The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-08-28
IMPRESSIONS OF CIauCAGO

4SAk~A4HzS<9ANDtNS DE G8AACA&1O
CHICAGO, Aug. "a, 1874.
Two or three of my old Lyon
acquaintance have been here
and we discussed the re-
features of the city.
Most visitors are disappointed in
many things they see and surprised
at others. For my part, expected
to see longer streets of big blocks.
and less of the cheap frames. The
magnificent portion of the city does
not cover so much space as had
counted on, while the length and
breadth OF the avenues, by-stree.s
and snburbs still confound me.
Leave the lake at the mouth of
the Chicago river and go west eight
or nine blocks and you come to the
forks of tue river-the "NOrth
Branch" turning abruptly north,
and the "South Branch" bending as
sharply in the opposite direction,
quite at right angles. The pride of
the city centers between the lake
and the Soath Branch, south of the
river. and is called the "S0uth Side. +"
About eight blocks square are COW
cred by buildings that are unsnr-
passed in costliness and elegance
anywhere. Magnificent buildings
churches, blocks and factories
are scattered about throughout the
city, with here and there an aristo-
cratic avenue, or high-ton ed resi-
dence precinct. But the great
breadth of the city consists of mass
ed wooden stores and dwellings,
constituting streets apparently we'll
nigh endless, and leaving very little
ground that is not built upon. The
distinction between the diffeIent
classes of people is as marked as is
that of the buildings.
The analysis of Chicago is easiest
made by resolving it into belts or
circles. Take the rebuilt marble
front South Side for the heart or
center, and no comparison would be
too extravagant to describe its beau.
ty. Next comes s wide belt or halt
belt, extending from the lake north
until it intersects again with the
lake south of the center. This belt
is as mean and revolving to look up.
on as the center is grand aud I'M.
posing, except that portion OH the
north side that was burned and has
been partially replaced by better
buildings and people. For many
blocks hack vice has her most fire.
quent haunts. Saloons, brothels
and dens are the rule, and it is as.
tonishing how the thousands who
inhabit this belt survive at all.
The next outlying belt is compos
ed mostly of residences of mechan
les and laboring people, with lib
eral interspersiOn of small businesl
houses. Outside of this come the
more costly homes of business and
professional people.
Around this all extend the grand
chain of public parks in course Of
completion by the city. The mos
noted of these at present, because
the nearest completed, is Lincoln
park, in the northern part of Chica.
go, bordering on lake Michigan. A
large breadth of the ground con.
templated in the plan of this park il
yet unimproved, but enough has
been perfected TO afford ample room
for all who gather there. Satnr.
days aud Sundays are the principal
days, made more prominent by the
presence on those days of q splendid
brass band supplied by funds con.
tributed by the citizens who live on
the north aide. Thousands of PEG.
pie, old and young, rich and poor,
throng the park on those days. And
well they may do so. Everything
that artistic taste, backed by vast
sums of money, could do to render
these grounds attractive has been
done. Beautiful artificial hills, (the
only kind of hills there are near
Chicago), clear, pebble-bottomed
lakes skirted by groves, with here
and there little openings filled with
choice plants and flowers, and a
very creditable menagerie of beasts
and birds afford food enough for
any ordinary curiosity of mind.
And if these s"e insufficient the
grand old lake Michigan that rolls
her white waves against the entire
front of the long Park, always dis.
playing numbers of vessels and
chips, while the soft cool breezes
fill the lungs and invigorate the
body, fills up the measure.
But taken altogether Lyon coun-
ty people have no cause for wishing
to exchange their homes for homes
III Chicago. There is much more
bad than good here; great deal
more of the artificial than of reali-
ty. Above all, there is little moral
ity in this city. Sundays are a
mockery-clatter and hustle and
frolic and carousaI. Bands are ont,
professions march, saloons of all
kinds are crowded, and the streets
groau with drunken men and woms.
Ell. The social atmosphere of Chi
cage is we'll calculated TO smother
all love for piety, sObriety and NOR
al refinement generally. One must
become familiar with profanity, in
fidelity and Sabbath-breakipg. OF
course there are some bright spots
some worthy people and many noble
institutions, but you have to 60