Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-04-26
A VIsIr TO Fokr ARMSTRONG CE

rupted passage 10 all who may wish to cros'
the river. it has become the custom, on
sundsys, when the state Of the weather
will permit, among large portion Of tbs
people, to 60 over ON the Island and exam
inc the old Notifications known ~ Fort
| Armstrong, with q view, We presume, Ol
finding an old bullet hole that is net dug
out to find place on the old ruins not
already -empted, where to inscribs names
hoping. we presume, TO thus ensure their
perpetuity; to lounge about the quaint old
rickety walls and battlements. enjoying the
refreshing breesss Of the river; to speculate
on times past, on painted Indians and greasy
squaws. and the noble hearted men that
lived et the fsrt-did their own cooking
their own washing. and carried about old
continental guns, and dealt chiefly in cold
lead and sharp steel; 70 shoot at mark
TO cultivate the acquaintance Of those one
chances 10 meet; to visit the graves Of the
brave men who died while in the service Of
their country. on the Island to plsy-(we
dread to ssy it it)-play cards; TO do aud
perform oil these things. and many others
which we cannot now enumerste, hundreds
Of citizens Of Davenport aud Rock Island.
visit, on Sundays, the Island.
1t had been severallyears since we visited
that memorable spot. when on Sunday af-
demonstrating advantage Of the glorious
weather. we went thither. partially for the
sake Of the walk-principally to see what
other people did to amuse themselves there
away. From the appearance Of the old
Fort and its surroundings, we should Judge
that the old affair is fast mouldering away,
and will be soon non est. Relic eeekers have
been there in swarms-hsve broken off and
carried away sp!inters, pulled out old nails
bits Of rock, and have, in their esgerness
for renembrancer, been 80 wicked a. to
even break off fragments from the tomb
stones and tablets which mark the sleep
ing places Of the honored dead. This is q
positive shame. but such things are very
common. The place where the warrior is
taking his final rest, should be honored and
not decorated by those who visit their
last camping ground. Many have carved
out their own names on these tablets-not
with . view. We presume, to lead the vsi-
tor to believe that they. instead of Tor
renee. lay there In the embrace of death,
but that it may be known that they have
honored the place with their presence In
q few years. if this sacrilege is permitted to
60 on, the resting place Of those heroes of
the Indian wars, will be entirely oblitera.
ted. 1t should not be-
The American people have q desire-s
continual itching to write their names.
They desire to See their names in print, and
to have them inscribed in high places-on
old monuWents and old ruins. Following
this desire. it would seem from appearance
that all who have paid the old fort visit
have, to man, written or carved their names
in some spot thsreupon. Some with pen
Gil, some with jack-knife, and some in
more conspicuous manner with stencil.
From the base board to the very rafters are
those autographs 20 closely written that now
one might almost despair of finding place
to record the fact that he had lived to place
his foot upon that noted spot Men from
the east, west, north and south-old and
young--Tom, Dick and Harry; Jones, Brown.
Thompson and the noted Smith. Smiths
children and forefathers, Browns uncles,
aunts and cousins, Jones friends and all the
relatives and acquaintances of Tom, Dick
and Harry, aforesaid, have been there, and
oil have been unanimous in the idea that
they want people who come after them to
know it, hence they have left what will die
when they die-their names; and to CON-
pensate for their scrawling inscription.
which nobody cares for. and which amount
to about as little there as they would on .
premmissory note. they have broken off and
carried away numerous chips. splinters
and fragmentafy particles which at their
lowest valuation would be worth more to
pesterity-.remaining where Uncle Sans
veterans years ago placed them-than those
unimpertant names which they lett in their
stead. But people will write and people
will hunt relics. Will they not, readsri
The manner in which most people who
visit the Island spend their time is advan-
tageous It contributes to their health and
strengthens their muscle; it harms no one,
but is invigorating and commendable. But
We are sorry to record that many Of the
rising generation Of men 60 there to play
ball, and what is worse indulge in card
playing. Even in the burying ground and
ON the grassy mound under which the gal
liant soldier is sleeping his last sleep. did we
see those whose national pride should have
rsvolted at the designating they had no
principle Of honor Or morslity-.play;ng
csydsl Who says there y not truth en-
bodied in the doctrine Of total dspravityf
Among the numbers present ON the Island
We recognized many friend, snd goodly
number Of the fair sex. Boys we're thicker
there if possible, than mosquitoes in Jane,
or Notaries Public in Davenport. The
weather was delightful and the cool breezes
glorious We came away diagusted with
some things We had seen. but in the main
highly pleased sed thoroughly invisssated.
II anybody feels the encroachmsnt Of Ian
guor, laxinsss or has desire to get out Of
the city and sauff the bseszs Of the river,
let him make . break for thoIslsnd. It
will do more good than . dose from an
apethseasy sAop. esssvig Of Ayers Cherry
Pectoral. Try it
REsrs.-We are much pleased to see
that rents are coming down to something
near living figure. The high rsnts in