The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-11-23
For the Grand Haven News.
EvAssros, Id, Nov. s, 1859.

Weeping men I think il is true, but per-
haps our orthodoxy would deny that there
is no goal which is very desirable-esveen
more desirable than the race. Be that as
il may, ! have had very pleasant series
Of journeys and visits TO various and sun
dry places since l left your quiet little
town, finding my place of rest equally as
pleasant as my journeyings. ei-r aa.
The storm having abated we set sail,
and in due time arrived safely in Milwau-
kee. Our company, consisting of about
thirty, was made up Of Buffalo grain spec
ulators, western emigrants, few men of
leisure, an Ohio braggadocio, a couple of
pedagogues and few others of no BUSH
ness or profession. Such incidents as are
incident TO such an occasion occurred
nothing, of interest. During my stay at
Milwaukee l visited one Of the high
schools--Ward No land found almost
a model school. The building is neat and
tasty, both in its structure and furniture.
The floors are carpeted, the walls decora-
ted with beautiful pictures, the Principals
desk supplied with bible, dictionary and
a fine collection of interesting objects, and
near it musical instrument. How much
better that such should be the surround
ings of young minds during that time in
which they are receiving those Impress
ions which are TO shape all their future
lives, than rough, i'll shapen benches, dir
ty, squeaking floors, ink-bespattered walls,
only decorated with few huge nails driv-
en- here and there, as the fancy of some
urchin may have at some time dictated.
From Milwaukee l went TO Mineral
Point, where were an assembled host of
Wisconsin Teachers, under the leader
ship of Prof 'Hovey, of the Illinois State
Normal University. His plan of con-
Quoting an Institute differs considerably
from that of Mr. Gregory, and in one
point | thought was superior, viz: he put
the Book Agents, of whom there were
not few in attendance, on his list of lee
turers, and those who had ability were
made to'perform labor each day. That,
thought, was making practical use of
Book Agents. On Friday evening the
Institute was addressed by Chancellor
Barnard. Probably no man in the Uni
ted States is better qualified TO speak on
Popular Education than Mr.. Barnard;
and certainly never heard n man speak
who " hewed 10 the line" regardless of
The notions Of all old togy community, as
he did. While at Mineral Point visited
tho copper mine, and descended about one
hundred aud seventy feet into its dark,
cavernous abodcs. 1t is the only copper
mine in that part of the State, think
1t is owned and worked by Mr.. Brackcn,
and is yielding about thirty-five percent
of pure copper 1t is an old mine which
was first worked some fifteen years ago,
but was not then made profitable. Lead
mines are numerous in that vicinity, and
furnish employment for greatuumber of
woYEmen. The miners are for the most
part from Cornwall and Wales, and APP
pear to be an honest and industrious class
of citizens. Their notions of education, |
Judge, have not yet become Americanized,
as it was reported by their city superin-
tendent Of schools that only ebout two
hundred, out of the twelve hundred chill
dren of the city, were jdany school at all.
The face of ~ country is somewhat
more brokoathere than in any other place
in wldcfl have been ia tho West, which.
9Th its numerous groves, gives it much
OF the appearance Of some localities in
Old New England. Wheat was then
selling there at from seventy-six to eighty
one cents per bushel., Corn is not much
raised-the principal business of all that
section of country is taking out mineral"
Had time, aud could I.say anything
Of interest concerning them, would men,
ton my visits at Galena-a city in ra-
vine, l should cali itAand Beloit, and
Racine, and several other points, but |
will pass them, aud at some future time
tell You something abont prairie fires, and
visit to the dome of the Court House at
Chicago. FaAsKLrN.
--------r-sr ---r---1-- ir,.
, GERRIT SMITH.--The Utica Herald-of
Saturday denies that Gerrit Smith has
manifested q disposition to suicide. Its
feared that he is hopelessly demented, the
Harpers Ferry affair being the exciting
but not the only cause. He is said 70 i