Litchfield enquirer., 1876-05-25
LYONS, Iowa, May 1st, 1876

 upon us like pail for weeks, was at length raised but not without a mighty struggle. The clements drew on the ''artillery of heaven" and for eight hours it thundered and frightened and rained as have seldom seen or heard before for as long stretch. The previous rains had resolved the soil into kind of mush, and was SO soaked that little was al sorbed and mill.dams, roads and bridges suffered all over the state. For number of days the trains west from. Davenport were blocked by mud sliding down npon the track from either side through deep cut, as fast as it could be removed. When it first com nenced one engine and train "shot through it, ," and came out badly soiled.
 If you attend the Centennial yon will have an opportunity to see some Iowa soIl Specimens taken from 35 counties. six feet deep, enclosed in glass cases with ,areely stone to be seen, will no doubt interest some of your "down east" farmers who live on .farmes cut up into fseAscre lots surreu1ded by high stone walls to get rid of the stone ou top of the ground. wbi ,h might be dup'lcated by go- ing down a foot or so. I heard a s'ory ton years ago in this connection that per haps is worth preserving, to wit:-That many years ago, when the old stage route from Hartford to Poughkeepsie ran through Litchfeld and Warren, a jolly set of the legal fraternity occupied the stage, and made thems Ives merry Gas lawyers sometimes can) with the exception of a single occupant in one corner of the stage wrapped up in his snrtont who seemed to take no interest in their conversation, and all efforts to draw him out proved unavail- ing. At length after ioltiug over the rocks in Hard Scrabble for time he stretched hls neck out and inquired where they got the stone to build all those large stone walls. Tie old judge little piqued at his previous failures replied that they were imported from Hindoostan. The stranger appeared satisfied, but the judge wasn't, and finally inquired of him why he asked 50 strang question. 'You sec, ," says the judge, "plenty of stone lying all around loose" "Yes," says the stranger, "thats the trouble, / don't naiss a,ey o,ay- sOhere." r g. " .
 It was reported that Iowa had been crowded out of the main exposition build ing, but it:proves to be mistake. Our Legislature voted 1920. 600, to aid in the Big Show, and, some weeks ago, it was stated that over 7O,C0O lbs of freight had gone forward, and there was every indica- showing r..a.- .-.--,..
 Mrs. 0. B. Murrei, of Anamosa, widow of clergyman, has been appointed and ac- cepted the position of chaplain and teach. CT of the State Penetentiary at that place, the first instance of the kind on record.
 During the late storm above mentioned aboard was blown off from barn and pass- cd enterely through the side of house and the foot-board of bed. striking a sleeper on his cheek, and cutting an ugly wound three inches long.
 Jesse, Long a noted Iowa Cattle dealer, committed suicide, recently, leaving an estate of $150,O0O. His family consisted of wife and an adopted daughter who had taken his name and was regard as entitled to all the privileges of an own child, but he left no will and on applica- tion to the court for distribution of the property, it was denied, and she was left penniless so far as the law could help her. This is an important decision if sustain by the higher Courts. Another farmer in an adjoining county sold farm and went and hanged himself because he had not asked enough for it in the first place like the Jew who asked customer two prices for coat, expecting to be beaten down one half, but sold it at the first bid and lamented forever after that he had not asked more.
 Fifteen thousand Land Locked salmon from Brockport, Maine, have just been put into Geneve Lake Chicago summer resort.) It is said to be the only place in the world where salmon are found in fresh water. They were obtained from the general government and would be 6 valuable acquisition to your beautiful Lakes in Litchield county. A. B.