Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1861-07-17
To tie Editor Of tie Journal =

busy trip thus 1ar. HAVING 20 Stop IeM
days at the most important points, | inn
proved the morning and evening hours
in leisurely walks among the things worth
seeing, and have travelled over lines run
through scenery whose attractions are
ever varying and fresh.
I took the P. du Chen boat at Pres
colt, and went gaily through that gorge
Gus panorama which Nature has arrayed
on either side of the Mississippi, and
which in its perfection of ever varying
beauty and grandeur, ne can never wea-
~ of, but from the first to the thousandth
time, will bless his stars that he has lived
10 see. All the afternoon we were chat
ting, and looking, and enjoying it, until
the bell announced that supper was about
to "occur,' when we adjourned to one OF
those bounteous boards, which so greatly
tend to alleviate the ''holIowness of life"
After tea and toothpick, we again "went
up," and found good place to let our
cigar stake its own time" We felt at
peace with the world, and as we watched
the daylight fading into twilight, and the
twilight into starlight, and the moon,
"like a shy and holy virgin robed in
sanity white" arose, Transforming the
starlight into the twin sister of twilight,
We felt like singing to Somebody"
40. come tonight. when all is bright,
And ride the wave with me.
We have rode many bright night or
the Hudson, on the great lakes, and on
old Ocean, but would unhesitatingly
choose the Upper Mississippi to either of
them.
Well, by and by we concluded to ex
change our present pleasure for trip in
to dreamland, so we laid down to sleep
without the dread anticipation of hearing
a pounding upon the state-room door at
midnight as ifthe boat was on fire, and
stentorian howl "La Crosse, tie cars
aOW leaUe right off," and then the hurried
toilet, getting together of baggage, and
stumbling half asleep across the ways to
the cars. Oh, no; we slept till morning,
and after breakfast on the boat, took our
seat in the cars and was off.
The P. du Chien Railway has changed
owners, and tits evident that there is
new hand at the bellows. 1t has fine
new rolling stock, level and newly re-
paired track, over which one is whisked
as if an avenging spirit, bent on catching
time, was running the train. We were
switched off on to the North Western
Road at-Miton Junction, withom chance
Of cars, and in n few minutes were run
ming towards Chicago in the right tin-e
and style.
We have always believed the North
Western to be the best road in Wisconsin
and we feel as safe when on it as if in the
old family carriage. The road is fenced
from Chicago o Oshkosh; the conduc.
tors act as though they were employed to
oJlige the public; and the baggagemas-
tiers are not baggage smashers.
At Chicago, we went to the Garden
City House, and from the many familiar
names on therogister, we should judge
that it was becoming a popular st. Croix
Valley rendezvous. The House is one of
those quiet substantial places, which suit
sour sort of folks"
One morning we climbed the few T Z
stairs leading to the observatory on the
top of the Court House, and enjoyed
view well worth the labor ofclimbing to
that dizzy heighth. The view from this
point is the only good one we have ever
been able to get of Chicago, with its nine
miles of Wharfage distributed through
the very heart of the city; its railways
branching out in every direction; its
mammoth mercantile and manufacturing
establishments; its princely residences,
splendid churches, and mighty whole
One other morning,we strolled out Mich
igan and Wabash avenues, to where the
descendants of Dives live, and the fanes
where they worship. These streets bear
the same relation to Chi cago that Eucli
street does to Cleveland, and Delaware
street to Buffalo. In these grounds and
architectural piles, a good practical echo
is given to that maxim OF, Goethe's 1--WE
should strive to encourage the beautiful,
for the useful will encourage ITSELF" In
such strolls, amateurs may take many a
valual lie note on flowers, park and land
scape gardening, and architecture.