Washington telegraph., 1848-11-08
cn,eAae. Iltlyo,s. Oct. #fs, 1918.

7Aif'h ~ ~ lllflhi " Nv AhIhAhhf ~ hA'''
What is going on ?" lie replied Il
am, - and passed on. | might answer in
the same mannef, had [ not more regard
for my old friend, the Telegraph, than to
heat it with so.much Indifference.
Well, here comes one OF those magni-
tieent Lake steamers, which are well
termed floating palaces There is no
finer sight than one OF them moving gal.
lan,y up the hafhor from her thousand
miles passage, She seems, and is, Il
Whole world IN miniature and presents
more visiblY than any thing else. the 50.
abeaaitireaeSS Of the present age. People
Of all nations throng her decks, with des-
tinations and motives as various us the
countries from Which they come Aan.
keedom is, Of course, largely represented,
fer her sons are always ready to take the
first boat fofany point in the little Mis-.
sissippi wiley, whore penny eau be turn.
ed, and The ambition OF many is satisfied
with nothing short Of Oregon or Galilor-
MIA. The meditatiye industrious German
IS there, meerSehaRm mouth, as op.
posite in all points from the Yankee, as II
Is possible for two human beings to be.
lie represents the conservative principle
IN the rushing speed Of progress, aud
proves n salulary check upon the impetu.
esity Of the others. lie dreams Of the
beloved . fadcrland' as the smoke curls
above his nose OF the calm days aud
quiet ewes which he has spent IN some
one OF It's rural villages, OF the music and
the dance which enllyened its neighborly
gatherings, and while he casts back a
sigh to the past, resolves to plant in the
new world the customs which were 50
dear 10 him in the old. The exile Of Erin
Is there, with his sunny and cheerful eoun.
lenanee, his strong muscles ready braced
to the world work, the hardest that may
oder, so that he may gel an honest living
for himself. the wife aud "ehilder The
Norwegian istliefe, whose eounienanee
seems to have canght genlleness from
the rugged auslerity Of his country and
climate, aud wears besides, quiet dream.
mess ofcxpresslon, reminding one Of the
curious suparstitions Of the old Morse
mythology. and which have doubtless
left their impfess there. The rugged
Dane. too, IS there, speaking the same
language, aud from the snhe good old
northern stock. Such arc the national
elements which make up the population
Of Lake steamboat.
The entrance Of the Fox into the Illi.
nois river at-ouowa. forms one OF the
handsomest functions ever saw Of two
rivers. Tha former runs square INTO the
latter. at right angles. with rocky blnits
At one side. aud gentle prairie slopes on
the other. In lew parts OF the country
will you lind n route so varied and TO-
mantle, as the one from Peru to OlIowa.
There are many rugged hlnhs Of sand
rocks, of notoriety. One projection cal.
led " Starved Rock, attracts general oh.
scrvaiion. II is so named from one tribe
OF Indians driving and besieging another
upon its bleak and barren heights, mi.
I'll they wor all starved to death
Then there is another bluff at the mouth
OF the Piasn, small stream that empties
into the Mississippi, on the smooth aud
perpendicular face OF which, at an elrla-
lion which no human ar, can reach. Is
cut the figure Of an enormous bird, with
its wings extended. The bird which this
figure represents was called by the Indians
the Piasa, which signifies" the bird that
deyoUrs men The Indian tradition is
briefly this: Many thousand moons be.
fore the arrival Of the pale faces, there
existed bird OF such dimensions, that he
could easily carry oil in his talons full
grown deer but having attained taste
Tor human flesh, from that timc he would
! prey upon nothing else, Hundreds Of
warriors attempted for years to destroy
him, but without success. Whole villages
were nearly depopulatcd, and constcrnn.
ton spread through all the tribes OF llni.
At lcuglh chief prayed to the Great
Spirit, that he would protect his children
rom ti,s Piasa The Great Spirit appeared
To the chief ina dean, and directed him
to select twenty Of lirwarriors, each arm.
ed with u bow and poisoned arrow, and
conceal themselves in designated spot.
Near the place ol their concenlmcnt ano.
ther warrior was to st0ud IN open view,
as Il victim for the Plasa, which they
must shoot the instant that he pounccd
upon his prey. When the chief awoke,
he told his tribe the dream. The war.
riors were quickly selected and placed in
ambush as directed. The chief offered
himself as his victim. Placing himself
in view OF the bluffs, he soon saw the
piasa pcrchcd on the cliffs eyeing his
prey. A moment after, the Pasa aroso
nihe air, aud swift as the thunderbolt
darted down upon the chief. Scarcely
had he reached his victim, when every
bow was sprung and every arrow sent, to
the feather, into his body. The Piasa ui.
tered wild, fearful scream. and expired.
The chief was safe. Not an arrow, not
even the talons OF the bird had touched
him, In memory OF tins event, the image
. ,l tI., Dtala tttaa ,vfrr.v.y, as, ia. f.,.a a