The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-07-16
THE EDITORIAL EXCURSION.
A Description thereof, with Sundry
InCid Gnss IL so 4th.
HOMEWARD ROUND.

w LCil a pCiStll HIS SIUWu WEARY Will
the cares of business and the sameness
Of home life, he likes to go forth iuto the
wide world to see what his fellow mortals
are up to, but If he has good home and
an attachment for his life occupation
which every man should have-he soon
tires of the excitement, the hurry, the
dust, and the general weariness that at
tends the progress of a traveller, and longs
once more for the regular routine to
which for years he has been accustomed
Such was the state of our feelings as we
took the Northward bound train at St.
Louis. 1t was satisfaction to feel that
every revolution of the car wheel rumbl-
Ling underneath lessened the space be-
tween us and home, and as we looked
out on the face of animated nature the
earth seemed to wear her brightest, hap
piest smiles. But Central Illinois is
lovely country under any and all circum-
stances They harvest their early grain
in June, and they have such vast guam
titles of it that it is surprising to con-
template. And such cornfelds Why
we are told a man starts with his two
horse cultivator at one end of the field at
daylight IN the morning, stops at noon for
dinner at neighbor' ;, at the other end,
and at night manages to get back home
again, having cultivated but two rows Of
corn in twelve hours, and worked hard
all the time. Some of the farms are so
large that they use 100 steam engines to
save the labor of horses. OF course these
are big yarns and we do not vouch for
them but we do know that best farming
country in the world may be found IN
that same state Of Illinois. And there
are farms there of over 10000 acres ali
under cultivation, which is something
worth mentioning But Illinois is a new
State In many respects. There is much
to do to make it appear well to the tray
eler. Men are to) anxious to make
money to spend much time in Lcautifying
their grounds or in building fine houses,
but these things will follow in time, As
we approached Gardiner Station we
noticed while crossing a bridge the wreck
of quite number of freight cars. 1t
seems when we went down TO ST. Louis
our train was the last to cross said bridge
in safety, and it was positively asserted
that the weight OF the mighty iii tellects
on board the train was sufficient to break
any bridge not doubly strong, and that
we did not all go to eterl.si smash is ac
counted for by the fact that we were
such a fast crowd of bhoys. Twelve
freight cars were reduced to kindling
wood at that bridge twenty minutes after
we crossed it.
At Lemont station we met the com
mittoe OF the Chicago Board OF Trade
sent out TO welcome as to the city. They
brought with them refreshments which
were duly appreciated, and elegantly
printed invitations cards to the Banquet
to be held at the Sherman House that
evening. We arrived in Chicago at 7:30,
and as we came up to the depot we were
enlivened by the cheering notes of the
Light Guard Band. Carriages were in
readiness and In a short time we were
set down at the Sherman House, dusty,
but feeling in good humor In our rooms
we soon reduced ourselves to our 'nor
mai condition. as Nasty would say, and
were ready for the Banquet which had
been prepared for us. In regard to 1t a
| Chicago paper says:
I THE BANQUET.
About two hours were occupied in pre-
pairing for the feast. At exactly the
o'clock the band, stationed in the dining
room, struck up gand march, aud ten
guests. forming IN couples, marched ln
Every seat AT the table was occupied, and
it was estimated that at least four hun
dred persons were present. The tables
were arranged in graceful manner, and
supplied with all the choice dainties Of
the season, while the chandeliers were
tastefully encased In evergreens. Among
those present were number OF our
prominent citizens several aldermen, and
others holding prominent positions un-
der the city government, and 1t was gen
orally remarked that the magnificent din
ing hall never showed to better advan-
tage,
Considerable time was taken in seating
so large a number of guests according to
: the prearranged order, but the feat was
: accomplished, the post of honor at the
: head Of the table being occupied by h.
| V. Robbins, ESQ, President of the col
lective host, the board of trade, support
, ed on his right and left by Charles Sey-
mour, of the La Crosse Republicas,
President of the Wisconsin Editorial As
sociation, and by DIR. Leonard, of the
: Rochester Mimi Posi-, who holds the
same office in the Minnesota Association.
Directly across and facing the President
sat Gen Atwood, of the Madison Wis.
State Journal, the veteran of the Wis
| consln press
When all were seated, an impressive
blessing was asked by Rev. Robert Coll
yer. and afterwards ample justice was
done to the delicaeies comprised in the
| rare and complete bill Of fare.
, Chairman E. Y. Robbins, President OF
the Board of Trade, then spoke as fol
lows:
Gentlemen of the Board of Trade ana
Eeliov- Citizens Of Chicago: We have