The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-09-25
For The Cecil Wing
TO CHICAGO AND BACK.

1t was our good fortune recently to make
this trip over the Pennsylvania Central
railroad and Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne g.
Chicago. The route has been SO often
travelled that there is probably little new
about it to readers, but it is not every
passenger that has such company to start
with from Philadelphia; even large dele
CATION on the way to the Democratic State
Convention at Erie, Pa. We are not fas-
tidious in this respect, but if this is the
sort of material of which conventions are
made in Pennsylvania, we do not wish to
attend one.
Sunrise on the Juniata is as lovely as it
has been pictured, and the " Horse Shoe
Bend " should not be passed by night, if it
can be avoided. From Pittsburgh to Chi
cago by this route the scenery is neither
very grand nor striking, and is we'll calcu-
lated to make a Marylander feel inclined
to stay at home if he can. Our perennial
streams are not to be found everywhere
and we are not apt to rightly prize the
blessings that a kind Providence has Law
ished on our homes.
One of the first things that stranger
sees in this "Queen City is the grandeur
of her hotels, that are not excelled by any
in the world. One can hardly account for
this at first but when we see that this city
is the center at which some twenty eight
railroads terminate, drawing the trade of
half = continent, we can realize where the
people come from to people them all.
In the Grand Pacific we met friends in
waiting to welcome us, and found luxuri-
Gus accommodations. The dust of travel
removed, the Exposition Building was
sought, where thousands were at work
getting their wares, goods and machinery
in order for exhibition. At one end of this
building, which would enclose all the bust
ness portion of Elkton on Main street, and
leave road to drive around inside its
walls, were tables for the display of the
! fruits of the continent. But here the ideas
of the Chicagoans were too small, for all
| the stands that had been erected were soon
occupied, and new ones had to be erected,
aud several large lots that were late in
arriving could not find space.
At the extreme southern end was the
green house, filled with such plants as the
florists of the city could turn out, and this
was the only part that seemed lacking what
an older city might show. A large tank
and miniature fish way were to be seen to
illustrate pisciculture and their passage
over mill dams in our waters.
The show cases of merchants and manu-
facturers filled the main part of the center
of the building, and machinery in motion
and agricultural implements the other end.
The meetings of the American Pomo-
logical Society were held in the " Ladies'
Ordinary" one of the rooms of the Grand
! Pacific, and commenced on Wednesday
morning, Sth inst. There were some three
hundred members and delegates in attend
ance. representing all parts of our land,
from Nova Scotia to Florida and the Pacific
coast. Marshall P. Wilder, the venerable
President of the Society, now in his seventy
seventh year, and who has presided over
it's meetings for 81 years, was in his
place and read his address in a clear strong
voice. This was very able paper, review
ing the progress of fruit culture in the past
and showing what has been done for the
millions that are to follow us by original
ing and disseminating fruits adapted to all
soils and chimes in our widely extended
country.
Sessions of the meeting were held, two
on Wednesday, three on Thursday and one
Oh Friday. Many valuable papers were
prepared by those that had been invited to
do So on several leading topics connected
with the growth Of fruit, but time did not
admit of their all being read but they will
be published with the proceedings and sent
to the members. Prof. G. V. Riley, of
Missouri, gave short, but very interest
ing lecture on the canker worm and the
gIasshopper, illustrated by drawings of the
insects. He entirely sets at rest any fears
that may be entertained of the grasshopper
plague extending beyond the Mississippi
Valley in this direction.
On Friday morning the subject of the
next meeting came up.
An invitation to visit the South Park
having been extended to the Society and
accepted, at p. NJ. the members to the
number of one hundred and forty entered
thirty five carriages and were driven about
ten miles through grand boulevards lined
H. Il
grass sod where two years ago it was wild
prairie. This park contains eleven hun
dred acres, and the city has two others,
one of nine hundred and one of five hun
dred acres in extent. The wind the night
before had been blowing small hurricane,
and there had been much damage to ship
ping on the lake, and the waves were still
running like old ocean, and stiff cool
breeze blowing that marred the pleasure of
the ride slightly. The members returned
about $50 p. NJ. and prepared to enjoy the
banquet that was prepared for them by
the Illinois State Horticultural Society.
From the many good things that were
said on the occasion we select the following
poem entitled the "Granger's Welcome, :"
read by Prof. Rodney WEIGH:
"Wise men from the east" we welcome
you here,
To our plain backwoods banquet, our rough
western cheer;
Though we've few Boston nick hacks to
grace our rough boards,
We have piled on the best this poor shanty
affords.
Our food is corn dodger and flesh of the
swine,
Our champagne's made of corn; of barley
our wine.
We ride in farm wagons, we sleep on
! "shuck - beds,
And your Boston made hats are too small
for our heads.
!. We are out on the border, and do not
purpose
To match you in living or wearing store
clothes,