The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-11-06
Way Side Notes.
Sr. PAUL, MINI. Sept. 20, Is

early on The 18th inst The day was remark
. bly, raw aud chilly; and The cold, combine
with occasional drilling rains was suiiicien
to cause any person TO regard a warm over
coat with feelings of peculiar conIentmeu
) and gratitude. My stay in Chicago wa
short. only remained there long enough L
secure transportation and a sufficient amour
of filthy lucre" to enable me to perform IN,
Ijourny with a toIerable degree of comfort.
1t was my original intention to travel OF
the picturesque line of the Chicago, Milwau
kee & St Paul II. K, but being presented
with pass on the c. IL n. w. r. L. by on
generous Uncle Samuel left on the latte
road. What a wonderful combination .
great railway lines is embraced under thu
name of Chicago and Northwestern, 4
person can 60 to Omaha, to Milwaukee, tc
Green Bay, to ST. Paul, or almost anywhere
else by way Of the c. & n. W. Ia fact, if he
were inclined to 60 10 the Internal Region,
itself, this comprehensive thOroughiare could
doubtless take HIM there also. This is rem
dered all the more probable from the fact
tlat there have been several accidents on this
road OF late, each of which was calculated to
make any ordinary sinner reform, or travel
on some other route.
The scenery on this road is generally unln-
terestlng, and it appeared still more unloyely
on account OF the lowering clouds, and occa.
sionsl showers which sent patering ram.
drops to play Il devils tattoo on the car
windows. However, the monotoRous scenery
is occasionally broken by some very pretty
bluffs Near station known by the rather
odd name of Camp Douglass, there are some
remarkably picturesque rocks which resem.
BILE Starved Rock in striking degree. If
the latter was not quite so high but about
four times as long, il would be almost an eX-
act counterpart of these cliffs. These rocks
are of sandstone and were evidently worn
away by the action OF water, but there seems
o be no steram visible at present
OF the condition OF the crops IN Wisconsin,
am unable TO give an opinion. If the tar
mers of that state have any fine farms, they
are evidently careful to keep them out of
sight Of the railroads. for u traveller is there
unable tc discover any Of those rich looking
farms or elegant iarm-hOuses which are com.
mon in Illinois. There are, however, magni
ficent crops of weeds on each side OF the
tracking weeds, rank weeds, stunted
weeds, Independent looking weeds growing
alone, and more democratic weeds growing
in patches-wetds everywhere. In fact, if
traveller were 70 give an answer, from his own
observation, to the old stereotyped school
question, "What are the principal products
of Wisconsin, he would unhesitatisgly an
swer, weeds" \ person travelling through
Wisconsin cannot fall to observe the immense
number Of dead trees which disfigure the
landscape throughout that state. These
are either girdled or charred. and stand as
melancholy monuments to the idiocy of their
destroyeIs.
had my first view of the mobile red
at a small station somewhere between Camp
Douglas and Eau Claire. Two Indians came
on the train, paid Their fare, behaved in
quiet manner and could only be distinguish
ed from the more civilized pale-faces by their
Enthusiastically aboriginal features, and the
strange combination of red blankets with
their otherwise civilized apparel. | am not
an enthusiastic believer in the idea that the
Indians are capable OF high civilizations but
do not hesitate TO say that either of these
redskins could tedch slch high-mlnded and
intelligent American citizens AS "Red Bird"
or johnny the Giant
person can find all sorts OF people travel
ing on railway train. IL is not only. inter
esting to observe the different nationalities,
bat it is amusing TO note the various shades
of character depicted on different faces.
Moreover the kind of people varies with the
different cars. y sleepingcar generally con
tains quiet and well behaved set OF passen.
gers, while a smokingcar is frequently a
bummers paradise. Wishing 10 enjoy the
soothing comfort which good cigar can only
give, sauntered into the smoking car. There
were in this car sundry individuals in vari-
Gus stages of inebriation, and delightful set
of rowdles enjoying game of pedro" while
there were few people whose expression of
satisfaction with the aroma of their cigars,
was Enthusiastically mixed with disgust at the
disagreeable company which their love of the
deadly nicotine" had thrust them into
However, II was endurable until drunken
lout pulled OIL his shoes displaying pair of
socks which had evidently last been washed
about the close of the Mexican war; then not
wishing To endure "All the odors of Araby
the blest, | threw away my cigar and wan
dered back to car which, though free from
smoke, had all the merits of decency
There isa great Swedish population in Wis.
consin, These Swedes are said To be honest,
industrious and moral people. Butthey have
brought with them those habits of severe and
seltdenying economy which were absolutely
necessary in Sweden. / am informed that the
men work steadily from early dawn ill dark
ness puts al end to their daily labor; and the
women assist in the teamwork, not only by
driving reapers, but in husking corn, and ev-
en- plowing-a good way 10 get rich, no doubt.
but we may well despair of ever seeing gentle
and refined ladies comirg from this class of
people.
We crossed the St. Croix river at Hudson,
and entered Minnesota. The difference be
tween the state we entered was perceptibe at
Ia glance. The farms looked better and the
villages seemed more clearly than those of
Wisconsin. Quite late in the afternoon We