Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-11-02

accusation against an ubiquitous, Cos
lsiping female, when she is making her
twonted and unwelcome visits among
her neighbors; upon her return she
deems it her duty, and is expected to
relate all she has seen and heard; and
this is called gossiping. When zoe go
out to gather news, hunt new sub
scribers and dun old ones, see what
we can hear and hear what we can see
somebody, our gadding we dignity
as "a TOUR" and our gossip We call
l"Notes." All this is preliminary TO
saying that
Last Friday and Saturday we took
a hasty ride through portions OF Knox
willie, Lake Prairie and Clay Town
ships, touching Bellefontaine on the
way. and took some notes." (unfor-
tunately not pronissory.)
The fine weather has been well i'm
proved by the farmers; and many OF
them have finished gathering their
corn. We venture to say that the
Iowa corn crop was never before SO
nearly housed by the LIST of November.
Our farmers are fast learning to apply
the adage, make hay while the sun
shines" Some years ago the rule was
to gather the corn in sleds, when it
was half-buried in snow.
Fall blowing has been greatly him
dered by the long-continued drought.
Since the late slight rains however,
a large portion of the stubble has been
turned. Gathering corn and blowing
seemed to be the present work on
nearly every farm.
Hogs are generally in good condi-
ton for market already, but few or
none are moving yet. A faint hope
prevails that the price may be better
about Christmas; and as corn is album
dant and very low, most Of the hogs
will doubtless be held later than usual.
Notwithstanding the cholera, stock
hogs are probably more numerous in
the County than ever before.
Hard times has been the song and
sigh of all classes for the past twelve
months; but when we pass through
the country and see houses and barns,
all large, handsome and substantial,
erected during the past summer, on
almost every mile of road, fine churches
and school houses springing up IN
all directions, every farm being ex-
tended or improved, and new farms
being opened wherever vacant forty
can be found, while planters, reapers
and threshers, horses. sheep and cat
tie, and all the elements of comfort
and growth are multiplying OH every
hand, we confess to u little surprise
that so many of our really prosperous
farmers can see nothing bright in the
present or prospective view. There
is no denying the fact that, as com
pared with the prices of 1865, '66 and
81. the products of the farmers indus
try to day, bring only nominal prices.
Most men are given to looking ut the
dark side of everything; and the oft.
repeated means of the Democratic
misrepresentation times, Taxes
Repatriation" Vinegar" "Brim.
stone" &C., ring in the ears of some
until they conclude they can't afford
to sleep at night or take paper. Les
sons of economy we should all study
: and having learned, practice to fair
extent, but not to such a degree as to
destroy our appetites or prevent the
enjoyment Of present blessings.
At Pella business seemed lively as
usual, though we had little time to 60
about to see the town or the men as
we wished. Work is progressing rap
idly on the new brick block being
erected by Messrs. Viersen and Van
Spankeren on the south side of Garden
Square. This building, which will
soon be completed will be handsome
addition to the appearance of the bust
ness part of the town. The east room
below will be occupied by the new
National Bank, for which large safe
has already arrived, and lies on heavy
trucks in the street. Stopped at the
Blade office few minutes, and found
the Better Bros. at work in good spir-
its, apparently enjoying their prosper
ity and their postorfice, while striving
laudably to deserveandg get their share
Of public patronage"
Beiefontaine we found just where
{ we saw it twenty-five years ago, and
although somewhat older. 1t has not
quite so greatly enlarged and improved
T in the last quarter of century as some
other towns. The amount of business
T done at the place is considerable; and
live business men are not altogether
wanting. The people are hopeful about
the Southwestern II. II. DR.. Scott
leaves this week for Chicago, to be