The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-06-10

INEFFABIE MEANNEss OR Gross IGNORANCE
Some writer in the St. Anthony Express gives
what he calls his first Impressions of st. Paul.
after the following unjust and captious fashion.
He is either very foolish and ignorant man,
or very mean One-foolish and ignorant in
saying We have no churches or schools in St.
Paul, or mean, knowing the fact, to publish to
the world so base falsehood. We defy him or
any other cavilng faultfnder to point to a five
year old town anywhere in the United States,
that has cquallcd st. Paul in the rapid devcl-
opmcnt of all the elements incident to refine
mcnt and the cultivation of intellectual, moral
and religious tastes and sentiments. Here is
what he says:
ST. PAUL.--It has the limits, the name and
internal government of city but walk through
it-vicw it from an cminencc, look upon it
from distance-survey it from any point of
view, and what is it? Where are its long line
of lofty and compact dwellings-its sumptuous
eccle sastical and scholastic edificcs--its mag
nificent institutions of Art and Science and A.
musement? Where its bristling turrcts and
glittering spires-whcre its rush paved streets
and chequercd sidcwalks--its elegant veran-
dahs and massive marble porticoes and COLON
they exist only in dreams of the distant fu-
ture. Where, let me ask again, are its peri
patio exhibitions of female grace, beauty and
fashiOn-where are its mctcOric cabs-its rum
bling laggard omnibuses where, in short, are
the features which, as city we might fairly
expect should characterize it Echo gives the
answer-WHERE?
Any village, situated in region, possessing
resources for development adequate to the
continued promotion of prosperity and popula-
ton may be regarded as city in embryo
Here we may witness stir, hustle, and gen.
eral absorption in the concerns of business
But here we do not expect to find the elegant
mansion, the superb church or the sumptuous
school house. The means of the inhabitants
are too circumbscribed--and their numbers
too limited to justify the investment ofthcir cap
ital in this wise. Indeed it would be the most
foolish and absurd extravaganza for them to do
so. The Great God whom we all worship
is just as eifectually propitiated in the humble
log church as in the gorgeous and stately chap
el--the seeds of science sown from the rude
upholstered schOOl-house, will produce fruits e.
qually luXuriant and abundant with those scat
tered from the halls of the State Academy
and comfort is just as much comfort surround
cd by the we'll chinkcd walls of the simple log
cabin, as when embraced between walls of mar
BILE or brick. In its incipency enterprise is
fuue. lniS we eXpecb. IL deals not in the
luxuries, but contents itself with the necessa-
ries and essentials. 1t is frugal 1t pro-
vides only that which is contributive to
life. health, and its grand aim, money-getting.
"Put money in my purss''--is the precept of its
constant self inculcation. Any thing beyond
this, is deemed superfuous and non-essental.
But city we have been ever in the habit of
regarding as an epitome of life-a museum of
the arts--the Academy of Science--the Rome
of Religion-and the Workshop and Granary of
trade. We have been taught to regard it as
presenting the acme of civilization, as illustrat-
ing the highest perfection of the times--the ut
most attainment Of comfort and elegance.
Is it at all strange, then, that we have been
surprised, disappointed, astonished at the ap-
pearance and character Of st. Paul. Slender
in its population--flthy in its street--desti-
tute Of all the complete and elegant provisions
for mental, moral and religious culture-how