The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-01-24

Hasty Notes of Trip to and from
the West. ...

hubty NOteb Vi Trip " uuu IfOu
the West. .... q.
Correspondence Of ne LgtelligsRotr. 3ss D
More TO fulfil a promise than to expect
to convey much OF interest, | have beer
prompted 10 drop you these random
thoughts strung together in desultory
Passing over the ordinary incidents O
q railroad ride in the winter season, with
its usual vexations and anxious delays
It's Inconvenience, and discOmtorts, we
will take o glance ut the surroundings
general and special in their moral, politi
cal and social aspect for the first stage o.
rest In our tour. The city of Springfield
Illinois, containing population o
eighteen thousand souls, Is the capital o.
the State and the centre Of much refined
taste and intelligence, where thespirit oil
an unhagging enterprise and indomitablC
pluck Is manifested in everything which
tends TO develope o city and build up
trade and business, .I-,o.s, e-.r
At the time Of our arrival all circles
were agitated over the senatorial pros.
poets, there being three aspirants whose
patriotism had led them TO offer them.
selves Us candidates to fill the seat In the
United States Senate, soon TO be vacated
by that gentleman whose hygieniC
opinions are SO peculiar us TO lead him to
ignore the. use Of water rs q beverage,
These disinterested individuals were
Genls John A. Logan, Ex.Gov. Oglesby
and Ex.GoY. kDrner. The strategy OF
Logan was developed in the use Of means
which are almost-always sure to win
whether in the forum or the field when
properly used, and also exhibited on his
part keen appreciation Of the masculine
character by tho uses Of such influences
which invariably cause the strong and
powerful to suCcumb to the wiles and
destinations Of the beautiful when arrayed
in petticoats. Unquestionably in securing
votes his gifted elegant and intellectual
wiiO was the best man Of the two, who
found no unworthy support In her COM
peer and colleague the bewitching bright
and beautiful niece Of the Hon. John, 4,
The two other candidates disrcgurding
such extraneous aid to use the slang
phrase Of the p. r. "went in on their
muscle" The result as you are aware cul-
minated in the election Of the swarthy
General by majority Of sixty.six over all
competitors for the senatorial toga Not
withstanding this large majority the Re.
publican party arc not entirely satisfied
with the selection. Many would have
preferred the present Governor-Hon. J.
Ak Palmer-a gentleman OF aCknowl-
edged ability, intellect and qualification
for this high position, which more
over is evidenced by his declaration when
solicited to becomea candidate, that he
would not degrade the high office heheld
as Executive Of Illinois, to use itasa step
ping stone to a higher And yet 1t is not
improbable had he but said the word he
could have been elected. We had the
pleasure Of>meeting Governor Palmer on
several occasions, and wereinpressed with
his courteous bearing, his genial character
and his intellectual power He is still
comparatively q young man, we should
Judge between lorty.iive and fifty years OF
age, and we doubt not, should his life be
spared he will ascend the ladder OF fame
sill higher and establish still more en-
during fame. f.t1{t
But have taken up SO much space in
reference TO politicians that have given
myself but little in which &c, per-
form my promise In reference to other
things. Still, one word In reference to
the Legislature now in session here. As
a body they arc fine looking set Of men,
but mostly inexperienced us legislators
and oiiair average talent. The old State
House being deemed too small TO accom-
MEDIATE both Houses, the Senate occupies
this building, together with the offices OF
State and the Supreme Court, while the
House. OF Representatives occupy the
connections and beautiful, yet unfinished
and undedicated building lately erected by
the congregation OF the Second Presby.
terrain church Of this city ut Il cost Of
eighty thousand dollars.
/ cannot forbear mentioning certain
member or the lower House whose exam
pie commend 10 the members of Our
own Legislature, not so much on account
Of its economical peculiarly US to make
themselves useful in some manner. This
Individual halls from the county Of Cook,
In which that iast city-ChiCago-is 10.
Gated. 10 avoid the expense oil the city
he boards in the country, three or four
miles from the city, with n German fam.
lily, and walks in every morning. He con-
suits his health by dining at noon on o
piece Of sausage pudding, refreshing him
self meanwhile with u glass Of lager. Al.
ter the adjournment 0l the House he eX-
ercises by returning on loot 10 his cOun-
try lodgings, and in the intervals Of his
onerous legislative duties and responsible
tiles saws wood for the family 10 pay his
board. At all events this Is the story
which his colleagues tell of him. ~. ~
On the Thursday evening following our
arrival we attended'the lecture Of Wen
dell Phillips, delivered in the Congrega-
tional Church, TO compact, large and
discriminating audience. His subject was
the "Lost Arts" As a lecturer he cannot
perhaps DO excelled, but many were dis.
appointed at the manner in which lie
handled his subject, as they expected TO
hear something erudite and profound, but
on the other hand it seemed to be string
oil facts huddled together, which any one
could gather who has an ordinary histor-
ical knowledge. His wilticisms also were
not tho best chosen or most appropriate,
and indeed struck one at times us convey
ing little spleen or spite. To cite one
instance only: In speaking Of the fine.
ness Of tho Damascus blade, he said
there was one on exhibition u few
years since at tho Paris Exhibition,
the scabbard Of which was In shape like
n corkscrew into which when the blade
was thrust it, pllably accommodated
itself, and when drawn out rcgained Its
straight and even form, and says he, u
friend remarked that II reminded him of
VIM, II. Seward. The sword; take II,
was keener than his wit,
This city contains many churches of the
highest order Of architecture, which, for
beauty and style arc not exceiled by those
Of any city. Among these may mention.
cd Tho Snrnnl prnsluinrinr church ,,n,,