Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-02-10

loved the pleasure of attending one of those de-
lightful parties which a wealthy and distinguish
ed planter of the Parish of East Feicana so fre-
quently assemblies al his romantic seat. Among
the many brilliant stars that graced that galaxy
Of refinement and talent, were two ladies, one a
native of Europe, the other of Louisiana, both OF
whom had travelled, and seen much that was wor-
+ thy of admiration on each side of the Atlantic
/ incidentally, an animated discussion arose be
tween these ladies about the comparative beauty
OF European ana american scenery. One con
tended that our lakes and rivers could afford but
few attractions 10 the traveller who has sailed on
the beautiful lakes OF Italy, and descended the
Rhine. The tair Louisiaaian gave as decided
preference to the scenery oi her own country, and
related the incidents of one of her excursions up
the Illinois. l shall not soon forget the thrill
ing interest with which all who were present lis
tened to her recital. How much of that interest
was owing to the'manner in which it was related,
the reader can judge; for I give the relation, as
nearly possible, III her own words.
Late in the Autumn of 1915, VITA a small par
/ ty of friends and acquaintance, ggs a passen-
ger on board OF the Belle Creole, new and beau
tiful steamer, boand from Peru at the head Of
.
Notwithstanding the lateuess Of the season, IN
i climate so Northern, none of the many excur-
/ s.ons which have made on our American waters
affords me such pleasing reflections. The soce-
~ on board was select the cabin bountitully sup
+ piled with books and instruments of music, and
what perhaps served more than all else to inspire
me with quiet, home interest IN this floating
+ drawing-room was the circumstance that the
/ steamer was principally owned by my brother,
+ who formed one OF the party.
I The geude current Of the nIinos-its clear.
pure waters-the wild and romantic scenery
along its banks-aI conspired to render this poT-
/ ten, especially of our voyage unusually delight
full; but the chief interest OF that excursion arose
/ from an incident which viii briefly relate.
We had descended the Illinois till we were
! nearly opposite small village on the left bank
Of that river about thirty miles above its conlu-
ence with the Mississippi, when an accident oc-
CURED 10 some part OF our machinery, that rem
Jered II necessary l0r the captain 10 aad The boar,
as qucsly is possible. So serious, indeed was
the INJURY sustained, that even this naueuyre was
effected with much difficulty, though the boat was
less ,han the fourth Of a mile from land
At length. the Belle Creole was safely moored
on the Eastern side of the river, when the owner.
and officers of the boat with the engineer at their
head. proceeded IN d body TO examine more fully
into the nature and extent Of the damage, Their
investigation closed with the mwelcome intelG-
gence that it would be necessary 10 send TO St
+ Louis and procure some work done before 1t
would be possible for the boat TO proceed any far
ther This, il was thought, would occupy at
7 least week.
Thrown thus suddenly and Unexpectedly upon
our own resources for amusement, and for SO long
a period, we began TO examine, with some ankle
ty, into our means of killing time. The village a
which we landed could afford US no assistance in
this emergency, for the few inhabitants It contain
/ ed were evidently anything but intellectual.
I The first day Of our sojourn at that place, pass
ed away without any serious complaints Of sasui,
/ for we continued to amuse ourselves with
cassonal tune upon the piano-forte, with reading.
I and rambling on shore. The next however had
already began to drag on heavy, when gentle
( man on board, one of our fellow passengers. in
+ formed us that at the distance of few miles
back from the river. extending along the base OF
high range Of bluffs, there was a large settle
meut, many of the families of which were distin-
guished for intelligence and hospitality. With
these families he was acquainted, business having
called him the previous year, to spend several
weeks among them. He proposed that we should
delegate him as our ambassador or plenipotentia-
. ry 10 the settlement of Blufdale, with pIeuary
powers invite the principal families Of the said
settlement to party, to be held on the ensuing
( evening in the cabin Of the good steamer, the
Belle Creole. His proposition was received by Us
I with Joy and adopted by reclamation.
( To avoid a long and needless recital, l viii
merely add that The negotiations Of our ambasss-
+ dor were crowned with success and we had the
( pleasure of receiving large and very agreeable
/ party from the settlement
I That evening, tiIl past the witching hour Of
night was devoted IN turn 10 CONVERSATION, TO nu-
SIC and the dance, when some OF our fellow pas
sengers, who had often performed parts at pri-
ya,e theatrical parties. proposed that we should
close the evening with play. This was mani
mouslv seconded. and a scene from a popular
comedy enacted
Whether II was that the actors really possess
e1 more than ordinary merit or that the audience
were more than usg>llv induIgent certain II Is
that their Performance was greeted with even
warmer applause than Is often awarded to veter-
ass q. lie stage. 5Fe. in turn, were invited 10
Pa..y oa lae ensuing evening, at the house OF 1Ir
Morton, one on the principal Inhabitants Of the
settlement, and VINO, Of course, had been one Of
our guests. Carriages were sent to convey Us To
the house Of our hospitable entertainment and It
hardly iced be added that we all attended
Tais evening, too, passed of happily, even
more 50 than the preceding oae, for our new ac- (
guaintances had become to US more ike old
friends, The hour had grown late, and many Of
our party had begun 70 think seriously Of return
ing TO the boat when Mr.. Morton smiingly OBJ
served that we had treated him and hls neigh
bors 70 splendid theatrical performance, and ne
regretted extremely, that ne was not able TO give
US play OF equal merit in return. vet anxioas 10