Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-02-19
Pencillings on the Way.

Last week we committed the indls-
creti N of bidding adieu to an interest
ing little family to mingle in the busy
marts of the larger cities OF the North,
west; and during the trip we saw and
heard much to amusc and instruct.
At Lisbon, Judge Ferris joiued us,
and on stepping into the cars we espled
our old time friend J. Nj. Randall, OF
Lacrosse, this winter ''runnlEg" the
Senate at Madison, whittier he was
bound At various points, ''whole
paSsrl" Of acquaintances accumulated
among whom were Senator Bowman
and Jack Turner, both Of Columbia.
\ Quiet game Of euchre-for the car
in which to play we are indebted to
AR. Thos. Noland, one of the many
clever employees on the La Crosse
Road-serred to make the whole party
more intimately acquainted. Ferris
proved himself a good singer, and
claimed it was necessary accomplish
mcnt IN order to become a candidate
for Conrrcss. Since his defeat, he has
been honored with the responsible po-
sition of Corresponding Secretary OF
the Baraboo Sanitary Commission, of
which Judge Orton is President. But
Ferris sings well.
At Minnesota Junction, the party
was broken up by our continuing on
the "Straight and narrow way" wh'ie
the others turned to the right to seek
the State den of wickedness and legis-
lation.
The business Of Milwaukee and Chi
cago is much greater tEis winter than
ever before. Money is plenty, specu-
lation is reviving i'll everything, the no.
tells are full, and the traders are selling
an immense amount of goods for cash
only. Real estate in desirable loca
tions is commanding high figure,
which is the precursor of lively invest
ments in farming and wild lands. AL
ready capitalists throu. h ,ut the North
west are making arrangements to buy
largely of wild lands. Now is the time
to pitch in.
We must not omit to advise those of
our readers who may chance to visit
Chicago to while away an evening
pleasantly with Arlington, Leon and
Donniker's Minstrels, who perform ev-
cry night at kingsbury Hall. Although
the hall is the largest III the city, 1t is
insufficient to accommodate the vast
throng who nightly seek the entertain
merits given by this troupe. Arlington
is host in himself. Kelly is one OF
the sweetest ballad singers on the
American stage, and Jones is ''Brud-
der Bones all over. Price plays well
and Leon dances like fairy. This is
better troupe than Christy ever had
at 444 Broadway, OF anywhere else.
After leaving Lisbon, sleigEing dis.
appeared. There is not snow enough
in Illinois to dampen a chemise. Nc
saow in Michigan, and per consequence
very little logging is being done in the
pineries there this winter. A heavy
advance i'll the price Of lumber is con
fidently anticipated.
We stopped at GAINESVILLE few hours
mere mlnutes-to shake hands and
kiss with reverential delight, the Queer
of the World'-she
"who stamps the coin
of character and makes the being who woulC
be a savage,
But for her gentle cares, Christian man."
There sat the dear oil mother pass
ing down the stream OF time so smooth
iy, so joyfully, as to cause one to wiSl
for gray hairs and wrinkled brow
the archite otural carvings of Old Fa
ther Time. Heaven bless her!
At about IL O'Clock at night, whel
within seven miles Of Madison, til,
cars ran off the track, and when th,
train was stopped, the car in which W,
had cnsconced ourself for a snooz
stood at an angle of about twenty de
grees. Had the accident happ pened
minute earlier or later, it must hav,
proved serious: but a. it was, We vii