The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-08-31
NINETEENTH YEAR.

IHk ExcCRsioS.-A jolly company left here,
tuesday morning, on the Steamer Keokuk,
bound for the city Of that name, and We had
she good fortune to be one Of the party. l,
cannot be denied that the boat left the levee n
soon as oil her passengers we're on board; for.
just as hor plank was drawn in, young fellow
hove in sight. having in tow o cargo of crino-
line, and the usual concomitants. As he saw
she hrst slow movement Of the wheels he cast
on his cargo, and went, under full headway,
and with tremendous speed, across the lcyee.
shouting those cabalistic words, which seem to
have great influence hereabouts,) "Stop the
ooat!' The boat was stopped-this indspen.
saole portion Of the company received, and we
we're soon on our way.
The only points of interest on our downward
course were Fl. Madison and Nauvoo. Fl.
Madison is chiefly celebrated for it's penitentia.
ry' (one Of our party drew sigh Of relief
when wa had passed it, and thanked his stars
that he was out Of its reach once mcre.) and
NsuSoo for its Mormon Temple The one is in
ruins aud the other ought to be, to make room
Tor better looking one. A few moments ride
from these classic towns, SO suggestive of snb-
mission and coed behavior, brought US to Mont
rose, the terminus Of the world renowned
Rams-horn Railroad, where two platform cars
and bakery stood ready to receive u.s. We
awaited further orders. After a while, train
came from Keokuk; and. after performing sf-
ter the style Of the grand eentree Of a circus,
for half An hour, accompanied with young Ia
dy With jewsharp, and initiated by divers pigs,
who were SO busy developing the muscle of the
jaw that they had no time to. perfect the cure
of their tails-the band, meantime, in a .arcas.
tic mood. playing "Wait for the wagon" We
got under way for the great city, which trip was
speedily made, as the train did no, stop to take
up baggage lying in the woods, by the track, to
the great regret and greater profanity of sever.
al disappointed travellers.
Arrived at Keokuk, we were conscious Of
being slowed away in m omnibus amid O will
derness Of crnoline, from which we were res
cued BY the call of the porter,-"Now you gen.
temen that's got ladies in this ere omnibus
come up and claim 'em." The ladies we're
claimed, labelled, and carefully arranged in the
Gait House, wherc We soon set down to mag
nfcent dinner, rendered none the better by
having continual music from the band, seated
IN the same room. In the afternoon, the party
surveyed keokuk. After tea, the dining room
was cleared, and the dance commenced, contin
uing until ten o'clock, when the party left the
Gate City behind them. Another large compa-
ny went down to Montsose, to meet the return.
ing one. and the two joined hands, and the
twinkling of feet went on beneath the twink.
ling of the stars, until the first tints Of sun
rise stole upon the dancers, as the boat land
ed at our levee. sOn the return trip, the boat
laid at Nauvoo one hour, and the party visited
the ruins of that most wonderful monument Of
delusion, the Mormon Temple.
The accommodations on the boat were of the
first order, and, consequently. all enjoyed them
selves. 1t is not BETTING that we should speak
of the beauty, the brilliancy, the fine clothes
through "the mazes Of the dance" OF course
Miss BIT, and Miss Y-z, and Miss X-q, and
Miss Y plus q, and Miss Y plus q square, and all
the rest of the unknown quantities were the
handsomest and wittiest and most beautifully
hooped, and were the cynosure Of all eyes, and
were constantly surrounded by whole herds Of
gallant admirers, and were bright particular
stars, and all that kind of thing,-and Of course
we could find lots Of pretty verses in Byron and
Mrs. Hcmans, and Tom Moore. that would be
applicable to the beauty and grace Of the dear
divinities, il we only had time to hunt them up
and space to print them. And Of course there
we're lots of smiling cavaliers, who thought to
uphold and cheer the rest they ought, and did
their best. Everybody was pleased, and voted
the Kcokuk the king of boats. and Mr.. Gait the
prince of landlords. The thanks Of the party
are due to the citizens Of keokuk who gathered
around US upon our arrival, greeted US warmly,
and, by all means in their power, contributed to
the comfort and pleasure of the occasion.
In short, the excursion was very jolly one.
We are sure that we enjoyed it very much
and should have been perfectly happy had we
not been driven to a deck passage to avoid the
terrible onslaughts of fellow who was deter
mined to ieopardize our precious existence
among a lot Of women.