The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-07-09
SABLE PRAIRIE,
nny X1r,14 TrV9g ~ 1N-

ED. JOURNAL: Western letters
seem to be so fashionable that you,
of course, want some and perhaps
would like them as well from yerit-
able travellers as those that are ''All
our fancy painted them"
| am making short stay here,
how short, it is hard to tell; pro-
badly long enough to finish this let
ter and having used my eyes and a
spyglass for the last half hour am
prepared to describe the country, its
society, customs, prospects, educa-
tional advantages, mineral and manu-
featuring resources, etc.
The buildings here are mostly of
wood, q cannot tell you where the
wood comes from; possibly northern
Pennsylvania with fat roofs project
ing very little beyond the walls, pro-
badly to give less purchase to the
winds. But here and there is Goth
ic cottage. One, a small brown one
with its pointed roof and projecting
gables, stands just across an alley
from my chamber window. 1t was
lightly closed, but awhile ago some
men came, opened one of the upper
blinds and began to pitch hay in it
from a wagon. | can't imagine
where the hay came from After
wards they opened the lower part of
the cottage and drew thence carri-
age and basket-phaeton.
The yard across the way is full Of
trees, willows, aspens aud silver
naples. There are tioYers, great
many roses in the yards. and wild
roses, the single ones, along theroad-
sides where in many places they are
the only green thing. \ patch of
clover here and there sends up its
homelike fragrance, making one
think of all quiet domestic joys as
does the singing Of tea kettle.
There are many trees, shady walks
Of hard sand and sunny walks Of soft,
fine sand, but the shaded ones are
preferable, almost constantly a strong
breeze and a wide expanse of beauti-
ful cloudless sky. Yesterday party
Of us went down to see the lighthouse,
for we have lighthouse even here,
with a flight of one hundred and
thirty-seyen steps up the tower.
From here a deer or an antelope
might be seen at a great distance if
one were there. The young ladies
Of course, wanted to go up and enjoy
the view from the top, but for some
reason or other the keeper was not in
a very complaisant mood and object
ed. "'The machinery had just been
oiled, it was dirty up there, the
ladies would soil their dresses" As
this did not seem sufficient he said
'the wind is so strong to-day it is
not safe.n "Ah!n said Judge W.,
"yes, can you not see the building
swaying in the wind?" mal1in5 the
motion with his hand, "and perhaps
we had better not stand so near, it
might topple over on to you in this
wind"
Then turning to the keeper who
was looking at him with some irrita-
ton i'll his face, he asked with great
apparent interest. "How much do
you think it moves sometimes in
these strong gales?"
"a quarter Of an inch, perhaps"
said the keeper, impatiently and the
judge turned away, leaving the ladies
to make what progress they wished
up the winding stairway.
Going fishing is great pastime
here as in Potter County but we do
not see the substantial results, that
we do there. Fish are plenty on the
table but are mostly obtained from
professional operators. l cannot
think what the amateurs do with
theirs.
A party of equestrians passed the
other evening-three ladies and a
gentleman-they and their four horses