Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-02-22
Written for the American.
-IOWA-ITS SEASONS. ETC

-IOWA--iTS SEASONS, ETC.
Any one who has moi resided for con-
siderable time in the Iowa Prairies can
form but a very imperfect idea Of the va.
riod aspects and interesting phenomena of
its seasons, or Of the Intense GOODNESS of
some of its winters. Ii has frequently
been remarked that ia summer Iowa is a
paradise. During a considerable portion
Of that season, the remark approaches the
truth, in many respects at least Nothing
perhaps in this beautiful world Of ours can
be more delightful, or ell the soul with
emotions moro thrilling, than 10 view,
from some prominent point tic beautiful
scenery that presents Itself to the eye on
every hand. As far "a tho eye can reach,
the soft, green grass, intermingled with
flowers Of almost ovory conceivable form
and color, may be seen sppnrantly nov
ing along 10 beautiful waves aud undn-
latiops, as they aro alfred by the Soft
gentle breeze Of a<loyely summer day
Lovely groves are intersporsed here aud
there over the wild, rolling prairies, like
tho welcome oasis Of the desert, to break
the monotony Of the scene. As you view
them in tho distance across the prairie
where nothing interyenes to ohstfuct the
sight, they appear, some Of them, rot
more thnn mile or two away, bat after
having travelled that distance toward them,
you appear no nearer 10 thcm than, when
you started, aud when you have reached
their cooling shades you will find that you
have travelled perhaps some six or eight
miles. Persons unaccustomed to the prai-
ries can form no correct estimate Of the
distance Of objects across them. fr's
From some points tho white. houses Of
some pleasant little town. miles away to
the West may be distinctly seen glistening
in the gorgeous light Of the morning sun
Streams of clear. cool water are seon wind
ing along beautiful valleys, whose banks
are skirted here and there by shady groves
of timber, with tall grass and wild Cow
ers growing TO the waters edge. In and
around most OF the groves strawberries
abound in rich profusion Other berries
may be found there, but strawberries are
most abundant. The delightful breeze
that il almost constantly blowing on those
prairies is extremely pleasant, but there
1 are times NlCi tAo blttAc - 4uilNA 10 an
almost peifect clam, and then The heat be-
comes almost iniolerable. The laborer il
seized with siekening, fninting sensa-
ton, the perspiralion streams from every
pore, hard labor becomes impossible, and
life itself almost burden.
Thunder storms are frequent, and often
fierce and terrific. There is much more
thunder there than in this part of the
country, and it appears much louder.
frequently about two or three o'clock iu
the afternoon, as you look away across the
wide, green pasturesto the West, you notice
line Of dark, ominous looking clouds,
stretching along the horizon, and the
dcep-toncd thunber, whose dismal sound
soon reaches the ear, tells you Of an APP
proaching storm For hours il does not
appear much nearer than at first, but il is
gradually rising aud moving slowly to,
ward the East, seemingly gathering force
as il moves in majestic grandeur on.
The thunder becomes louder and more
frequent antil il sometimes resembNs dis.
tant cannonading. Meanwhile brisk
wind is blowing in the direction Of the
approaching storm. Later in the evening
there is for few minutes calm. Now
the wind changes, and the storm that has
fingered so long, rushes on with frightlu
impctuosity The scene is grand, males
tic, terrible the clouds are as black as
night; the lightning flashes in every di.
rection; the loud, sharp peais of thunder
are constant and terrifying; and for hours,
frequently, this war In the elements keeps
up continued din Of confusion. There
is frequently week Of continual storms,
and sometimes they continue for two
weeks, one, and sometimes two, in almost
every twenty. four hours. They generally
occur at some particular period of tho day
or night.
Early in the fall, tho farmers begin TO
NOW down the luxuriant grass for winter
feed. Herds OF cattle roam over the
Thousands Of acres Of wild pasture, and
arc frequency driven from the praiIies
aud slaughtered without any othor feed
Notwithstanding the numerous herds Of
cattle feeding all summer on these pralfios,
yet hundreds Of acres OF tall grass may DO
found in tho fall opportunity untouched,
with tho exception of here and there n
pun uoEu Wy tHo thttlo III pacnfHH lton1
place 30 place. II must be remembered,
however, that some Of tbese remarks mp
ply only to tho newer parts Of the State.
Later in tho fall, as the grass becomes
dry, the sweeping fires that sometimes
leave destruction and devastation in their
track, are seen starting up here and there.
Lcaplng, writhing, ioaming, cracking
aud roaring, IL sweeps on. often at the
speed Of the hcetest horse, and many a
luckless pedestrian has fallen victim to
ia fiery seythe AS soon as tho fire ia
seen approaching in tho distance, the
farmers are out with their teams, turning
over the tough sod on tho side of their
farms nearest the FIRE, for tho purpose Of
warding of tho doyoaring flames from
their fences and other property Mon aud
children arc out trying 90 boat back Tho
fire, which is not generally 30 Gcrce AZ IL
ncars the farm, on account of the GRASS
being shorter and more beaten. Some.
times, driven by tbe wind, il Temps over
the burrows and begins rs work of destruc.
ton on tho farm Then comes the con.
diet; oil available forces arc mustered ia.
70 service, aud with brush In hand, sally
forth 10 meet The seothng flamos and beat
them back from their houses aud barns,
or rather straw sheds, for very few farms