Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-05-16
FROM WASHINGTON.
An Editor Loose-visits New York, PhiIadel-
phia, Baltimore and washingson--Notes
by the Way-The Capital CITY

L
pea sketches of men and things at
the Nations Capital as they i'm press
the mind of one who beholds them
for the first time, have the presump-
ton to offer you and your army of
readers a few of mine, hoping they
may be worthy of some niche ia the
Herald which is not occupied by
more valuable thoughts | do this
the more boldly because, speaking
editorially, zoe were born into man.
hood in Grant County, and we claim
our citizenship there with about as
much pride as St. Paul did his in
Rome
Receiving few weeks ago com.
mission from Secretary Delano to
join the ranks of his clerical force in
the General Land Office, we started
for the city which to visit had been
aidream, hope and prophecy, not only
of our boyhood but of our maturer
years. The journey of course leads
us through Chicago, as you can go
no where on the planet without pay
ing your respects and your tribute to
that queen of. Western towns, and
one of which every Western man is
proud. From there we choose as
our favorite among all the rival line s
of rail between the West and Eas t.,
the Michigan Southern and Northern
Indiana road, not only in this having
an eye to comfort and safety, but be-
cause it passes through one Of the
richest portions of the country, q
constantly changing panorama OF
beautiful towns, rich fields. fine farm
houses, various manufacturing enter
prises and land where the trav eler
may behold all the elements which
minister to the prosperity of individ-
uals and States. We spent few
hours in the beautiful city of CIeve-
land, then made q short run by rail
to our boyhood home on the south of
the "Old Western Reserve" Iocali-
ty which has furnished for Grant
and adjacent counties about regi-
ment of the best product of the State
of Ohio. There we received n warm
greeting from the few friends who
remember us after our life of twenty
five years in Wisconsin. We visit
our old home, the scenes of our school
sports and tasks and as we remem-
Der the loves and hates of that period,
and as memory calls the roll of the
once familiar ones we cannot re-
strain the tear when we think that
these shall be met no more on earth.
Bidding adieu to kind friends there.
very brief and pleasant journey
brings us to New York, where other
friends are greeted, where we listen
TO the din and roar of the commercial
metropolis, the theatre of the grand
triumphs of the corrupt, repeating,
ballot-box stuffing "Tammany Ring"
who are now so anxious to foist upon
the whole country the same style of
government which now curses that
city. There is much of Sodom in New
York, but unlike that ancient city of
the Plain, it has more than ten thous-
and righteous men, and we think
that Jehovah for their sakes will
spare it for many years before he
will sweep it away with the fire and
hail of His wrath. With all its faults
the city is noble one for its chart
ties, public buildings, elegant private
residences, marts Of trade, works of
art, parks, miles Of shipping and 9TH
or points of interest which attract
one more and more the longer the
stay there is continued.
On the way from New York TO
Philadelphia we noted, with surprise,
that the improvements in towns and
on the farms in this oldest portion of
the country gave no more evidence
of good taste, thrift or fortune than
do those seen to day in Ohio, Indiana
or Wisconsin. We could not resist
coming to the conclusion that Grant
County was worth about as much as
the State of New Jersey, and we
hope Grant County friends will ex-
cuse US for making the comparison
We spent day in the beautiful
Quaker City, visited an extensive
print works and came away with an
exalted opinion Of calico and the
ladies who do themselves the honor
to wear it. We visited the U. S.
Mint and saw the rough gold and
silver bars from which shining dollars
were being cut, stamped, counted,
boxed and shipped to the various de-
positories of the precious coin. We
handled enough to buy farm, but
could not make such an Investment
without violating the rules of the in
stitation. OF course we went to old
Independence Hall and sat down in
the chair and at the identical desk as
did John Hancock, when be attach
ed his defiant autograph to the Dec
laration and our hat came off as we
stood in silent generation before the
old Liberty Bell which rang out af-
ter the signing, the first historic 4th
0: July, and it's grand proclamation
of liberty throughout all the land,
unto all the inhabitants thereof; a
prophecy that never found It's fulfill
ment until God commissioned A bra
ham Lincoln, General Grant and the
Boys in Blue to accomplish it.
At Baltimore we discovered that
we were in land where neither Penn
or the Pilgrims established its laws
or customs. There was less evidence
of good taate, thrift and refinement
than is seen in most Northern cities,
and we easily imagined that the ele-
ments abounded there out of which
"PIug Uglies" were made, which
could mob Massachusetts regiment
when on its way to the front, or
could conspire to murder Mr.. Lincoln
when on the way to his first inaugu-
ration. But this city is improving,
will yet be redeemed and take the
position to which its natural advan-
tages entitle it.
A run of two hours from the Mon
umental City and our goal is reached,
and we stand under the shadow of
the Capitol, and look upon its mass
i've pillars and proportions, its beau
I