Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-03-09
From the New York Mirror, 1895.
MICHIGAN.

1t is q marvellous country, this western world,
and it is the only land under the sun that has
not been too cxtravagantly spoken of by trav-
elers. Yes, it keeps pace even with travellers
tales, and that is no small merit.
Mr.. Hoffman's delightful volumes, and Wash
ington Irving's Tour" displayed to us new
world; the former spread before us land
shrouded in the mantle Of winter, while the
latter portrayed the 4" sere and yellow leaf" of
autumn. But the spring and the summer are
the boast Of prairie land, and he that fails to
see those seasons, loses half the pleasure of
trip to the west.
1t was on clear evening in C. the leafy month
of June" that | set forth from Detroit, late
the outpost of civilization, but now called the
place whence | write, "down east" | had
come from Buffalo to that city in company with
a crowd of grave personages on disinterested
pilgrimage to Chicago, in search of the Golden
Fleece, and was glad to take leave of these
modern Jasons, and wish them safe voyage
on this new Argonautic expedition. For my
own part, found the steamboat intolerable, es-
pecally as q vehement sea-sickness prevented
me from "getting my moneys-worth" out Of
the worthy proprietors. therefore provided
myself with little French pony, and resolved
to set forth across the country in quest of ad-
ventures and pleasure. After riding nearly all
the ponies in Detroit within an ace of their lives
by way of trying, (to the great perturbation of
the several owners), finally pitched upon lit
tie fellow that racked and paced and cantered to
charm. Having accoutred myself with a
broad-brimmed straw hat pair of saddle-bags
and blanket, and slung my double -barrelled
fowling- piece athwart my back, my pony soon
ambled with me out of the busy town. How
gloriously independent does man feel at such
moment! In what supreme contempt does
he hold the artificial life of city, the cares the
hustle and the money-making of life! No mat
ter who he be--be he as poor as Job ay, and rs
friendess too, his soul scars above the little
world, he feels his value rs man, he recogni-
yes his personal sovereignty, his self-depen-
dence, his native dignity and with the native po-
ct he can feel that,
Lord of himself, but not of lands,
He having nothing yet hath all"
had been cautioned by our over scrupuous
friend against the night air of Michigan, and
not caring to take fever and ague before
had got cleverly through my journey, drew
up my friend Hal at sorry-looking log tavern
on the roadside, commanding a delightful view
of an adjoining bog and frog pond. A drunken
subject of his majesty offered to take my horse /;
but took the liberty to decline giving him
that trouble, whereupon the Brton assured me
that he was as good man as | was, and walked
off swearing that the horse would certainly die.
Mr. Brown, the proprietor of these charming
premises, was not long in making his appear
ance, and duly atoned for the insoence to his
guest, by prasing my pony to the skies. He
ushered me into sombre-looking bar-room, in
full view of which was small kitchen tenanted
by Mrs. Brown and couple of brawling ba-
bics, besides n young lady fashioned after the
Ceopatras needle. The night was damp and
chilly, and | was fain to draw my blanket around
me while abored at a most obstinate and exc
cradle American cigar, dispensed from the boun-
tiful bar of Mr.. Brown. AT length was shown
into little box, which mine host facetiously
denomnateda sleeping apartment" and throw
ing myself upon an undulating feather-bed, be-
tween sheets which might have served for top