"For all New York?"
"Oh, no. New York has enough water power, you see. The tide mills are enough for this whole region."
"They solved the tide-mill problem, did they?"
"Yes. There are innumerable mechanical advances, of course. You'll enjoy them."
We were near enough now to see the city clearly.
"What a splendid water front!" I cried. "Why, this is glorious."
It surely was. The wide shores swung away, glittering in the pure sunlight. Staten Island lay behind us, a vision of terraced loveliness; the Jersey shore shone clear, no foul pall of oil smoke overhanging; the Brooklyn banks were banks of palaces, and Manhattan itself towered royally before us, all bordered with broad granite piers.
"'Marginal mile after mile of smooth-running granite embankment,'" quoted Nellie. "'Broad steps of marble descending for the people to enter the water. White-pillared piers——"
"Look at the water!" I cried, suddenly. "It's clear!"
"Of course it's clear," she agreed laughingly. "This is a civilized country, I tell you."