The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-06-24
OF course Won are familiar with it. ~

Of course you are familiar with it,
replied in the affirmative and ventured to
inquire more particularly respecting the town
of ConstantinOpe.
Fortunately" replied Mr.. Lynx" 81 have
plan of the town in my pocket"
plan of town regularly laid out into streets,
lots, &C., with here and there public building
indicated.
"There." he said Indicating the central part
with his finger, ''are two churches, Methodist
and Baptist, and it is proposed to offer the lot
contiguous to the COngregatiOnalists, on con-
dition of their erecting handsome church
edifice upon it. In the immediate vicinity
some ten acres are reserved, as you perceive,
for public park. This is thing which ought
never to be forgotten in laying out town.
looked out of my Office window upon the
brick wall opposite, and cordially agreed with
Mr.. Lynx in this remark.
"This little black mark. he continued Gin
dicates the bunk. Near by is the COnstantin-
ople Hotel. Those little dots stand for work
shops of various kinds By the way, forgot
to say that the name proposed for the lot set
apart is Hyde Park" :"
Isn't it rather an imposing name for a vii.
lage common" ventured to enquire.
swell perhaps so," said Mr.. Lynx, hesitat-
ingly; but our principle is to take good names
whenever we Can find them. For that reason,
knowing that the place was destined some day
to become large one. we give it high
sounding name Years hence (of course do
not pretend TO fix the time believe the Con-
stantinope of the Eastern continent will dwn-
die into insignfcance by the side Ofthat in our
Western world"
"You are sanguine, Mr. Lynx"
need not detail the conversation which fol.
lowed. 1t is sufficient to say that the elo.
quence fel not up IN ct my (albeit upon;Flinty)
ground. Within one hour l was made the le-
gal possessor OF one hundred and sixty acres
situated in Constantinople. Forty acres were
in the centre of the tOwn-the remainder on
the outskirts. These, together with commits
sion to pay Mr.. Lynx, just swallowed up my
aunt's beqnest
When l walked home it was with q proud
consciousness that was landed proprietor,
and on the high road to wealth.
"In two or three years at most )" reflected |
shall be able to sell my land for such sum,
| as, with my moderate desires, will place me
above the world. l shall at once resign my
| situation, bu Id cohdge-ornee somewhere on
the bank of the North River, and, being then
quite able to give her competent support l
shall offer myself'to the adorable Eliza"
The prospect was an agreeable one decidedly
so, and could not avoid wishing that my tor.
tune were already made. However. two years
| would pass rapidly, and then my castle in the
air might assume more substantial form. l
did not acquaint my friends with the precise
nature of my investment, but intimated in a
mysterious manner, that l had made an ex-
ceedingly fortunate disposal of it. Naturally,
| their curiosity was excited, but, as intended
by and by to surprise them. was proof against
their inquiries.
from business, prepared, as usual to take a
| summer trip. Where should go! To Sara
toga, Newport, Nahanti
This question was prOpOunded by my friends,
II Shall 60 to neither of these places, 1 re-
piled.
You go to the White Mountains then, or to
Niagara?"
'Still wrong"
where then are you going?"
ITO COnstantinople, " replied firmly
My friends looked at each other in blank
| amazement, and, believe had serious doubts
| as TO my sanity. until assured them did not
| mean the ancient Byzantium, but a fyurisbing
| town In Minnesota. They manifested consid-
cradle surprise at the singularity of nv taste
| gave no explanations, reserving those to a
| future time.
Travelling in cars and steamboats, found to
| be somewhat fatguirg. l einploycd the leis-
| ure which it afforded in studying the plan of
| ConstantnOple, of which Mr.. Lynx had obi
| gingly given me minute copy. l indulged
in conjectures as to the probable appearance OF
| the place.
|
| something like this: town of four or five
| thousand inhabitants, with churches. schools,
| stores workshops, q beautiful park neatly
| fenced, aud q bank; in fine, just such town
| as we often sec in New England, with gen.
eral air of Thrift aud prosperity pervading it.
There might be newspaper, for aught
knew, in which case was determined to put
down Lay name as subscriber at once. This
would he no more than my duty as a public
spirited citizen.
The reader will be kind enough to suppose
me within twelve miles of my destination. l
passed the night in a miserable little hamlet of
some dozen houses, of the rudest possible ar
chitecture. The hotel was built of logs, and
the fare aud accommodations were equally in
| different.
''Never mind" thought I. "we shall find
quite different state of affairs at CONSTANT
| uople''
So 1 did, but I'll not anticipate.
After spending the night in battling mOsqui-
toes, and another class of insects bearing a
very plebian name. which I do not care to re.
peat | rose early and instituted inquiries as to
the practicability of procuring conveyance to
Constantinople.
".Is there no stage that goes there?" in
| quired.
The landlord laughed, quite unnecessarily,
as thought, and o sured me that there was
| not
| Aou want 10 go there, reckOn! he salu
answered in the affirmative.
| We'll, said he, works rather driv'n jest
az present, but If you're mind to pay me, I'll
| harmesS up ana take you over myself"
Tue price was finally fixed at three dollars,
winch Slight hint induced me to offer in ad-
vance
| We were soon on our way. The road, if it
deserves the name, which seriously question,
was the most wretched with which 1 ever
| made acquaintance. Occasionally one aide of
the vehicle was raised high in the air. while
passing over stump, which am Obliged to
say always disturbed my equilibrium verv con.
siderably. Once it was lifted go high as to pro.
duce an overturn- My companion who an
peared to be expecting, such catastrophe,
tunate. contriving to fall with my shoulder IN.
der the wheel and bruising it very uncomfort.
ally.