River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-01-24
OUT AMONG THE CHANGERS.

MEssRs. EDITORS AS | took my de-
parture on the 14th inst. for Milwau-
kee and the State Grange, it was with
fervent anticipations of the most
pleasurable week of any in the twen-
ty-seven years of my abode in this
neighborhood; and the thought, as
the cars left Hudson at a quarter of
nine last Monday evening, that should
in a few hours be passing so swiftly
and comfortably over the wilderness
scenes of hardshipS and tolls of early
life, thirty years and more ago, out of
the fertile fields of st. Croix, into the
woods, down the valley of the Menom-
onie, and over the old, old Chip
and on, and on, down the Lemonweir
valley, past the Wisconsin Dalles and
to the Portage, was inexpressibly sol
emn and pleasant. At one point almost
within hailing distance of the abode
Of still surviving comrade, or the ST.
lent grave of another, here | imagined,
as we passed along, that | must be al
most over the identical spot, upon
which, wrapt in a AIackinaw upon
the solid earth spent night in the
solitary wilds, sleeping by fits and
starts as the fretful moan OF the
wolf or the hideous scream OF the
night bird, gave permission. Here
assisting in the last human offices for
him whose last supper was alcohol
whose last bed was snow; here again
nearing the repose of him who was too
frail to stem frontier exposure, far
from home and friends. their peace
full dust slumbers on.
And on again as we near the Dalles
and behold by moonlight the rocks and
rugged nights of this picturesque To-
cality, familiar to these eyes when
they were brighter. OH it tbrings
back the memory of the past like
swift shooting meteors. We again
remember the perils of the "Wiscons'
in high water, and how at several
times our course was SO near run that
the gaping, watery grave could lend
but one more minute, seemingly.
Again we remember when the waters
were low and not so dashing, that we
passed the Dalles in frail craft with
comrades leisurely examining every
secret nook and cavern in the sides
One of these side caverns was partic-
ularly pointed out as having been the
hiding place of the celebrated chief.
Black Hawk, just before his final cap
ture.
But let me turn to my purpose. The
State Grange which assembled at the
Newhall House, Milwaukee, on Tues
day, the 10th, was proba bly, the most
satisfactory and harmonious session
of this body ever held in the state.
Delegates generally showed a very
fair business opacity, and disposition
to come down to business at oncerather
than waste time in palaver. The Off
GERS reports, including that of Secre-
tary, Treasurer, Purchasing Agent and
Executive Committee, were received
with marked satisfaction by the
Grange. All bearing evidence of skill
full and frugal management and
through this management in connec-
ton with the energetic efforts If
Worthy Master Sherwin, there is nor ?
| gigor to-day in the order i'll Wiscon-
sin than ever before. The Grange is
clear of debt, and has money enough to
pay the expense of the session. Most
of the old officers were reelected. in.
/ GLIDING our most excellent Master, III.
| C. Sherwin. The delegates and visit.
ors at the Newhall House must have
numbered at least $50; yet there was
not single instance of intoxicatlon Oh
| disorderly behavior that came TO my
knowledge during the session. Two
/ important constitutional amendments
were ratified, and arrangements insti
tuted to have more lecturing Il future
for the benefit of languishing oranges.
OSBORN STRAHL.