The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-08-17

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SATURDAY J. AUGUST IT.
From an Oceasloaal CorrespandeRtf
Westward Ho!"

CHICAGO, IL, July 10, 1878
To Tie Editor ofhe Pacific Commercial Advertiser
Il was a clear July day-no. too hot or too cold,
but one Of those delightful days when the pure azure
forms the great dome above Us, and resting midway
between the horizon and the mighty vault were
banks Of feecy clouds when all nature vas rejoic-
ing in its prime, and the gentle winds caused the
boughs Of every tree TO rise and fall in softest muir
murs, and every leaf to laugh with . merry, pleas
ing cadence-a day when the northern breezes
swept across Lake Erie. here and there tossing its
waters into tiny . white caps and reaching the
traveller as he stood at the depot, famed his cheek
with its refreshing draught and caused the blood to
glow and his spirits 10 bound in the bright a~nticipa-
tons Of the journey before him. Such was the day
as We stood at the Union Depot in Cleveland, with
baggage in hand, waiting for the time TO arrive for
the departure Of the west bound train by the c. c.
c. and l. Road.
We had not long to wait. All was hustle and
hurry and haste. With tickets secured and trunk
checked as far as ST. Louis, We took our seat, and
soon the iron horse began to move, taking with it its
coaches of human freight. As we stood on the plat
form, soon we espied a friend and felloW-traveler
going as far as Indianapolis. So here was jolly COM
pauy. A short time suficed to carry US from the
din and hustle of the city, and soon We were rushing
along through the rich farms on either side. AS
ours was TO be a long ride, we began to look about
US to see whom we had for companions in our coach.
There were none very elegant nor any very hand
some. The coach We were in was not oyer-burdened
or crowded. On the opposite side, and q little back
of US, sat two young ladies in neat linen buster suits,
but as their backs were turned towards US we could
not see who they were or what their charms, which
so attracted the attention of a young man with an
old blue suit and a military cap, but an armless
sleeve on his left side. Thew were evidently strang-
ers to each other, but the yoElg man was "smitten."
Beyond these sat a Germac Jew group, consisting Of
father and mother, q promising daughter and an
affectionate aunt-a tyrant, a slave and drudge and
her sympathisers. Again and again the poor woman
passed and repassed US, always going to the water
cooler. Soon the strong odor of whisky pervaded
the coach, and the man was freely imbibing. Not
content with one bottle or flask, but his two quart
bottles were both freely patronized. He rolled and
tumbled in his seat like an overfed hog-a poor, be-
sotted specimen of humanity-a perfect beast. The
appearance of the party betokened the command of
wealth ; but, oh, what a picture of woe and misery
to contemplate Who can foretell its future with
out a shudder, or who would wish to accept such a
condition? And yet we SANDER and condemn the
noble temperance reformers. The sight was too
much for the two young ladies, and getting up, they
came and occupied a seat just in front of my COM
panion and myself. 1t was not long before our
mllltary-appeaflnR Irlenu joined tneMs out nau care
fully slipped on a white cotton glove while they were
changing their seats. He went to the adjoining seat
in front of them, and greatly amused us by his
efforts to enlist the attention of the ladies. They
saw through it all, and were highly entertained, yet
could not help themselves. He grew bold, and
finally asked the younger one, to whom he was evil
IDENTIFY more strongly attracted, if he should not
reverse his seat, and if she would not like it. 1t was
readily accepted, with a pleasant Sc Thank you,''
and no sooner said than done; and the young miss,
who had evidently travelled far, reached for her
shawl bundle, and placing it for a pillow, quietly and
deliberately laid herself down to rest. He had stood
waiting for an invitation to occupy the seat with
her, but this was too much for his aspirations, and
giving one wild, reproving glance, he turned on his
heel and dashed into the next coach, snatching with
his teeth the white glove from his hand. So much
for love on a railway train" At one point a
n~ewly-married couple arrived at the depot just in
time to reach the train and have the loving husband
pile the bandboxes with tenderest care into the coach
and take their seat, when the shrill whistle was heard
and off we we're again-no time for q ticket to be
purchased, but the fare must be paid on the train.
There had evidently been too much rushing for the
blooming bride. "Oh, John, l hope we won't al
ways have TO rush through life like this !" But life
is all a chase, and he who would win must run but
many of US only too late discover that we have been
chasing q t will-o'-the-wisp.
The crops never could have looked more promising.
In Lorain and Huron counties much of the wheat
has been badly lowered by the storms, and partly by
its own weight, but no special damage is anticipated
unless wet weather should continue. The oat crop
is looking finely, and has great promise. Logan
county crops present the finest appearance. All
stand erect, and the wheat and earlier crops just
ready to be harvested. Although hay harvest seems
to have little done, and much remains yet uncut,
never could the grain present a finer appearance
than through the level county of Logan
Before passing on, l should say a word for " mine
host . at the Depot Hotel in Bellefontaine. We halt
ed here on call of 81 fifteen minutes for supper" and
a right royal supper it was-worthy " to set before
king" Not only was there a large variety, but q
large quantity, and while all the surroundings and
accomplishments were the neatest and the cleanest,
everything was cooked IN such perfection that no
croaking was needed, and a connoisseur in the Gull
nary art would have been delighted-and all for the
modest sum of so cents. By the by, 1t has often oc-
Cured to me to ask why hotels, &C., still so often
retain their enormous rates and prices when proyi-
sions of all kinds are now SO very cheap. 1t is an
imposition on the travelling public that they are
compelled to submit to such injustice.
One cannot but be struck with the excellent ap-
pearance of the roads in this county, which speaks
well for its Commissioners. Sydney, Shelby's
county seat, is a model Of neatness and thrift no
dilapidated houses, barns with roofs hanging at one
corner, or fences in distress. 1t is evident a spirit
of thrift and enterprise is prevalent here.
Night had now fairly set in, and as the soft mantle
of darkness settled around US we amused ourselves
by watching the countless myriads of hre-fies dane
ing hither and thither with their tiny light, forcibly
carrying US back to a night in the Bay of Manzanilla,
when each dip of the oar revealed a phosphorescent
splendor rarely exceeded elsewhere.
We reached indianapolis at II pm, and here my
friend and 1 separated, L promising to stay over and
spend a day or two with him on my return. AS soon
as the baggage was attended to and the exchange of
engines made, we were off again.
When we wakened in the morning we found our
selves speeding through the level lands of Illinois,
and Indiana far behind. 1t was q soft, clear morn
ing, and q bright sun rose almost behind US. On the
north was q haZy horizon, while to the south hung
banks of feecy clouds, and far as the eye could take
in the scene, on either side, was one level tract. We
who are penned up, even in our most beautiful cities,
no idea of the grand expause of this continent
till we traverse its far-stretched prairies, and even
then the mind cannot grasp its magnitude or realize
its productive capabilities. The soil is a black clay
loam-rich, indeed, as its productions attest. The
country is well developed and fully settled along the
of railroad. A great deal of the wheat is cut
and shocked, ready for thTeshing. Some had al
ready been threshed, and the straw set fire to in
one huge heap and consumed.
The harvest is very abundant, and if anything can
be complained Of at all it is its superabundance The
Did split-rail fences are rarely met with along the
I'll