The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-11-23
From the Rural District.

young, remotely situated in some rural
district, and attempted to write for the
columns OF a city paper, you can form no
idea of the diffidence with which begin
this letter; but here goes: '
Winter evening pastimes have commenc.
cd here, and on last Tuesday evening a
donation party was made at the United
States Hotel, for the benefit of Rev. Mr.
Rambo, Episcopal, of Fayette. Extensive
notice was given; 1t was announced IN
church on the preceding Lords Day; large
contributions for the table were prepared
and sent in gratuitously by our citizens;
oysters were served; aud, taken all together,
it was designed for a tall affair. Fare,
$3.50 per couple. Went. The table
groaned with delicacies and every possible
effort was made to infuse life and innocent
gayety in the visitors, but it proved fu-
tile, dry, insipid concern, approxinating
to failure. But little was said about the
amount donated; no one appearing to
know exactly what it was; and if any ques.
tons were asked concerning it, they were
evaded. f&f@ s&"a e"
1t is said to be an i'll wind that blows
no good, and the surplus refreshments
furnished for the donation, seemed to serve
as a nucleus for another supper; so on
Wednesday evening . Ball was given at
the same house. 1t is a caution to dancers
how balls have fallen off in size ard inter-
est, even in my short remembrance. They
are no comparison to those given four or
five years ago; and Pa and Ma have
frequently told me that those balls which
look back to with pleasure, were more
inferior in comparison with those of their
young days, than the present ones are
below the g,andest ones ever attended.
Surprise parties are all the rage here
among the higher class of young folks, and
evening after evening arc our citizens
deligAted(') with the freedom taken by
them, in making calls by dozens, at an
unusual hour, unannounced, unlimited,
unwelcome. But little good is derive from
that ill-mode of procedure also, as it affords
rare opportunity to that class who are
never invited to parties, to attend as many
as will crafty their desires, and at such
places as suit them best. If such ST. liz
vited visitors had heard what Pa said of
them on the morning after they took as by
"surprise," they would be more slow to
annoy people for the future. La, but Pa
does abhor such rudencss, boldness and
impudence in young ladies.
You arc aware that the election went in
favor Of "Old Abe" out this way, and
especially in this particularly dark county.
That would be borne meekly without
murmur, as long as none but "white male
citizens" Of legal age and qualifications are
elected to Office; but when the mania runs
to that height that causes american citi-
zens Of African descent" to be chosen by
the fanatics to serve as officers, it is an
illustration o: inconsistency in 'freedom
shrickers," to say the least, in tighting to
liberate slaves in the South, and then vot.
ing them into servitude in the North. Pa
teaches me to believe that office holders are
servants to the people. In Center Town.
ship, Fayette county, State of iowa, to its
shame and the disgrace of the people of
that precinct be it known, that NEGRO
was elected to fill an office. That is Sena-
tor Brunson's Township. which is blacker
than the inside of our stove pipe, or the
outside CT Pas boots.
Rev. Mr.. Smith, our Methodist minister,
has heretofore made strong speeches in
favor Of vigorous prosecution of the war;
but at length that champion of freedom
was overtaken by the draft, and he received
notice to report in person at Dubuque, on
a given day. The expounder of the gospel
began to realize the true situation he had
been so instrumental and successful in
bringing himself into, and cast about him
to fad substitute; concluding that it is
much more congenial to preach war than
to practice it. He succeeded in obtaining
a representative in the ranks, as some
expressed it, through providential inter-
position" Were all Of his pretended
followers like the Lamb of God, who
preached "peace and good will to all men,"
swords would be beaten into plowshares
and spears into pruning hooks. A rest
lessness pervades our village which causes
apparent instability in purpose and bust
ness. Change is continually taking place.
Uneasiness, dissatisfaction and discomfort
prevails to ruinous extent among our
citizens. Each is striving to excel in fast
travelling on the road to wealth. Groceries,
saloons, shops and other establishments
are bartered in as boys swap marbles or
trade bread at school. Long established
and formerly agreeable and profitable
partnerships are broken up and new ones
entered into. There is something wrong.
Such things do not occur without a con.
trolling cause. ..E
In conclusion | will mention lively
little occurrence that transpired the other
Sunday night, at saloon recently opened
on the South side of the United States, by
way of variety and breaking the dull
monotony Of village life. The first born
Of James, dealer in merchandise; other
wise a very promising youth, and several
other birds Of the same feather, then and
there congregated. After imbibing long
and freely of forty rod" tongues were
loosed, conversation flowed, words ran
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