Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1867-07-03
FROM MADISON.
Correspondence of the Republican

On Friday last we lett WATERFOWL at
four o'clock in the afternoon, bound west
gard to the Capital of our State Our
route was the overland short cut by way
Of Sun Prairie, and after two hours ride in
IN ancient looking car, ard two hours ride
in numbering stage coach, we found our
selves just at dusk alighting in front of
she Madison Post Office. There before
us lay the Capitol square, with its forest
of shade trees, its green grass and seats
tempting he lounger to repose and ease
Half concealed among the trees could be
seen the gray walls and massive col
umns of the Capitol, aud thitherward We
directed our steps. ,4 g
We were just IN time to attend the ex
hibition Of the Horticultural Society -
Entering the great ball which radiates
from the centre of the building to the
four main enterances, and passing up the
steep stairway, We soon found ourselves
in the Assembly Chamber. Long tables
loaded with beautiful flowers and tempt
ing fruit were ranged around the room,
and the beauty and chiyalry of Madison
assembled on the occasion presented a far
different appearance from the grave body
Of lawmakers who met In the same hall
last winter, One gentleman, Hon. B. F.
Adams, exhibited twenty five different
varieties of Strawberries all cultivated by
himself Good music added TO the other
attractions, and the exhibition was con-
sidered decided success. sa5.t s. aa~l
On Saturday, we wandered over the
Capitol, startling ourselves with the echo
of our. own footsteps in the deserted SEN
ate Chamber, and dreaming of by-gone
days in the Assembly hall The Legis-
lature, and the swarm of lobby agents and
others who lowered 1 around like the
clouds of locusts over the land of Egypt,
are now all gone, and the magnificent and
stately edifce looked so still and deserted
that it reminded us of the legend of the
enchanted castle. The old and tattered
battle-fags dropped idly on the walls of the
state Offices, the cannon which had vom-
tied fire and thunder from their brazen
Threats were still, and even old Abe, the
famous war eaglo- sat dnaing on his perch
south of the Capitol, immoveable. as a
statue, and it may be, dreaming over the
campaigns through which he had passed
But notwithstanding all this apparent in
activity, the machinery of the government
moves quietly, powerfully on. The pom
derous doors to the vaults of the State
Treasury swing noislessly on their hinges
as they open to receive or give out the rev
enue of the state The officers Of the
government are at their posts, and the
clerks are busy driving the rapid. 81
lent pen. '1 - @aa 5t1
The Board Of Regent were in session
last week, and inaugurated thorough
re- organization Of the State University
All the professors chairs were declared
vacant. Prof Chadbourne, late Presi
dent of the Massachusetts Agricultural
College was then chosen President Of the
University; Rev. Samuel Fallows, o.
Milwaukee, was elected to the chair OF
rhetoric, j. B. Parkinson, Of La Fayeste,
to the chair of mathematics, and Prof. W
f. Allen, Of New jersey, to the chair Of
ancient languages and history. They de
cided to retain temporarily Prof. Sterling
whose services itseems the University can
i'll afford to dispense with Rev. Mr..
FalloWs and Prof. Parkinson are graduates
of the University, and we'll known
throughout the State No better selec
tions could have been made. Pres. Chad
bourne and Prof. Allen are also highly
spoken of as eminent scholars and sue
cessful educators
The workmen have just commenced low
down in the basement, to lay the founda
ton for the rotunda and dome of the CAPT
toll, which when completed will perfect
the symmetry Of the. noble looking build
ing. e.z s-ea Il agas..s s.E-
A word in regard to the attractions Of
Madison. The natural scenery cannot be
surpassed by any city in the west and the
Madisonians are justly proud of it. They
are also egregously vain as to the greatim
portance of their town which they seem to