The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-10-15
VERY RICH
A PIcKHocKErs ADVENTURE IN "oUR best
SOCIETY,""

PIcKHocKErs ADVENTURE IN sour best
| SOCIETY"
Within the last ten years or more, the
equality" of Dubuque has been battened
upon ann "sold" divers and sun dry times.
But these were all common one-horse i'm
posters, beside the great scientific light
which has recently illum mated. and gone
out Of, tour best society," He came to
Dubuque on steamboat from below aud
introduced himself to Judge Wright the
irst day Of the State Fair, ss professor
James Dale Owen, son Of the great Geolo-
gist David Dale Owen, and Professor in
the Geological Department Of the Smithson-
ian Institute He had been sent out west,
he said, to visit the several State Fairs, and
make note of what was new and curious
among the articles exhibited, ard to pur-
chase the rare Geological aud Mine ralogical
specimens that he might see in his travels.
OF course he was warmly received by the
Judge who gave him a, :scason,ticket to the
Fair, and at ence introduced him to the
prominent men on the grounds, and to not
few ladies. For three days he lived 10
clover. He was invited to dine, and to ride,
and to sleep, and he never failed to accept
the invitation as IL he were conferring an
honor upon the host.
To a person Of infuen he expressed a
desire to visit Walled Lake " and forth
with passes were procured for him over the
western railroad. These he used with grand
effect. He would introduce his mission
into conversation, relate how passes over
the railroads had been furnished him OF
Washington before starting, and exhibit
those giving him free ride over the Dubu-
lqne and Sioux City road, as if to prove his
truthfullness and the high appreciation in
which ne was held at the National Capt. oil.
\ There happened to be vacancy in the
COMMITTEES on minerslogic csl and geological
specimens. and he was Immediately ap.
pointed to fill the place. He had very little
to say about the science Of geology. He
lavoidcd his committsc colleagues when on
the fair grounds; they were never able to
secure his attention but once, and then when
looking at speci mems he sagely remarked
that" Mineralogy Of Iowa had not been
developed, hut thai its Pathology had.'
The Professor was often seen with Gov.
ernor Kirkwood. lie roomed with the
Governor, he told his victims. He made
the Governors acquaintance at the Presi-
dents dinner table, and the President
thought the Governor very able man. As
there was nothing in the Governors con-
dact TO contradict this, all believed il, and
as consequence, reverend prelate invited
the Governor, the Professor, and DR.. Horr
to dine with him, and Professor took il
upon himself to invite others, who were
personal and political enemies of Mr.. K. 1t
so happened that the "enemies" called at
the house first, and when told the nam es
of the parties who wire expected. they
sloped, thinking the Professors etiquette a
very strange sort for man Of his eminence.
| He also became intimate with Judge
Mason, of Burlington, whom he cruelty
sold. The Judge took him one day into
Gilbert's Bookstore, and Gilbert made men.
ton Of the Young Mems Library. "Ah ?
Young Mems Library. All, here it is--a
very fine one too. By the way, Judge,
have you copy Of me fathers Geological
survey Of Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. !"
81 have"
swell suppose you present it to this Ii.
brary, and when reach me home i'll send
you splendidly bound one in it's place."
The Judge assented, and after he had
reached home sent the book, with his COM
pliments. He will probably feel little
angry before long. His was one Of the
very few copies of the work in Iowa, and
il can't be purchased at a tri1ing cost, as
the volume is out of print.
The Professor pretended to have in his
possession several sets of the works of Dar-
win, Lyell and other eminent Biologists,
which had been placed in his hands by
Mrs. Senator Harlan to sell for the benefit
of the United States Sanitary Com
mission--worth seven dollars set, and
those who would like to have them
could give him the money and he would
forward the volumes from Washington.
Eight or ten of.our citizens handed him
seven dollars each. They haven't received
the books yet.
He stepped into DR.. Horr's office one
chilly day. He had just received an invita-
ton to ride out to the mines, but he had
left his overcoat at the hotel, his friends
were waiting in the carriage would the
doctor be so kind as to lend him an over
coat or shawl? Ofcourse, and a great. well
made, warm, expensive overcoat was given
him. He put it on-rather large for him,
he said, but just the thing. he went,
and the doctor has never seen the overcoat
since-nor the Professor either.
"Do resemble me father 2" the Pro.
fessor asked of General Wiltse one day.
The General had for years been intimate
with David Dale Owen, and he was hut t 90
glad to see this, hls son. He could dscov-
e: no similarity between the celebrated ia
| ther and the eminent son. The Profes sor
was stonished-others, no. half so well
acquainted with his father, could detect