Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-09-24
Correspondence Of the Christian Intengencer.
MIDSUMMKR LETTERS.
The Fdls Of Ninnshaha-St. Anthony's
Farce-Life at st. Paul. ~

A"e HoeeS " 4uGs"c|eut0- o's"sV'sy
Farce-Lifs at st. Paul.
ST.. PAUL, Aug. -.
Ny Dear Ingenus, get your copy of CHA
> watha," and on the sixty-second page yol
will read:
"Of the ancient Arrow-makers
In the land of the Dacotahs,
Where the Fails of Minne-ha-ha
Flash and CLEAN among the oak trees,
Laugh and leap into the valley"
Well, ST. Paul is the land of the Dacotahs
passed three or four tents of them few ev
enings since among the tickets on the rivers
brink, and dozen Spanish brown little fel
| lows ran out ''in puris naturalibus," and leap
ed into the water, like so many turtles. Bronze
fingers, wrapped in blankets, and tipped with
feathers, still appear occasionallyin in the streets
of St. Paul. Yea, within eight years, pro.
cession of Daootah warriors, horrid with red
paint, and brandishing their war-clubs, pas.
sed before the very church in which last
Sabbath evening, we dscoursed to a crowded
young Mems Christian Association" meet
ing. So rapidly is civilization swallowing up
savagery in this young empire of the North
west.
But not only do we write you this summer
morning from the hunting grounds of the
departing red men but from the vicinage of
the actual Falls of Minnehaha-most exquisite
of all the cascades in the Mississippi Valley.
They are but six miles distant, on clear
water creek that pours itself into the Mis-
sissippi. Irode over there on Monday after
noon. The road lies through the black rich
river-bottom above st. Paul at Fort Smelling
la bold, feudal-looking castle that frowns
from beetling bluff-the Minnesota and the
Mississippi join their waters. 1t is grand
scene. The fortress presides like a Bishop
at the marriage of the beautiful rivers, and
weds the happy pair. Under the shadow of
the stone towers, ferryman floats us across
the Mississippiin fat-bottomed bateau, and
then we wind up the bank to the Fortress
Here opens lovely prairie, brilliant with
flowers. Beneath us is the Minnesota, flow
ing through fertile valley, and rolling down
the agricultural wealth of the very garden
of the Northwest" Have you ever rode over
cultivated prairie on summer evening,
] when the road was as smooth as a race-course
when golden grain-felds intermingled with
| flower-tinted pastures-and over it all swept
! the clear, sweet, bracing air of these northern
! latitudes? Then have you seen one of the
most attractive landscapes on the Western
continent
cascades. Within the magnificent State (as
large as Pennsylvania and New-Jersey unit
ed) are 1000 miles of navigable streams On
the northeastern boundaries of that inland sea,
Lake Superior Minnesota is land of waters
The Rev. E. d. Neil, pastor in St. Paul, and
historian of the State, describes it as ten
circled by rivers and lakes. There is water,
| everywhere. The surface of the country is
Antf fo1 1okn md in &c
impossible to travel five miles without meet
ing beautiful expanse of water. Many of
these lakes are linked together by small and
clear rivulets, while others are isolated. Their
form is varied and picturesque same are
large, with precipitous shores, and contain
wooded islands; others are approached by
gentle grassy slopes. Their bottoms are paw
ed with agates, car1elians, and other beauti-
full quartz pebbles. Very few of them have
mud bottoms. The water is generally sweet
and clear, and north of the watershed is as
cool and refreshing during the heats of sum-
mer, as the water of springs or wells. The
lakes abound in fish, of a quality and flavor
greatly superior to those of the streams in the
Middle or Western States"
From Minnehaha it is short drive to the
Falls of St. Anthony But if one is the laugh
ing water the other is the Fall to-6e-laughed
at For of all humbugs in natural scenery,
We know of none equal to the present Falls of
st. Anthony. In former days, before the
rocks gave way, and when the banks were
covered with lonely forests, there may have
been an imposing cataract, especially in spring
time foods. But now the rocks have crum-
bled away, until there are mere Rapids left.
The banks are covered with the shops and
streets of Saint Anthony and Minneapolis,
two large numbering villages. Saw-mills
stretch hallway over the river on bare rocks,
and saw-logs fill up the vast mill-dam above
the Rapids. The whole scene is positively
melancholy. Yet the splendid Winslow House
(as large and well-managed as the Astor) is
crowded with guests. Why? Certainly not
to see the Falls ; but to enjoy the delicious
air, to drive over the prairies to fish the crys-
tai lakes, and to wonder at the developments
of the giant West. l do not wonder that the
Winslow House, at ST. Anthony, is thronged;
for the surrounding region is full of attrac-
tons, and this is the very air for pulmonary
invalids. Just now, to be sure, it is intensely
hot. But is clean heat, undefled with the
odors of sewers and reeking cutters. The air
| is deliciously pure, and in winter perfectly
dry. Unless We except California, Minnesota
is the most healthy State in the Union.
With St Paul, am highly pleased. Its
situation is admirable. Its people are enter
prising and generous. The pulpits are we'll
manned. DR.. Neill, and Mr.. Mattocks, Mr..
Riheldaffer are the Presbyterian pastors -
Mr.. Fisk, the Congregational; Mr.. Pope, the
Baptist; and DR.. Patterson, late of Prince
ton, N. j., the Episcopal. There is no Dutch
Church here. But am happy to learn that a
new one is to be organised at Davenport, on
the Mississippi. Nothing but an engagement
to return East next week prevents me from
accepting the invitation of those enterprising
brethren, to come down, and aid in their
launch of the new movement. May God
speed them!
In spite of the heat, have been astonished
at the audiences gathered here this week.
Nor is st. Paul wanting in the most refined
hospitality. Tomorrow, clerical fishing
party is proposed at Bass Lake. What luck
my brethren may have, it is impossible to
predict; but do not expect to cause any
bereayements among the finny families, or,.t
leave any mother-trout or pickerel childless.
Fishing is not my forte. 1 have something to
learn in the gentle art from our honored friend
on the Heights. But the results of our ang-
ing you may look for in my next. Should 1
take anything larger than perch, will tele-
graph you. Ever yours, TIC.
The Great Revival in Ireland.
| cOrroCnOp1oDk &c