The union Democrat., 1871-02-25

years that if there ives any portion of the in
| babited globe absolutely in suffering condi-
ten for want of a railroad it was these teem-
ing pine barrens of the St. Croix. Laugh
| ter At what particular point on that no
BILE stream such road should be commenced
knew was immaterial, and so it seems to
have been considered by the draughssman OF
this bill. 1t might be up at the spring or
down at the foot log, or the water-gate, or
the 6sh-dam, or anywhere along the bank,
no matter where. Laughter. But in wha:
direction should it run. or where it should
terminate, were always to my mind ques-
tons of the most painful perplexity. could
conceive of no place on Gods green earth"
in such straitened circumstances for railroad
facilities as to be likely to desire or willing to
accept such connection. Laughter.
knew that neither BAYFIELD, nor Superior CITY
would have it, for they both Indignantly
/ spurned the mnnifcence of the Government
when coupled with such ignomnious condi-
tiops, and let this very same land grant die
on their hands years and years ago rather
than submit to the degradation of a direct
communication by railroad with the piny
woods of the St. Croix ard | knew that what
the enterpris,ng inhabitants of those giant
young cities would refuse to take would have
| few charms for others, whatever their neces-
sites or cupidity might be. Laughter.
| Hence, as | have said, sir, | was utterly at
| loss to determine where the terminus CT this
great and Indispensable road should be, un-
til accidentally overheard some gentleman
| the other day mention the name of"Duluth."
! Great laughter Duluth The word fell
upon my ear with peculiar and indescribable
charm, like the gentle murmur of low
fountain stealing forth in the midst of roses,
or the soft, sweet accents of an angels whis-
per in the bright. joyous dream Of sleeping
innocence. Duluth Twas the name for
which my soul had painted for years, as the
hart panteth for the water-brooks. Renew
ed laughter But where was Duluth? New
or, in all my limitel reading, had my vision
been gladjened bv seeing the celestial word
in print. Laughter. And I felt a pro-
founder humiliation in my ignorance that its
dulcet svlahles had never before ravished
nv delighted ear. Roars of laughter.
vas certain the draughtsman Of this bill bad
never heard of it. or it would have been de-
signated as one of the termini of this road.
l asked nv friends about it, hut they knew
nothing Of it. rushed to the Library and
examined all the maps could lind. Laugh
ter. | discovered in one of taem delicate.
hair-like. diverging from the Mississippi near
place marked Prescott, which | supposed
was intended to represent the river St. Croix,
but | could nowhere find Duluth.
Nevertheless. | was confident it existed
somewhere, and that it's discovery would con-
stitute the browning glory of the present cen
turv, if not of all modern times. Laugh
ter knew it was bound to exist in the
verv nature of things that the symmetry
and perfection of our planetary system would
be INCOMPLETE without it, renewed laughter;
that the elements of material nature would
long since have resolved themselves back in
to original chaos if there had been such a
hiatus in creation as would have resulted
from leaving out Duluth. Roars of laugh
ter. IT, fact, sir. | was overwhelmed with
the conviction that Duluth not only existed
somewhere. but that wherever it was it was
great and glorious place. | was convinced
that the greatest calamity that ever befell the
benighted nations of the ancient world was
| in their having passed away without knowl-
edge of the actual existence of Duluth that
their failed Atlantis never seen save by the
hallowed vision of inspired poesy, was, in
fact, but another name for Duluth that the
golden orchard of the IIesperides was but a
poetical synonym for the heer-gardens in the
vicinity of Duluth Great laughter. was
certain that IIerodotus had died a miserable
death because in all his travels ard with all
his geographical research he had never heard
| of Duluth. Laughter | knew that if the
| immortal spirit of Homer could look down
from another heaven than that created by his
own celestial genius upon the long lines of
pilgrims from every nation of the earth to the
! gushing fountain of poesv opened by the
touch Of his magic wand, if lie could be per-
United to behold the vast assemblage of
grand and glorious productions of the lyric
art called into being by his own inspired
strains. he would weep tears of bitter anguish
that instead of lavishing all the stores OF his
mighty genius upon the fall Of Ilion it had
not been his more blessed lot to crystalize in
deathless song the rising glories of Duluth.
Great and continued laughter. Yet. sir,
had it not been for this map, kindly furnish.
ed me by the Legislature of Minnesota, |
might have gone down to my obscure and
humble grave in an agony of despair, be-
cause | could nowhere find Duluth. Re-
newed laughter. Had such been my melan-
cholv fate. have no doubt that with the last
feeble pulSation of nv breaking heart. with
the last faint exhaation Of my fleetins breath.
should have whispered, "Whereis Duluth?''
Rnars If laughter.
| But thanks to the hene6cence of that hand
Of ministering angels who have their bright
ahodes in the far-of capital of Minnesota.
Just as the agony of nv anxiety was about TO
eliminate in the frenzy of despair, this bless
ed map placed in my hands, and as
unfolded it resplendent scene of inefable
glory opened before me, such as / imagine
burst upon the enraptured vision of the wan
dering peri through the opening gates of pa
radise. (Renewed laughser.) There, there
for the first time. my enchanted eve rested
upon tie ravishiug word Duluth"
This map. sir, is Intended, as it appears
from its title. TO illustrate the position of Du-
| luth in the United States; but if gentlemen
will examine it. think they will concur with
me in the opinion that it is far too modest in
its pretensions. 1t not only illustrates the
position of Duluth in the United states. but
exhibits its relations with all created things.
1t even goes further than this. 1t lifts the
shadowy veil of futurity and affords us view
of the golden prospects of Duluth far along
/ the dim vista of ages vet 10 come.