The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-11-23


ground swells into the harbor to rock the ship.
ping into dream of security. ua urt 81 Il
One hardly knew which was the safest posi- |
ton, on the steeple or the rough waves of the
lake. With US tie question was slightly duhi
GUS. A very strong wind compelled us 10
grasp our hats with cordial grip. and retain
an affectiouate embrace of the railing. .o
The wind had tendency to lift up the fog
and smoke. and give clear view of the sur-I
rounding country s5s E1.ss-. -el-s-4iI
To the East piece of woods darkened the
low horizon, which homeward thought led
us to fancy as the Western border of some
Ohio forrest, while in marked contrast stretch.
ed away to tie South one of those magnificent
prairies, at once the theme of her poets, and
the pride and wealth of Illinois.
I have read glowing accounts of prairie
views. and perused the unlimited testimony of
distinguished Travellers but yet have always
experienced considerable difficulty in realizing
| the sublimity of an extensive tract of lo~.lev
! ell ground unrelieved by tree or shrub, extend
ing inmonotoneus eontinuace beyond the sight
| like the sea TO the eye of a lone mariner while
clihging TO some wreck, yainly straining his
vision to discern passing ship, the more
welcome sight of shore. never could imag-
inc aught bnt feeting wonder at the sight,
to be succeeded by dnll apathetic feeling
But now, the sublimity of the scene was fully
realized. and as my eyes drank in the wonder
fol picture spread before me, 1 recanted all
charges against writer's for their supposed over
ZEAL and extravagant descriptions,
! "oh, wa'd some power giftie gf u.s."
to record the vision of eye, and feast of mind
! we experienced, but the impediments of nature
stubbornly refuse all aid, and we must be con.
tent with less poetical flights. ~
i Two or three streams flow sluggishly across
the fat prairie toward the lake, coming from
afar, where the earth and sky seem to meet as
if here the clouds supplied the streams with
nourishment for the tall, rank grass growing
upon the banks-if it can be said there are
any banks TO such shallow streams.
Ight-beaten tracks. branching from the city
streets in various directions, show the main
roads, and as they continue in stright lines
, without fences or other guides than the trod-
den grounds, leading into regions out of sight
. only because of the rotundity of the earth,
the mind is seized with an intense desire to
Iexplore these routes. 80
| A farm house, here and there, dots the sur
e face, seemingly little specks of civilization up
] on the wild plain, where few years ago the
rowing red man chased huge buffaloes, or am
. buscaded at some fresh water spring watching
: the unsuspecting deer. aa7 q e5-aess.l
3 s. .No,c-how changed the scene /! 3.a.sos.
8 The humdrum noise of the busy white man
], in the great mart of trade-the forests O
b masts along the wharf and pier-the iron patti
o on the edge of the lake. or striking out int
d the plain away to some other great point o
o human life and activity-tbe steam plow as i
rapidly buries the tall prairie grass, as its pres
ent possessors have buried all vestiges of tht
i beings that once trod the same ground-th.
r, Western breeze as it nestles the tall, luxuri
ant growth of the soil titled by the hardy bus
81 bandman-all these denote great and wonder
ful changes. The startling war-whoop re
soands no more across the plain. The cheer
fal sound of the hardy pioneer supplanted ii
:. and The winds now watt enlightened words o
. peace and contentment. The Great Spirit
h no longer worshiped by Indian priests beneatl
20 the canopy of Heaven. Masses Of pale face
"a assemble in eotnmodious houses. and prais
a God for all these wonderful changes. t5
:, The picture has sorrowful hue, and W
~ sigh to think of the fallen race, but, It i
!. best 7 - m -.1f ---s~,-g -ags 5.se -.g7s.s7 rF.
N These and similar thoughts crowd upon tn
= mind, affording rich food for reflection, an
70 the soul of the skeptic bows to the sublimit
;, of scene every one must see to realize
70 Even the facetious Spriggings gazed in silenc'
/ and SAP iss5 la .;E7 a4isa Daa lsv.i 5a5 sd
Not drum wss heard, not a fun'ral nete,
As our course to the stairway We hurried;
d Not pun he discharged-not farewell shot
st 20 ' Der the grave where skepticism was buried. s
We, We wended our way down, richly repai
rs and resolved to seize the first opportunity 4
= again viewing that which had given US so muc
to pleasure, and profited our minds with a lesso
of not soon to be forgotten.
re- In my pereginations about town, chance
ds to step into crocker5 and glass ware stor
20 and was agreeably surprised to meet wit
O samples of glass from the works of the Ravei
DO na Glass Company. Sup't Terry was here
few weeks ago, and seems to have left goo
. impression among the dealers in this branc
ed of trade, -'2ide7s Or o=ia 124fs H-s sa'
gh This incident in connection with numeror
IN signs one ware houses, advertising Westel
ed Reserve Cheese caused your correspondel
go to straighten up, strike peculiar attitude I
ne self-importance, and carry his head a lit
en higher, with q certain look of the eyes signif
i'd ing that he, too, was from that place II
'us sensation was decidedly satisfactory, but Il
he jostlng crowd soon dispelled these pleasa
'rd thoughts and left hun only as your commo
no plain and very humble servant af'-f Z.
ng PBILANDER.
ess - --4.>a...p,-- - -
ire when was in Paris says Lord Sandwic
RS. / had a dancing. master,to whose instruction
en, 1 did small credit. The man was very civ
and, on taking leave of him, / offered him al
er- service 10 London. Then, said he, bowiD