Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-11-16
Cedar Falls Gazette.
FROM CEEAR FALLS TO NEBRASKA.
LETTER orMRs. PLArr.

Monroe, Nebraska, Oct. 3ist, 1867.
Editor Cedar Falls Gazette,
DEAR SIR For various reasons, my
promise to send an article for your pa
per, has been long delayed in the full
filment; and now strong is the CON
trast, between the brown and blackened
fields over which l look, and the ver-
dure which covered the earth that
bright morning left your beautiful
little town.
l say beautiful, for so it is to my eye !;
and l have always thought that long
article in the Gazette last winter, des-
criptive of the place, was, to the town,
what garden of cabbages is to house,
hold with the roses left out.
Very sad were my heart throhs at
thought of the friends and the scenes
l was leaving, and jubilant were
its beats In anticipation of seeing
those was soon to meet. as the tireless
iron horse raced wildly over the iron
course toward Dubuque. And mixed
with these emotions were bursts OF
strange delight, in gazing on the ever
changing pictures Of peace and beauty,
through the car windows, which served
as frames in which to set those views
from Iowa's fair fields.
A Packet for Davenport, the next
morning another for Fort Madi son,
cars over that miserable apology for a
Railroad, the Fort Madison Il Keokuk
line, and again a packet to Quincy,
completed my journey down the Mis-
sissippi, ...
MEM. Persons travelling up or down
the Mississippi are fortunate to go
when the water is high, and secure u
passage on Line Boat; as the packets
on the upper Mississippi are small and
inconvenient. However, they increase
in size at the different changing points
on the down trip; and the one we
boarded at Keokuk approximates, in
size and finish, to the lordly palaces
which float down to Orleans. Also pas
sengers bound for st. Joseph should
stop at Quincy, and take the cars for
Palmyra, instead of going to Hannibal
as they will thus make connection with
the train from Hannibal.
From Quincy the cars to st. Joseph,
Steamer to Nebraska City, coach to
Omaha, and as finale to the trip by
public conveyance, we have splendid
cars Oh the Great Pacific II. II. to
Columbus. There remains only a ride
OF eight hours through the Platte Val
ley, dotted with villages which dis
tance, twenty-three years ago, your cor
respondent performed i'm seven days,
in a government wagon drawn by oxen
over fields then uninhabited. Truly
this is day of wonders! .'> ~.
A week Was spent very pleasantly at
this little town of Columbus, in the
only hotel In the place, Judge G. II.
Perley Proprietor. And though the
house is not very capacious, the tables
were as well supplied with edibles,
and these as nicely cooked, as at most
Of the first class hotels of our land.
Amony the celebrities that visited it
during my short stay, was Mrs. Lizzie
Mills Chamberlain, who proposed to
return at some future day, to transfer
to canvass some of the charming views
in this mighty Valley.
Columbus il not very pretentious as
yet but occupying central position
in the territory, at the junction of the
Loup's Fork with the Platte, it is
judged by many to be the future capi-
tai of the state, after the territory shall
have become such.
Left Columbus In private convey
ance, for a short stay among the
Pawnees, u few days before the arrival
Of the Eastern Excursionists; thus
failed of seeing them, and witnessing
the dance and sham fight by tile Paw
nees, gotten up for their Amusement
But as Eastern people would have been
nothing specially novel just now, ,--hav-
Ing also seen Pawnee dances to my
hearts content, and been thrilled with
horror, in years gone by, at real fights
between Sioux and Pawnces; did not
feel that much was lost by being absent,
and know that escaped being exposed
to an uncolnfortabiy cold and piercing
wind by being safely housed. These
never ceasing winds are the greatest
discomfort on these vast plains.
Have been much amused ut listening
to various remarks by those who were
present at the amusement. The Paw
nee Interpreter, q half breed French