Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1875-08-26
ALBERT LEA.

Professional business, and labor IN the
Educational field, brought us into init
mate relationship with the principal citi-
zcns Of Albert Lea at an early date in its
history, and VIC have watched the growth
Of the Village, the development Of Its re-
sources, and the career Of its more promi-
nent men, with al interest not altogether
casual, and with degree of satisfaction
rarely experienced by contemplating the
prosperity Of those to whom We are bound
by tic no stronger than that of ordinary
acquaintance. Within the last few years,
the village has doubled in size and popu-
lation, while the intelligence and the
wealth OF its citizens have increased in a
much greater proportion. Last week we
took our family, and-dctermined on hav-
ing little recreation and a visit with old
friends: started for Albert Lea. Prof G.
W. Levins, Principal of the Public Schools,
and his bettcr.half having been our pupils,
and schoolmates of our wife in years that
are gone, opened to US the doors Of their
hospltablc aud beautiful home, on PENN
sula near one Of those charming lakes for
which the village is celebrated. Then we
were lat homc," and throwing off re-
straints, we talked and walked and hunted
and rowed,-(t was our part to steerD ate
baked ducks and water melon, ct cetera.
Our appetite for these things temporarily
satiatcd, we drove and shook hands and
chatted with the whilom friends against
whom we jostled on every street corner.
There is no limit to the sociability Of AL
bert Lea people. Even stranger cannot
pass day among them without feeling
that he IS with his friends, 80 elaborate
the attention and so uniform the courtesy
which they extend, and this applies
alike to persons in private life and to
those in discharge of official duties. This
social feature OF the people We are some
times led to attribute to the exquisite har-
mony and beauty Of their surroundings.
Land and water are nowhere else spread
out in proportions so natural, nor in form
50 attractive. The lakes, with their varie.
ty Of Aquatic fowls, and the countless
number Of their inny tribes, seem liquid
bliss provided not more for the enjoyment
of animal life than for the delight of the
intellectual and the qualification Of the
moral being, while the intersecting PENN.
sulas with their grassy slopes and wooded
crests,-thcir wales and promontories,-
their undulating and mcandering outlines
present landscape view Of unequaled
beauty, and furnish sites for some Of the
prettiest homes that we have ever seen.
Does not this harmony of nature and this
adaptation to human wants which is so
perfect and so manifest, tend, almost in
evitably, to produce among the inhabitants
an enlightened AID happy social condi-
tione To US this is as convincing as any
mathematical demonstration, and it is
susceptible Of proof no less cogent and
satisfactory. Other circumstances con-
spire to perfect the analogy, and to height
en- the effect no doubt, but it is neverthe-
less true that the beautiful, in inanimate
nature exerts an unconscious influence
upon the formation Of human character
bringing it into conformity to that uriver-
sal law, by which "likc bcgets like' in all
the Kingdoms of the earth. The intelli-
gence ofthesc people grades above the av-
erage in villages Of the same size, while the
culture and refinement, everywhere appar-
ent seem rather to be natural graces, so
generally do they characterize the whole
population. Being the center of an adj
mirable farming country, this place en-
joys thriving business, and is building
up schools and churches-those great civil
lizers, and enlightencrs upon which a re-
public depends for the maintenance of its
government and the prosperity of its insti-
tutions. Bcnisons be upon the beautiful
Pcninsular city.