The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-07-03
What the Excnrsionists Say of Us.

What the Excnrsionists Say Of Us.
Among the distinguished fthe editorial corps
On the late Excursion to this city, we were hap
Ply to recognize CHARLES HALE, Esq, of Boston.
Mr.. HALE is one of the editors of the Daily
Advertiser, the leading commercial paper of
New England, and is gentleman of fine abil
tiles, and much esteemed by those who have
the pleasure Of his acquaintance. From his
correspondence, which occupies several col
umns in the Advertiser, and is highly interest
ing, we clip the following:
The boats arrived at st. Paul on the morn
ing Of Thursday, June 8, day sooner than
was expected by the citizens. Their prepare
tions for the reception OF the party were +ac-
cordingly not completed. They left nothing
undone, however, which the circumstances al
lowed, for the entertainment of their guests
and l am sure that all enjoyed enough to be
exceedingly gratlfied with their visit, and to
be willing to take the will for the deed for the
rest. The good people of ST. Paul have fair
~ earned name for ready hospitality which
their guests will not soon forget.
The people of ST. Paul are certainly entitled
to great credit for the celebrity with whchshey
completed their unfinished arrangements for
the entertainment of the company, and the I'M
expected arrival Of the party was an unfortu-
nate circumstance. Wagons were, however,
quickly produced, in which all who chose, to
the number of several hundred, were conveyed
about nine miles to the Falls of St. Anthony.
X.
In the evening, the company were invited
by the citizens of ST. Paul to attend recep-
ton and ball at the Capitol, which, especially
in view of the premature arrival of the boats,
must be regarded as well arranged affair
1t passed off very pleasantly. The Capitol is
good building, and was constructed at the
expense Of the United States Governments
The windows were brilliantly Illuminated, and
four large halls, besides the dressing rooms,
were thrown open. A large band of music
was in attendance, and the guests from the
boats united with the fair daughters and GAL
ant sons Of Minnesota made an excellent COM
pany. The excurslonists were obliged to with
draw early, as the boats started to return At
II o'clock Wher left The band were play
ing the Prima Donna Waltz What strains
to hear in the heart Of the Continent which
has hitherto been regarded as little but will
derness!
H.
The situation of the city of st. Paul is fine.
1t stands upon the eastern bank of the river.
which is fifty or sixty feet high A good road
with an easy descent leads down to the steam
boat landing. 1t is laid out upon a liberal
scale, and a number of fine buildings are al
ready erected. 1t is, however of course rath-
er a city Of the future than of the present.
though now full Of active life The river here.
at the very head Of navigation feom the ocean.
is as broad as the Connecticut between Spring
field and Hartford Above the Falls of St.
Anthony smaller steamboats, can continue the
navigation hundred miles further into the
interior of the continent. Truly, it is no idle
joke but a solemn fact, the common expression,
This is great cOuntry!''
The advance Of civilization at St. Paul has
been rapid. 1t is but a few years since the
Indian warwhoop was heard in the streets of
the city, and the Chippcwas and Sioux scalp
ed each other-when they could-beforc the
houses of the citizens. Now there are fine
stores and dwellings furnished with all the ele-
gancies as well as comforts which mark re-
fined and cultivated community.
If had any apprehension that travelling in
the West nowadays implied any lack of the
comforts and Injuries of civilization, l should
have been as seriously as agreeably disappoint-
ed. The stories of Western social abnorm-
ties" are very well as amusing Stories bat so
far as the great routes of travel, among the
large places, are concerned, one has as little
opportunity to attest their truth here as at
home
A dozen adjectivcs would not add to the
glory Of the Mississippi River, and so l forbear
using even those of which | am most choice
Fancy the same pen which imposed half col
umn upon your readers about the magnificence
of the Connecticut River, at the time of the
recent unprecedented freshet, attempting to
describe adequately stream which thousand
miles from its mouth, in june is three or four
times as broad, and bears upon its waters
steamers scarcely inferior in size to those that
cross the ocean
The above extracts, taken at random, from
the letters of Mr.. HALE, offer fine contrast
to those of "the distinguished representative
of snob-sm," in the New York Times.