New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-08-24


Contains their cooking mplem nts, and serves Tor
. k;tch.n. IL was a comfortable picture OF gyp-
sev mr. pionesr life, barring the DIRT aod CONFUSION
Of the interior OF these canvas houses, so out
OF keeping with the fragrant h-rbase nature
nyox,d,s Tor their flooring. and the canopy OF
folaye swept by the bosom OF her winds and
washed by rain sent from the Z" sweet heavens!
Since the DAYS OF our western pioneers, the more
stlfinduseLt class of travellers have seemed to
tschew this primitive shelter; camping out
has been looked upon as a hardship rather than
luxury and though few adventurous young men
may do it for a froic, any ladies who should ven
ture upon such innovation could hardly fail 20
find themselves ETY. led " come. cutters" and inde-
pencents" in the most bafbarous sense OF the
words. Yet If a few Of them could &c, up safc ent
selfrcliance 10 undertake a journey through the
wild parts Of our country and be- content 70 lo1Se
in this manner how great would be the gam ~
health and pleasure | know a lady IN Chiciso
who Travelled through the greater p1It VI i"inp'7,
many years since, on horseback, sieepns a. nis
on a couch of boughs spread with blankets under
the omen skv she is one of the most accom-
pshed of American women, ana d-licate IA aP'
pesrance az if she had always housed herself ac-
cording to the prevailing fashion. Snow me the
woman now with spint that WIZ not SHRINK
from the ike, and | will wear her ia my hearts
core for many an enterprise, painted IN iancy's
brightest hur-, have we been obliged 70 give up
for want OF more companions.
Returning round the end of the lake, and cross.
ing an oak pralre by any course that proves most
convenient, the road is regained. Through the
prairie We nov traverse, the stream formed by the
outlets Of both lakes winds and is followed by
tie road. 1t is bright, swift stream, aud takes
its way betwiXt clean banks frnged with thick
growth Of Wild grass, varIegated with flowers.
bridge leads across IL. and IN few moments it Is
shrouded from view by the trees on It's banks,
which become hghter. Further on stand on
the level If a bluff, and here we alghted TO view
one of the most beautiful Of natures works
Parting the ioiag-, and descending little way
downward to ledge OF rock, you come into full
view Of The falls of Mime ha-ha, in the green,
shsdowy depth Of a wild gorge, curtaned bv thick
woods on either hand, from the very arms Of which
it seems bursting, the swift stream above descrb-
ed prcciptates itself in unbrOkrn descent OF,
should guess some sixty or seventy feet the
waters forming al arch of snowy foam and spray
in their wild leap to the rapids below. None of
the Falls of Trenton are equal in beauty to this;
and We viewed il with even more pleasure than
those Of St. Anthony. The suddenness with
which this vision OF beauty bursts upon the sight
the contrast Of the white foa ming waters with the
deep green OF the foliage so closely embracing
them, and the dark cavern behind formed by the
graceful curve describing the delicate streaks of
light green III the falling mass; the brilliant sun
shine imprisoned in its shOwery spray, and the
rainbows dancing over it all combine to form
scene of such enchanting loneliness to take the
senses captive, amt sleeps the soul in the purest
enjoyment this earth afford. With little
trouble one NAV descend 10 the foot Of the cas-
cade add Feat himself within reach of its diamond.
Ike spray, listening for hours to its deep voice Of
music, Its everlasting anthem OF praise for being
Inch Is not in vain.
The meaning of the Indian name of this exquisite
waterfall is The Laughing Waters'-and the
name is web applied, for they do laugh, If not
" fercely glad, lire the wildtonents Of Cnamouny,
in the iull JOY OF their flashing and sparkling beau
IT, and the Tuyine echoes the sound Of their ia.
bi ant exultatiOn. One should pass a day at their
feet, not amid precipitous, black, jagged rocks"
essha tered fragments tell OF dcsOlatiOn, but
in the lap Of natures most spirit stirring hooks,
where all around speaks of peace and smiling CON-
tent Ii is spot whtre may suppose the del
icate genius Of youth to have hid himself when
he foIsook that portion Of the earth which, as tn.
Italian poet save, growing old, grows sad :"
and here he may haibJT as of yoTe,
Making sunshine out Of shade,
la lifelong holiday"
Passing on, the view opens and from the high
bluff is seen the Mississippi with the wooded
heights opposite and stretch of country for
miles onward The distant view of Fort Smelling,
its flag cleaning in relief against the SKY, is start
lDgly fine bat the one, after little nse IS
vet more imposing. Its white walls and barracks
are clearly defined, with other neat buildings ia
the most magnificent panoramic display on which
the eye ever rested. The bounding Mississippi
appears between its bluffs, ard the extensive val
ley Of the Minnesota or Ct Peters river, wind
ing lear and aiar. The village Of Mendoza is seen
Oh the SIDE opposite the tort, and the varied land
scape beyond Is bounded by ranges Of hills rising
one above another. the highest fading into the
misty blue of the horizon. The view is too ex.
tensiye TO be embraced ia a single picture to which
any artist could do justice; but the Eye can take
it IN, and will linger over it long with increasing
delight.
Fort Smelling has a commanding position at the
junction Of the Minnesota and the Mississippi
rivers, and is one Of the strongest military posts
in the NORTHWEST. II was begun after 1890 and
not finish, for some years-bsing named by Gen.
Scott in honor of the then cOmmandant, Col.
Smelling. Some account nf its erection and incl
dents connected herewith will be found in the
memoirs Of Mrs. Abigail Smelling and Mrs. Clark,
included in the volume of Pioneer Women of
tie Uesf, TO be published this month by Scubner.
The day had become very warm, the drive
back to ST. Anthony would have beea a charming
one. The distant view of this paceis remarkably
fine. Ii shows on the elevation where it stands
like a town Of much l-rger size. We reached the
ct. Charles IN time to paTtake of late though
excellent dinner, and shall ever remember with
pleasure the day passed in this excursion. E.F.E.
GREAT FLOOD 1T THE NORTHWEST.
Destruction OF PrOperty-3, 500 People House
lcss-L0ss S75O,UOO.