Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-05-22

Editorial Correspondence.
DUBUoUE, Iowa, May IL, 1855.
We took a ride from Galena to Dubuque this
morning, "just for the fun of the thng,'' and
everything considered, more delightful ride we
have seldom enjoyed. The stage was to be ready
at half-past O'Clock, so putting on our best "bib
and tuck,' we consigned ourself to the care of
Ease, and left the future to the driver, who was
one of those easy, clever sort of men sometimes
met with in ones travel but whose very ease ten
dered in the end to the inconvenience of his pas
sengers.
"Drivcr, what time will you be ready to start 20
we asked, after we had waited an hour over the
time set for our departure. Sc Well, in about an
hour" We thought that rather cool, but wisely
concluded not to get up an excitement on the occa-
sion, asthe opening day was quite warm, and We
had no particular business to hurry us along; so
taking from our pocket a late New York paper,
we perused its contents for an hour longer, veri-
ly believing that we were the most patient man
in existence, and though we may incur the charge
of egotism, egad, We think still, that is, placed
in certain circumstances.
Just two hours and half from the time desig-
mated by our driver for leaving Galena, we be-
gan to get uneasy; we would not have it under
stood by any that we were impatient, but
our &c dander kinder riz,'' but remembering the
old saying, hold your horses we subsidized into
gentle calm, and left the horses tn hold themselves
blast that driver he'll never get to Heaven, or
any other place, unless he is more expeditions
than he has been this morning.) &c Driver, why
in the name of Z" by George we liked to let
her rip that time-s'I say, driver, why don't you
get under way Swell, the fact is, sir, have got
two men who will be ready in about one hour,
and then if l don't put you through wont
charge you two snaps of the fnger-I won't
'pon honor WON'T" This was consolinc to one
who had been waiting for two hours and half
already, but &c what can't be cured must be endur-
ed,'' and Hinging ourself back upon the sect of
the stage, we INDUCED in soliloquv. We didn't
see dagger before us, nor did Hanouo,s ghost
appear reeking Wit. fresh blood from his newly
made grave; but We saw those horses and that
lazy driver, and those two old fogies, who had
been the cause of riling up the angry in our
bosom. Now what right had these fellows to
keep us waiting two or three hours? We paid
our fare to start at half past O'Clock. when the
golden hours Of the morning were laden with the
the songs of the b;rds-when the feelings were
fresh and buoyant and the heart leaped forth to
catch the morning air. Had they any right to
cheat us Of these pleasures? But whether they had
the right or not, they did cheat US Of them, and
old Sol was high in the midday Heaven before
the coach wheels were rafting over the stony
streets of Galena on our way to the fourishing
town of Dubuque. Why can't men lie punctual?
Why this everlasting snail-crawling propensity
to lag behind? Well, no matter. There is no use
of spelling happiness for the day,by the crcum-
stance in the morning; so greeting our fellow
passengers with hearty laugh over the perpetra-
ton of good joke, we were drawn up the steep
road leading out of Galena, ana were soon on the
summit of the hill, where beautiful, we may
say lovely prospect lay out before US. The dull
hum of business came creeping up the hill-sides,
and the occasional whistle of steamer, reminded
us that we were fast receding from metropolitan
life, where brick and mortar, and boxes Of mer-
chandize were the only poetical objects upon
which the mind could ruminate. What a contrast
now Here before US are fields Of living green,
so beautiful that we wished we were boy again,
that we might roll down the velvet banks, and
while away an hour or two in the innocent
sports of childhood. We did see two or three
little children sporting in the distance, and didn't
their silvery laugh carry us back, away back into
the past But then what have we to do with
childhood now? What right have old bachelors
to talk of children? Pshaw we forgot we
were treadng on consecrated ground. But we do
love children nevertheless, they are SO guess and
kl. .,,Q, Of ha
world, that their companionshp must tend to ell
evate the soul above the sordid desires of earth,
and make us less mindful of the cares of life
/" Gracious me-" as the old lady said, when she
misnlaced her spectacles-how We are wandering
from our subject but don't blame us, for when
ever we discover beautiful flower we are too
apt to stray from the main road to Gull it.
Well, we are on the top of the hill, and the
coach is rafting brisky the plank road which
extends some six miles out of Galena. Isn't the
view delightful Cast your eye over those roll
ing hills, and drink in delicious draught from
Nature. Can it be possible that there is so much
beauty above the towering and grim-bcdewed
cliffs that have for ages stood as sentinels about
Galena? Here is the city below us with its
busy thousands hurrying too and fro-there the
river bearing upon its bosom some fifteen steam
ers, and yonder are the cars, moving stealthiy
around the foot of the hill like huge serpent whose
over-gorged stomach causes it to heave and pun
as it glides out Of view. On the right are beau
tiful farm houses, with their trells work and am
pie yards, and orchards of young trees; and away
in the distance is the dearest, neatest little spot
this side of Paradise. And all this belongs to
Galena-is part of GaIena. Let not the super
fetal observer who is wont to sheer at what ne
observes in Main st.--whose knowledge is bound
ed by walk through the worst portion OF Gale
ma. be too hasty in his condemnation. Excelsior"
should be his motto, and when he has assembled
the hills that appear SO desolate to him, and al
lowed his eyes to feast on the scene before him,
he will leave the city of the hills with better
impression than when he first visited it.
After you leave the plank road, the country be-
comes very much broken and possesses no particu-
lar feature of interest. Up and downhill, over an
exceedingly stony road, and We approach Dubuque
or rather Dunleith, as Dubuque is on the other
side of the river. Down a deep gorge the driver
hurried his horses at the top Of their speed, while