Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-07-13

Ertract of letter from our Correspondent,
dated
DETROIT, June "a, 1886.
PENCILLINGS BY THE WAY.
You, doubtless, as well as every body elsc have
heard the old saying:
'writc what we will, this maxim still sticks closely
Nil dicium quod non dctum prius."
If this was true in olden tmes-in times now
long gone by-with how much more gertrude
does it apply in these modern, and, as some will
have it, degenerate days; and how shall any one
now, in offering his productions to the public,
hope to say new thing, or indeed even to escape
the charge of plagiarism I shall endeavor to
keep clear of this quagmire, and shall content
myself, and hope satisfy you by giving you, or
attempting to give you, plain, matter of fact
relation of what has occurred to me, of what
have seen and learned since we parted-in short
true history of the "moving accidents, by flood
and field, through which have passed" since
that time.
Well, then, without any further preface
hate preface never read i'll proceed at
once to fulfil that promise We parted, as you
will recollect, at your beautiful village of Con-
stantine, on the Goth inst, and that is only four
days ago, and four days is no great length of
time-not long enough you will say to prepare
from observation, book of travels. Never mind;
l beg of you to suspend your opinion-besides
never promised book of travels or any such
thing. We parted, as said at Constantine, OH
the Goth inst. Some good people had the kind.
ness to take me into their wagon, and carry me
safely to White Pigeon. They would receive no
remuneration, and as am temperance man,
gave them each glass of beer, and we parted
good friends. White Pigeon, where now found
myself, and which, as the stage in which l had
bespoken seat for Detroit, had not yet arrived,
had leisure to examine, think on the whole,
to be one of the most pleasant country villages
have ever seen. Situated near the borders of one
of the most beautiful and extensive Prairies of
Michigan, its scenery is delightful indeed may
say unrivalled for beauty. In this point of view
among the villages of Michigan it may be called
the belle of the west. What arc tho advantages
of its location, and what facilities it affords for
business had not time to inquire.
About o'clock, P. nj. the stage arrived from
the west. 1t contained but one passenger, a cir
cumstance quito unusual, am told, on this line.
Just as l was taking leave of some old acquaint-
ances and friends friends are scarce in this world
the horn of the driver sounded as an intimation
that all was ready. Instead Of a coach we found
out cover and without seats. AS the heavens
Il never heard that word defined)--were overcast
with clouds, and at intervals the rain was falling
in torrents, we all joined in demurr against 60
ing in this vehicle. 1t was all, however of no
avail-the agent, who seemed to be good, &c.
commodating sort of man, assured us that such
was the state of the roads, from the recent heavy
rains, coach could not be sent in safety. To
supply tho want of seats he sawed some pieces of
rough boards, and we cot OF upon full gallop.
Our company consisted of gentleman from Uti-
Gu, N. Y. lady from Kalamazoo, and myself Of
course. We travelled at rapid rate through
fine open country, to Sturgsss Prairie distance
of Thirteen miles, where we arrived in an hour and
half. After making a short stop hers, long
enough, however, to view the delightful scenery
around, we passed on with the same team, at the
same rapid rate, until wo arrived at the bottoms
ofPrarie river, where we found the road horrible
uisu, worse even than the agent at White Pigeon
had representedit. We thanked our stars--I nc
yer knew what stars had to do with follSs--but
we thanked our stars for this same wagon, which,
through constant rain and mud, during all tho
route thus far, we had not ceased to find fault
with. Some times in this world, as we found it
in this case, our happiness and safety depend on
what we consider for the time q real evil But
shall not attempt to moralizo, lest you apply to
my lucubrations the nil dictum maxim to be found
at the commencement of this epistle. Neither
shall attempt to describe how bad the road was
for indeed l consider it no road at all. Suffice
it to say that with much exertion, joltng and ia
tigue, we crossed the marsh, or bottom, together
with the river, and arrived in safety at Fronch's
tavern, on the eastern side: Here we got fresh
team, and passing five miles of terrible road, Il
shall not describe terrible road 1--WE came to Bron.
sons Prairie, where much improvement seemed
to be in progress. We however made no longer
stop than was necessary to give drink to our
horses l must here remark that to quench the
thirst of their teams, drivers make use of water
exclusively in all cases-this is one reason why
am temperance man. If horses will not drink
rum why should a man? Five miles from this
Prairie wo put up at very good inn kept by
Mr.. Reynolds, thirty miles from White Pigeon
Next morning at four o'clock we were ready for
a start Instead of the wagon, used the day be-
fore, coach was provided. AS we had learned
by experience the virtue there is in a wagon on
bad road, we all joined in requesting to be car.
ried in one. twas however ofno usc--wo found
ourselves considered as SO much baggage which
the proprietors had contracted to transport, and
the manner ofthat transportation was not a mat.