Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-05-30
FRIDAY MORNING.


ohi'iif -AiSA-f -'A'J -
To the Editor OF the Free Press and Times
la this season of blossoms and newborn
foliage. it is pleasant to be in part OF the
country where forests as well a. orchards
abound. Michigan is beautiful State
how changed in forty-iive years Then an
unbroken wilderness, her only railroad was
the long corduroy bridges that spanned her
dismal swamps, and her few poverty strick-
en- inhabitants were Tie cOmmi>crated sub
jects Of ague and fever from which almost
nobody claimed exemption. Now she is a
powerful, populOu+. wealthy State, inter
communication that uniteS her towns and
keeps in perpetual mOtiJa all the vast re-
sources of her forests, her farms and her
manufactures.
Having spent week Il, Mason, the shire
town Of Ingham Che capital county Of the
S;ate). We came yesterday round by way Of
Lansing to this seat of leaning, which was
planted here in the forest by some OF the
early adyenturers from New England, and
which il now in the mid.l Of blooming
agricultural district thriving college,
doing the work of our bc,l New England
schools, without their prestige and rich er-
jowment, but with all their l,yalty to souLj
ness in learning and fidelity to the faith Of
the fathers Rev. DR.. Battlefield, The pres
versity, and brings to his work as teacher
and executive officer the best culture of that
ancient college Res DIR. II NJ. Goodwin,
at whose house am guest. IND who was
my pastor for 20 years in Rockbrd, Illinois,
graduate Of Yale and DISCIPLE OF DR..
Horace Bushnell, adOIns the char oi Eng
lish literature, and the other OfIers of the
college are the products Of New England
Colleges and distinguished IN their several
departments The school Is doing good
work for the yOuth Of Michigan Of both sexes
and is proving the correctness of the recent
ly discovered idea, tina. 60 ejlcation of the
sexes is no less practicable, safe aud desra-
bic in our highest thar in our lower schools.
On our way here ", spent several hours
at Lansing, and saw tle new State caritol in
which the Legislature Is now for
the first time holding session. The
building, in the style of its architecture
initiates the National e,p!tal, and in all its
externala and internal appointments is a. taste
full and appropriate, bu less expensive and
more in keeping with the purposes Of a
State house. From its lofty dome the city
of Lansing is all seen birds eye view,
As is also its forest suburbs which form one
Of the most beautiful landscapes anywhere to
be seen. The wide streets OF the city, lined
with beautiful naples AMI elms. are all laid
out at right angles, and With the good taste
displayed in all the public and private
buildings Of the town they form panorama
which seen from the DOM Of the capital is
grand and beautiful. Nj errand to Mich-
gan was to visit the children Of my eldest
deceased brother, JoseIh l. Huntington,
who came to this State poor man with an
increasing family of young children some IL
years ago.
Threading an Indian trail. from Ann
Arbor, through the then unbroken forests
and uDbridged swamrs, he settled 10 the
valley Of Grand RiVer, near what is now the
city Of Eaton Rapids, where he built log
cabin, cleared farm and reared family of
nine children, eight Of whom survive their
parents. who died at advanced age few
years ago. In the history and present status
of nv brothers family is seen the discipline
and the stern logic that las given character
to large proportion Of tle generation that
now inhabit this Stats. The children Of
those early pioneers wee educated in the
school OF hardship, rivation and toll,
with few of the advantages for culture now
and with no leisure for
mental improvement And yet they
came up men ard women Of char
actar, of business capacity, and of
moral worth, and many Of them occupy high
social positions, surrounded with compe-
tence and comfort, and take the lead in all
the affairs of town, county and State On our
way from Mason to Oli1it we were accom-
panied as far as Lansing by the Oldest son
Of the family. {. d. Huntington,
who is one OF the solid men
Of Mason, and also by a younger broth
or. Hon. Geo. NJ. Huntington, who
holds enviable rank among the district
Judges of the State. This was the termina-
ion of one Of the pleasantest episodes of our
Quincy, made 50 by untiring devotion on the
part of all the children and grandchildren of
ny brother to intensity the happiness of
heir uncle and aunt, who EXPECT never to
eturn from their far off home on Puget
sound to renew the visit
L. A. HUNTINGTON.