Hendrick Hudson made his voyage of discovery, and have reached quite to the present day, for there are many young men -- not to mention maidens -- who would hesitate long before venturing to spend the lonely hours of night in a solitary vigil on the Dans Kamer. For some reason not >'et fathomed the spectre of Kidd rises where\'er there is a remarkable rock or cove on the river bank. Kidd's Rock appears on " Kingsland's" Point at Tarry town, and again in the Highlands. A futile attempt to discover a portion of his treasure in a sunken wreck off the foot of the Dunderberg has already been alluded to, and the Dans Kamer has been the scene of one or more similar endeavours to possess the Spanish gold pieces with which he was supposed to have recklessly planted the shores near which he ma}^ have sailed. But it is necessary to put away the childish things of superstition and credulity before entering a city long devoted to the work of disseminating knowledge. Men that the nation has delighted to honour passed their schooldays at the old Poughkeepsie Collegiate School, that received its charter in 1836. It afterwards

422 The Hudson River

became the Riverview Academy, the change of name corresponding with the removal from College Hill, the old site, to Riverview. The Eastman College, devoted to the work of preparing young men for business, has also been long established and is widely known; but to a great many thousands of educated women all over the world Poughkeepsie means " Vassar. " When Matthew Vassar conceived the idea of doing something of public value with his wealth, he hit at first u]3on the plan of erecting a monument. It should be a thing to look and wonder at, something to commemorate the most important event in the historv of the river, namely, its discovery.