Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-03
A Trip w est.
From the Iron Era.


EDITOR IRON ERA :-Greeley,
whose name stands first in the rank of
philosophers and philanthopists of the
nineteenth century, would have immor-
talized himself had he never uttered
other words than these "Young man.
go West but without the hope of i'm
mortalization [ hereby extend an invi-
tatlon to yonr patrons to make a short
tour to the West over the Era and the
Penn. Central r. r.
Our tickets are purchased just as the
800 A. M. train rolls majestically up
to the platform. We climb heroically
into the back car. and triumphantly
settle ourselves and bundles, while the
iron horse snorts and pufs, impatient
of delay, and amidst the bright sun
| shine, and toot toot Of the mattlesome
steed, we are borne away from our
friends and--baggage. Here is a
dilemma. One does not like to travel
in pieces. The expedient of having it
expressed to it's destination is denied
us. Nexed at our negligence, yet anx-
ious for the welfare of our worldly
goods we seriously contemplate a re-
turn to the scene of our forgetfulness,
taking new departure. We have
but one other refuge---that accommo-
dating MANTLE Conductor. He comes,
and with the folorn hope that he may
have panacea for all such ills, we tell
him of the dark cloud which at this
early stage of our journey has dark
ened the horizon of our happiness
Nor are we disappointed, promptly at
the first station he telegraphs back,
and at Hackettstown we receive the
gratifying intelligence that reunion
will be effected at Washington. There
all our hopes are centered for the time,
and 1T Is not without some farther
trouble that matters are thoroughly
righted. All honor then to the un-
known conductor. Job was not the
only patient man who ever existed.
Friends go West if you will, start on
the 9 80 A. NJ. train if you can, but
check your baggage.
The present system of Union depots
existing IN many of our large cities
and railway centres, contributes greatly
to the comfort Of the traveller, and
the re-checking of baggage is only a
little diversion, relieving the monotony
of waiting.
The Delaware at Easton shows onlv
by its swollen and discolorcd surface
the fury and threatenings it had indul-
ged IN only few hours since, but one
needs no vivid powers of imagination
to fancy that the scattered blocks of ice
that foat quietly on the surface. but
tor Divine interference. might have for
It's companion voyager, some luckless
jifeless form of humanity.
After leaving Easton we quickly
thread our way for some distance along
the low banks of the Lehigh, whose
calmness seems but assumed as we re-
member the destruction and death it
has dealt out in the past to many of
It's votaries.
The early spring time is very unfav-
orable for travelling, especially for those
who wish to combine pleasure with bus
iness. Nature is robbed of everything
that tends to beautify Winter de
throned and respondent, passes reluct-
antly out from the late scene of his
glory, trailing his pure white garments
in the dingy brown mud that ushers
IN the Spring, and we sigh over his in
glorious departure, even while we hail
his successor with acclamations of Joy.
At Reading we are quite pleased
with the covered walks and bridges
around the depot, whose architecture
carries one back in'imagination to the
picture of Chinese Pagodas, as repre-
sented in some juvenile textbook, and
dispe!s the unfavorable opinion we
may have formed while passing through
the suburbs of the city. Judging
from dimensions of their houses.
buiiI.-g lots must be at fine pre-
MUM, SO they build mostly heaven
ward.
From Easton to Harrisburg the sur
face of the country is undulating. and
must contain some fine farms, and one
cannot help noticing the many fine
barns that look vastly palace like be
side the poor little farm houses. both
i of which, however, are built down In