Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1842-04-29


there wss no sasc, neithsr = nature, nor 81 that
did not siIotd subject upon which n interesting
lecture might b delivered psnned, e prove when
be took up pebbs, just snch = millions q mo-
daily ,rsmpled upon, and eomanon e ~ snd us'ns
il for subject, penned a article of rars inasses
There ne tiousands 81 other mstters, equsiy com
mon, that are susceptible q sOch notics = e cary
the mind away, in admiration Of IT. grandeur.
case Of the kind has but lately occurred. WIN
US on the western waters, the arrival Of steamboat
has become an occurrence 80 common, that, like
clouds beneath the heavens they come and go with
out exciting any interest," the people altogether for
getting that they possessed Of spirit the most
sublime in either art nature. But they have been
undeceived on this subject. On the 2lst inst. lit
tie steamer called the Rock River" drawing about
IL inches water, made her way up the Iowa river
to Iowa City. Now who would suppose there was
much subimity, or poetry in her motion, or in her
arrival! We would refer the unbeliever to the fol-
lowing description Of it, copied from the last number
Of the Reporter.
"Thursday last, at ten o'clock in the morn
ing, the cry of Steamboat in the lowa-all
hands on deck-was raised by the stentorian
lungs Of the workmen on the top of the cap-
toll. This, with the hoarse response of the
steamer herself with her voice Of deep ihun-
der, aroused the whole population. We with
the laudable desire to share in the public curl
osity and delight, run with unusual expedi.
ton to the top Of the bluff, and sure enough a
steamer was in full view, just emerged from
the forest below the town. Nothing could
have exceeded 10 brilliant magni6cence the
scene displayed before US. The steamer mo-
wing up in majestic course. with the stars and
stripes from her bows floating joyously in the
breeze, smiling on the luxuriant landscape of
surprising beauty and richness, seemed to be
had witnessed for the first time the emblem Of
the country's glory. Emerging from the thick
cts Of timber variegating the banks, putting,
blowing, and converting the deep black waters
Of the Iowa into foam Of milky Wilderness, con-
trasted with the luxuriant foliage of the trees,
the deep green Of a super-abundant Vegetation,
and the azure-golden serenity of the Heavens,
afforded field worthy the contemplation of
the enthusiast and could not fail to generate
the inspiration of poetry in the heart Of the ad-
mirer of nature and the ingenuity Of man.
On the farther bluff. withdrawn timidly from
the presence of the white man, seated in dis
NAL silence, small group of the natives of
the forest regarded with establishment and awe
the approach Of the big fire canoe, believing it
to be curse of the Great Spirit marking the
progress of the pale face, feeding upon their
own loved Iowa, where few years since the
frail bark Of the savage darted upon her placid
bosom, propelled by the agile arm Of their
dusky daughters.
AT one o'clock, by universal request, the boat
started on excursion up the river.-Elderly
citizens with their daughters,-young, blush
ing. and gay as the summers mornng-dash-
ing bellies and beaux in profusion, with GENTLE
men and ladies generally, served to make up
party of pleasure consisting Of hundred or
more merry souls, intent upon rational enjoy
ment, frolic and fun. They went up to the
quarry, some twelve or fifteen miles above the
town, landed. and took stroll amongst the
magnificent scenery bordering the river, and
returned early in the evening, without the
slightest accident to interrupt the festivity Of
the OCCASION"
Can you, reader, for a moment longer doubt, or
remain in ignorance of the beauty and sublimity of
steamboat! or that there is something peculiarly in
teresting in seeing group Of old men and their gals
on steamboat, especially where there are few
squaws sitting the bank to witness their depart
ure! No can, but all must admit that the earth
and all that is within is poetry, requiring nothing
but the pen Of select few through which to pour
fourth itself in the most sublime strains.
On the same subject the Standard thus opens out
SAT about ii o'clck on that day, the steam
boat 'sRock River" (Capt TBARE) came boo
ming up the Iowa river under full steam, The
citizens Of the city turned out en- mosse, and
greeted with tremendous cheering the arrival
of another steamer at our wharf. Our citizens
were received on board with all that grace and
politeness which ever characteristics Command |
ants of steam-craft, whether navigating our
western waters and inland streams, or traver. |
sing hemisphere upon the pillows of the
briny ocean,"
Now, had we undertaken the task, we could only
have stated that con Thursday morning last, while
three squaws were sitting on the banks Of the Iowa
the workmen on the Capitol discovered the little
steamer Rock River coming up the Iowa. After
while she reached the landing and was welcomed
by the Citizens, many of whom with their daughters
'sweet-hearts, &c, went on board, when the boat
frooeeded up the river to the stone quarry, where
they all took stroll through the woods" This
would have been the plain English Of the whole mat
ter.
We wish not to cool the zeal of our CITY neiehbors
IN the cause of navigation the Iowa, but we would
advise them even if the people were carried away
in admiration at the sight Of steam boat to be care
fui IN giving such descriptions ever mindful of the
TACT that there is but one step from the sublime to
the ridiculous.
CT Our ne'ghbor Of the Davenport Gazette is a |
poet as well as novelist but we presume he has |
never found 1t out, or the west wouM have 49,, !.