The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-08-08
HOME INTERESTS.
Edna Rusticating in Michigan.

DEAR HOME FRIENDS: Although at this
moment so far away from the city of my adop
ton, only little more than a week has elapsed
since bid home and friends adieu for sojourn
of few weeks among the rural districts. The
steamer upon which we sailed left Chicago at
o'clock In the evening, just the time to enjoy
ride upon the water. Some few of the passen-
gers remained in the cabin, while the majority
of us preferred the deck. So much to be seen,
and only few hours in which TO see.
First the sunset, with nothing TO obstruct
the view. At one minute the whole western
sky seemed all ablaze, and then, with pano-
ramic beauty and grandeur, faded until might
threw her sable mantle DER the earth and
pinned it with star" / watched with I'M
bounded interest the broad expanse of water
beneath and beyond US, on every side, each
little ripple forming cascade, each of these
wave, which rapidly increased, until in time
they washed the shores we had 80 recently left.
The shades of the water varied in number
less casts of green, from the delicate tint of
the mermaid's garb to the dark, almost black,
shade. A sailing vessel to our left looked as
though drapcd IN the deepest habiliments OF
grief
The beacon on the serb" we could see for
many miles, What a blessing to tho travellers
OF the seas is the thoughtful one who first
introduced the lighthouse. As the hours
neared the "we sma" ones we reluctantly
entered our state-rooms; however, a glorious
sight was in store for us all, the break of day.
The pale silver moon shone full in all her glory,
casting innumerable shadows on the bosom Of
the lake; here and there meteor darted thu ough
the sky as II bent upon some urgent mission,
and not u sound to be heard but the waves
washing the sides of the vessel How much we
miss when wrapped in the arms of Morpheus
would be difficult TO tell.
Five o'clock brought us safely inside harbor.
Ha fax 30 ..lArx.
through the town, and breakfasted at an hour
appointed ut the hotel, where plenty of servants
and sufficient variety of food was TO be found
but everything had the essence of Greenland
about it. Soon after we boarded the train for
n small place. which in the past few years had
grown into very fashionable watering place
The proprietor of the hotel was at the depot
with buggy, and J. being the only lady in
the number, was invited TO ride, which
invitation readily accepted. In the course of
the conversation he asked me at what hotel we
stopped at the above town. / told him, and
his reply was Pretty fine house that! :"
"Yes, / said; "if the meals were as good as
| the building we certainly could not complain"
He thought that "yery strange" / then ex-
planned that everything was lukewarm, from
the coffee down. After l reached his hotel
found every reason for believing the two
| houses were run by the same parties. How
ever, did not for moment regret my candor,
for our dinner was served to us steamng How
many people we see at such places who SEEM
ingly have no aim in life; most of the ladies
were sitting around on the benches, with their
hands idly folded when they might be enjoy
ing fancy work, by which to adorn their houses
upon their return To them. Croquet games lay
idle; the bowling alley empty; the little row.
boats, dancing upon the lake, seemed pleading
for passengers, that they might be ioosed from
the shore. How heavily time must hang upon
the hands of these butterflies.
The town, being one having great facilities
for planning mills, we lost no time in visiting
them. Everything was in perfect order. and
every man at his specific post Great logs, in
times gone by kings of the forest, we're drawn
out of the water by means of an endless chain
and large hooks, up an inclined plane into the
MILL where they were rolled over and moved
into proper position by what is termed a
"bunter, and are then passed along and the bark
taken from one side and taken into another
part Of the building and made into slabs. !"
The huge log returns and is again trimmed
over. This is done until the bark has all been
removed; then comes the cutting its massive
timber into boards; Just where previously the
bark had been allowed to glide, man grasps
it at the right moment and iris passed through
machinery where il is nicely trimmed Oh either
side, every now and then cut into smaller
boards; laths, posts, flooring, and everything
necessary by way of building lumber was made
there. l ehall tread with more gentle step
and a greater reverence over the floors, having
seen what seems sacrifice of the noble trees
for the good Of mankind. 1t would take noe q
long time to describe to you all that we saw
there, but advise any who may have the on
portunity TO be sure to visit planning mill as
well as all other places of modern inventions.
We left the place in the afternoon, arriving
at our destination just as the shades of evening
were falling EDNA.
MICHIGAN.