The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-12-15
LAWRENCE STATION, Nov. 16, D5.


j LAWRENCE STATION, Nov. 16, '55.
DEAR MINNEsorIAN:-To while away tn
tedious hours Of waiting, I have at last hi
upon the idea of writing to you. From
combination of circumstances, nay home
ward bound course came to a halt in Cantor
where, and in the adjacent towns, tn,
golden hours of the past month will form ont
of the most pleasant retrospects of Memory
tablet. am now on the "back track" (fol
the fates fairly decree that must pass ont
more winter East and have this morning
come down thus far, and now wait for the
eastern Express Train, before the stage will
take me to Hopkinton.
A crowd, waiting for the cars or the stage
are congregated in the only room, engaged
in conversation on various topics. Men dis
cussing politics or the price of produce and
its astonishing rise since the completion Of
the Northern New York Railroads-the great
practical benefit to farmers, and the injury
to the villages: A butter buyer is having
words with farmer relative to bargain
some two days old: The buyer had contrac-
ted for % cents, and the other insisted on
to-day's price, 26 cents.
Near me is family of five--ali sick; one
of the children having hard "shake," hav-
ing been in illinois for the last six months
and now returning to their Eastern home
thoroughly disgusted with the West. "You
must have located in sickly region" says
bystander. cit is so throughout the West"
replied the ghost-like mother, "there is not
a well person there" cannot longer keep
silent. "I beg pardon, madam, for correct
ing you, but an eight years. experience has
proved to me that there are portions as heal
thy, and even more so, than any in the East. ."
There was no intention of eliciting attention
by the impulsive remark; but ears are open
on all sides, and the thousand and one ques-
tions which I have replied to thousand and
one times, must again be answered. The
sick man would have gone to Minnesota but
for the opposition of his wife, which he re-
grets. From what / learn and see of their
mode of travelling and way of living, I do
not believe they could have been exempt
from sickness in the most healthy sections
East or West. learn from others that they
were in comfortable circumstances
West with elated hopes-have spent all-re-
turned destitute, and in my candid opinion
to die. 1t is great error to come East
with diseases engendered West. Physicians
here know not how to treat them, and the
chance for life and health is much less than
if the acclimating battle is continued there.
A freight train has just passed more than
half mile long. Surely this road is great
convenience over the old "wagon ROAD
through Chataque Woods, which name was
horned bugbear to me since my earliest re-
collection. Three weeks were not untre-
ouently consumed in accomplishing $50
miles, having to shovel the drifted snow from
the way, and in many instances submit to
the miserable accommodations of filthy log
tayerns. Better accommodations than now
are much needed upon the route, but the
slow fire of Eastern Perseverance is steadily
burning, and may in time increase to bril-
liant brightness.
St. Lawrence County boasts Of many thri-
wing villages sustained by fine farming COM
munities around. 'Ogdensburg, Canton, Ma
drid, Potsdam, are all towns of some i'm
portance. The first for its commercial inter
ests; the second as the county seat and for
having furnished the grave of Silas Wright
over which a monument has been erected by
the citizens, though less imposing than the
one in his native town, Weybridge, Vermont
of which we made mention in previous com
munication. His widow still resides at the
plain residence of the great Statesman, ir
the same quiet, unpretending manner as du
ring his lifetime; finding her chief pleasures
in the childless home-circle, in care of hel
widowed mother and in un ,btrusive acts o
benevolence in community.
While there, must necessarily hear mucl
about election matters as the contest waxet
warmly to the crisis. The Republicans hav'
triumphed in this county, but the Know
Nothings have carried the State by l4,OO'
majority.
Last month snow fell to the depth of Il
inches, yesterday We had violent thunde
storm and the weather was bland as June
To-day the brooks have ceased their music
and boys are discoursing of sleds and skates
But "The Express Train" is announced an
GAIL aboard;" it rushes on again, in the Ian
euage of SAKE, the Vermont Poet Editor:
aSinging thro' the forests,
Rattling over ridges;
Shooting under arches,
Rumbling over bridges;
whizzing thro' the mountain,
Buzzing o'er the vale;
Bless me! this is pleasant,
Riding on the Rail-"
aStage is ready, Miss!' and for the pres
lent 1 shall cease, TO resume my labors to
morrow. Adieu:
- a FLoR1L14 FLEETwooD.