The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-11-22
Times Correspondence

Gcntte RedderS Have any of you no.
ticed the appearance Of new star in the
literary horizon Of the NoRrn Iowa TIMES |?
If not, prepare to seelit now, and get for
yourselves smoked glasses, lest its brillian-
cy dazzle you. My name is M. B." and
my location is not far from the Zodiac. l
arose in the East and have set in the West
For further particulars refer to the AS
tronomers-who should be posted on all
such things. But have also mundane
description Of myself which may give you
clearer ideas Of my identity. Did you
ever hear OF = queeniy maiden among the
sister states whose steps are echoed upon
the river Hudson, caught up by Long Is.
land Sound and tossed out upon the wide
Atlantic and who bears upon her fore
head the word, in golden letters, "EMPIRE ?"
If you have been 50 fortunate, I will inform
you that upon her lap gave my first "ter.
restrial bawl," and there listened to the
sub'ims cadence Of the rattle.hox. R.volv
ing years..swept their maturing graces over
me and-I was sent to college. Then,
somehow, I dropped upon the prairics,
and though hate them relentlessly, yet I
have kin lily reg,rd for many Of their
cti,s 8. One day was in Iowa-in the
f.mo ~, McGRsaoR; then stole a march
on space and tins. by the aid Of steam,
and was whrled into Wisconsin,; then into
this iii ,ois.
Twas q stranger and Rockford took me
in, and gave ma bread and cheese. Ihave
substantial reasons for liking Rockford
therefore. But, speaking truth, it is :
beautiful city AMI has many superorities
over sister sc:tem ,nts in tho West For
instance, in almost all cities there is at
least one dirty street where miserable hov
els, squa'il humanity, dirt and rags accu-
nulate and oozs in and out, in putrefac
tons masses. Bat Rockford is happily
minus single street of this character.
Then too, it owns beautiful Rock river,
J which is most appropriately nam'd, since
from its source to its m outh there is a solid,
rocky bottom. always have peculiar,
loving regard for water views in my land
| sapss. but there is double pleasure to
ire when know that their gliding, grace.
full, treacherous masses fpw over h,ors of
rock. The Mississippi and Wisconsin
| rivers have a.muidy effect upon me be
cause I always remember their uncertain
>andbars. However, don't dispute the
Sire of Wa'crs." his title or his sway.
The banks Of Rock: river entertain quite an
idea Of height, in some places, and drop
into gentle slopes ard undula,ions else.
where.
Standing by tie bridge, these dreamy,
Indian-summer days, and looking up
stream, one sees lovely prospect; tim
bered lowlands, with their ravishing Au
tumnal tints;-the smiling, musical river,
fine residences, and gardens reaching
th,herwsrd, the wide sky above,-the
LIQUID. sympathetic sky below, and the
sunshine-ah, but won't describe it; if
you want to see condensed sunshine, look
at a yellow pumpkin. Would that the
process Of cpndensing milk were as per.
manent! But alas for constancy in
tended to write about Rock ford. and here |
am where the next step would take me to
| GUYS ana st,s poultry yard rs--se forget
this DEPRESSION, and remember my last re-
mark about the city; then hear me say that
Rockford owns a furnishing Young Ladies'
Seminary as well as Union school. both
of whose buildings are fine and pleasantly
located. Its churches also are handsome
and many Of its private residences, Gle
CANT. 1t has, believe. bent towards
manufacturing. as the Reaper Works OF
Nanny, Of Emerson & Co., Of Thompson
d Co., together with the Steel Factory,
Woolsn Factory, machine shops and other
establishments, will amply testify. O.
course the usual quota of Dry Goods and
| Drug stores are hare as in other cities; the
ladies must have bright scarfs, laces, and
velvet bonne,s, and the pretty faces must
nave daub Of powder on them to make
hen look still prsttier.
l have heard, through truthful report.
er, that The youog girls Of Rockford dsse
, lrre a stroag tendency towards tigh: lac
ing; that they sacrifice health and comf"t
10 the insane desire of looking ridiculuu>ly
small around tn. bottom Of the waist. In
deed, myself was walking with lady
upon the street one day, when she spoke Of
her lovers distaste for those m pdern instru
men,s of torture, saying, "he said his wifi
should never wear corsets" but lWiL,'
she lded. "Pll corset or die II On, wo
man, thy name is vanity! For my part,
fail to see the special beauty in these tight
cramp.d waists. 1t seems to me, on.
must always think of the uncomfort occa
stoned thereby; the c,ld feet, the hot
aching head, the cramped circulation abou
tha h..rt nd rho short a; ffi mir rec pira,;nn