Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-08-26
U Il l q | N q T. PAL e r. s .
~"~~>-~~~~~~~~~~-~~~~~~o
For the Spirit of the Age.
Scraps from my Note Book.
BY A CARoLINIAN.
UPPER MISSISSIPPI Aug. 9Th 1s!

&.
v" the 22nd Of July, at noon, we left
St. Louis on the Mail Steamer Keokuk,
bound up the river, with quite as many
passengers as the boat could comfortably
accommodate. We were all interested in
the singular appearance of the water for a
mile or more below the mouth of the Mis-
sour. FOR some distance the two str, ans
How on together like independent rivers,
the ilne OF separation being easily traced
with the eye, owing to the Characteristic
ain rences OF the two : then they commence
gradually to iutermingle, each stream SEEM
ing to be broken up into irregular patches,
giving rise to clOuded appearance. Af-
ter passing the junction Of the Missouri,
the Mississippi becomes comparatively
clear, the traveller feeling as though he
might again make some pretensioDs to de-
cency. The scenery too is not altogether
so monotonous. A large number of beau
tiful islands, covered with luxuriant vege-
tation, relieve the tediousness of the journ-
ey, whilst the many quiet villages and
thriving towns scattered along upon the
banks add still more to the variety
At noon of the next day we reached Keo-
kuk, thriving city Of eighteen or twenty
thousand inhabitants, situated near the
mouth of Des Moines River Here we
were obliged to leave the steamer and take
passage tor II miles in railroad car, to
avoid the Rapids, which. render the naviga-
q tion Of this portion of the Mississippi ex.
ceedingly difficult at a low stage Of water.
Arrived at Montrose, the terminus of the
road, we found little ferry boat in readi-
ness to take us to the mail steamer Ben
Campbell, lying two miles above, on board
Of which we were soon domicilrd in a COM
Portable room. Opposite to us was the City
Nauvoo, once the hot bed of Mormonism,
that moral leprosy which now renders Utah
a foul spot upon our otherwise fair domain
Although it has fed from its former haunt,
leaving the ruins of its favorite temple to
tell how grossly the sentiments of the COM
munity must have been outraged to induce
them to take such violent means to arrest
its corruptng influences, still it has left a
sting behind which has seized upon the
very life strings of this once thriving town,
and is Fastening it to ruin and decay
Goldsmith's Deserted Village could not
we'll have presented more solitary appear
ance than that Of Nauvoo. Our steamer
was soon in motion, slowly toiling up tht
stream, passing in succession Ft. Madison
Quincy, Burlington and other handsom,
towns. At day break we reached Nusca
tine, where we left the steamboat. ant
took the Cars for Iowa City over the Miss
and Mo. Rail Road, arriving there at II
A M. Muscatne is an unassuming, bu
rapidly improving town of eight or tel
thousand inhabitants, at the eastern tel
mini of two Railroads now in course of con
struetion. Iowa City is the largest inlan
town Of the State, and is pleasantly situa
ted on Iowa River 1t numbers abou
5000 inhabitants. The new constitu utio
provides for the removal of the Capitol t
1T. Des Moines. Ii this should be adopt
ed, the capitol building is to be appropria
ted to the use Of the State University
One of my friends wishing to visit a
acquaintance residing few miles out c
q town, we provided ourselves with hors
anu buggy, aud thus equipped started
search of hun. We knew his Post Office
but strange to say could fnd no one thu
could direct us to it. We were advised
however, to take the road leading mort
from the city, which when We had TO
lowed for six miles, making enquiries
nearly every body we met without geItlr
any information, we fortunatel y met with
gentleman who had heard Of such plac
We learned FROM him that we we're sever
miles farther off than when We started
He informed US how we might reach 1t
following several bye-paths which he W
particular in describing, but which as '
afterwards foand, required some one mo
accustomed to navigating wild prairies tn
we we're, TO discover them. We drove
about eight miles, closely scrutiuizing eve
thing having the appearance Of Oy
path, but finding none that We felt Wilt
to explore Although We were now CO
vineed that every step ahead carried
farther away from our destination, J
seeing what had the appearance OF Y
lage few miles on in that direction,
,Sucluded to drive up and get dinner.
approached the little collection of nc
seS ge found they were on the oppos
sue a river. Arrived at the water
o,-o. asked a gentleman standing
~" "e 'ere to get across? Drive
NV 'u' 9 said, 'the water is shallo
Glis sis PeVP'o @e fovding it every hour
oiu no' lnuop fancy the idea of attem
Ing 10 cross os thus assured that th
was no danger We drove in, and had