The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-05-16
A REMIxIScENcE F the IsrHMUs.

IL Is Vlu uSLutt VI lIlluC--SO Ulu 10 W UC
almost second nature-that of prying be-
meath the outer surface of things, after
concealed mystery; of getting, as it were,
behind the scenes in every act of life that
thought particularly worthy Of my attention,
that might learn something of the motives
which led to such greatness or glitter; that
might weigh calmly these palpable results in
my mind, and decide for myself how much
was real, and how much false; how often
the heart was in the action, or.in the most
and perverse opposition. And
especially, in visiting new place, have
been won't to seek for something not written
plainly on its front, something of its inner
life; something characteristic of the spot,
that should set its mark upon it in my
memory, and make it unlike other places to
me: something which, when its name was
mentioned, should instantly start up before
me, the one bold figure Of the picture, to
which the surrounding objects should form
a shadowy background. But in this have
not always been successful. have spent
days in certain spots, watching long and
wearily for glimpse of that subtle .revela-
ton, as one sits sometimes beside great
painting, striving, oh, how vainlv! to catch
something of the inspiration Of him who
conceived and executed it, in the glow of
which presence all its most delicate beauties
should start forth; and vet have gone away
and not having felt and grown, as it were
with and into them, have soon forgotten
them altogether. And at other times my
nature has so mingled itself with the deep
earnestness Of the scene, that never-never
can forget it. Gr a---,s Is
1t was stormy evening: the rain fell in
merciless torrents. Among the thick forest
on the opposite bank it plunged with a
heavy crashing sound. The yellow streams
rushed in foaming impetuosity down the
sloping hillside of Palenqufla, and gave a
fresh impulse to the already maddened cur
rent of the river.s 1t was no easy task to
keep footing in the ascent leading to the
hotel farthest from our barge, for while
the wind did its best to overthrow you, the
running water and the slippery soil under
foot contributed equally to the difficulties
of locomotion. Nevertheless, prompted by
something which, for lack of a better term,
you may call curiosity, WIS bent on reach
ing that ediice; and as sleep in our barge
owning to the social peculiaritles of our
neighbors, was out of the question, had
quite made up my mind, if did succeed in
reaching it, to pass the night there. Sleep
yes; to court that, not rest, but sleep
was to be the end of my toilsome journey,
as thought. Sleep did not find lit there;
but there was one who did; one who closed
his little eyes for ever On the wary world
that night, and was with the angels when
he woke.
Ugh! have stumbled over something but
'tis nothing but pig; it might have
been something worse, yes, and il might
have been something good deal better, a
log for instance, and then its squealing
wouldn't have awakened such deafening
chorus from the dogs, who ought to keep
perfectly quiet or be simply whining on a
night like this. And ugh! again, for mis-
haps never come singly; it is my head l
have hit this time,. against beam lying on
the top Of posts, which may be part of the
skeleton Of an awning to some building
which was to have been erected, for all that
ever found out to the contrary. Those
big lanterns are not so ridiculous affairs
after all. But here we are--this Is the hotel.
Somehow, it is not hotel suggestive Of
cosy night. There is, so to speak, a lack
of those substantial, home-like, thoroughly
comfortable features which are associated
in our minds with the idea of model hotel.
There is no great wide door, opening into a
broad well-lighted hall; with winding
staircase leading to other stories, where
are snug chambers with the anthracite
throwing kindly glow upon the soft carpet
of the bed. There is no parlor where the
ladies have assembled for a hop; no other
parlor where gray-headed men sit gazing at
the coal fire, with the morning or evening
newspaper upon their knees, and indulge in
"reminiscences of the last war, observing
that when the news of peace arrived it was
n sloppy night, very much such night rs
this, in fact. There is no snuggery known
as the bar-room, reeking with odors of to-
bacco, lemon peel, and fragrant old Jamaica,
where young men in plaid trowsers, many
pocketed coats, iiat-brimmed hats,. and
neckcloths with square ends, sit and smoke
and drink, and smoke and drink again
There is no fulfilled, ruddy-visaged landlord
whom you soon get to known by the name
of sold Peter," to bid you welcome with as
much cordiality, and order Johns attention
to your luggage W tn as much satisfaction,
as If he had been expecting you for month,
and felt really very much relieved that you
had at last arrived. But then it is such a
hotel as one would expect, knowing that it
was originally native ranch, and that the
main building, wings, and similar extensive
additions which were to have been made to
it. were not yet begun. 1t has one room,
which must be some twelve feet square,
lighted by tallow candle on the usual
board, a notched pole leading to the attic,
the customary furniture in the way Of boxes
and logs, ground hoor it is true, but only
partially appropriated by the puddles. It
seems to beNtaking care of itself, for no one
taxes any notice Of me as enter, and in
deed there is no one inside to do SO /; and to
ges IN at all am obliged to remove the
arm OF gentleman who is barricading the
door, and who is very sallow thin and shaky,
but habited in white pantaloons and dress
black coat, and looking like man who had
put on the last remnants of his bravery to
die. ! observe jovially to this gentleman
that II is great weather, and think that
made an allusion to ssyoung duck'' in the
same connection; but he is past taking any
notice Of such triaing, or Of any thing else
as 10 that, although he afterwards turns out
to be the proprietor of the place. When