Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-05-14
For the Freeman.
Notes of Travel.
CHICAGO, Nav 7,

Is no teIllDS WueH VI MloIc uc " III StOp. L
intended to spend the summer at Minneapo-
liz. but for several reasons | concluded to
follow the railroad for while. A glance at
the map will show how the country is cut up
with railroads. These are supported at an
immense cost, and were it not for the uni
yersa desire of the American people to see
the world, these roads would not get revenue
enough to pay the expenses of running the
trains, to say nothing of the cost of building
the roads and keeping them in repair. Those
who live IN cities have become accustomed to
make one or two trips every year to dis
tant mart of the country, while those in the
smaller towns are learning to do the same.
This may be a foolish custom, yet many things
may be learned by travelling which can never
be taught in the schools. An old man pref
" well posted in the ways of the world was
frequently known to prove the ignorance Of
the inhabitants OF a certain town by saying :
Theg have neither read nor travelled. ~
One thing to be noticed is the constant
change in hotel fashions. The time was,
within the memory of those now living
when hungry people could 60 to the table
and tat and drink without much ceremony
These good old times will never return, for
within two years sad change has been
made for the worse. The waiter girl comes
to the table, and, in spite of the notion pre-
yailing in the minds of old women that girls
must not be too forward with strangers, she
addresses some one of the group for about a
minute so rapidly that even a Frenchman
would, like Moses, say he " was slow OF
speech" and then she disappears and in
five or ten minutes comes back with a large
waiter filed with dishes of various kinds Of
hash, which she places by the side of the
plate belonging to the man whom she had SO
famliarly questioned a short time b efore.
The number of these dishes varies according
to circumstances, but | noticed one of my
neighbors had eleren. Guest No. having
been provided for, the same process is re
peated with each of the others till all are
ready for work. The most provoking thing
abozt this long performance is the necessity
of waiting till all the good looking fellows
have been served, for girls show the same
respect for good looks in the dining room
that they do everywhere else. However,
hotels are not the worst places in the world
for the traveller to stop. Occasionally,
in wandering over the Western prairies,
night oTertakes you miles from any village
and you must be content with the accom-
modations to be had at the nearest house.
Sometimes 1t will be small, perhaps; having
only one room, which men, women and chill
dren must occupy. | have stopped in just
such house. but would like to be excused
from giving particulars. Once during the
night | was disturbed by the cry - Get
out Get out of that ~ but it proved to be
no serious or unusual occurrence, for the
dg which was one of our number, becom.
irg thirsty, was helping himself to milk, ant
called forth those sudden shouts from my
host
Now and then curious genius is to be
found in every profession. You have hearC
Of Lorenzo Dow, who distinguished himsel
by Lis extraordinary pulpit performances
On ere occasion member of his congrega
ton had stolen an ak, and not knowing tn,
guilty individual, he took this way OF fndin:
him cut: He carried a stone in the pulpi
and, holding it in bis hand, related the cir
cumsiances Of tie theft, and then raising th,
stone as though in the act of throwing it,
SAID " I he culprit is before and | au
going to throw this stone at him" As he
expected. the thief lodged his head behint
the pew, and in that way the lost ak wa
found. Lorenzo Dow has at the prescn
day at least or rival for pulpit honoTs.
few weeks ago l sat in church listening t.
a Methodist preacher of the old school
There was pause in his discourse, and look
ing intently for a moment to the back par
OF the house, the preacher called cut in start
ling tUnee, is there constable in th
house?' No response was heard, and h
volunteered to perform the sacred duties 0
preacher and constable at the same time
Starting iLto the aisle, lie called the name
bance. Now, boys, take your boots out o
this house and stay till am through preach
ing The boys, expecting, Il they disobey
cd orders, that the aforesaid constable e
ofcto would drag them out by the collar
quickly disappeared. while the preacbe
having to the best of his ability performe
his other duties, returned to the pulpit an
quoted from his text which he had so torci
bly, illustrated, 'And the wicked shall
driven OUT; then he continued his course q
though nothing unusual had happened. Th
congregation looked On in amazement, nc
knowing whether to laugh or cry, and th
next day not man could be found in th
village who knew whether to praise c
ctnsure the smart preacher. The matte
has been hushed up and will never be r
lated unless by some unprfneipled newsp
per correspondent who delights in having
little fun at the expense of other people.
One more scene in real life will suffice f
this time. Truth is stranger than fctio
a young lady in an Iowa town went to
store in the evening and purchased pair
shoes,-for even in Iowa girls wear shoes
the winter; as she started for home a pecu
liar fellow, who is forever watching for su
opportunities and never asks for favors whG
he can as well get them without, stepped u
to her side without leave or license, actual
went home with her and very kindly carri,
the new shoes in his overcoat pocket
the way home both parties naturally
c1me somewhat " excited and entirely ft
go: the shoes. After the usual parti
ceremonies the young man started AWAY, b
had not gone far when he was hailed by