The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-09-11
Michigan Letter.

|
Elk RAPIDS, MICH, Aug. 80. 1879.
| ED. PREssl:-Having left Ravenna
on the % inst, on trip to Northwest
ern Michigan, in view of a future
home, and being perfectly delighted
with the first look at the place. I en-
brace this opportunity to convey to my
many friends and your readers gener-
ally brief and imperfect description
Of the trip and country.
We were fortunate from the begin
ming by taking passage on the steamer
Garden City," of the Northern Tram
sit Co.'S line. which is said to be the
fastest. best and most commodious boat
of the line. We found elegant state-
rooms, the choicest food, and no vessel
could have more gallant and gentle
manly crew than is employed on the
Garden City. We had about thirty
passengers, among them some celebri-
ties. Madam Laura e. Dainty, the
great dramatic reader aud recitationist,
who very kindly entertained us one
evening in the ladies cabin with some
of her choicest selections Miss Lille
Germain, one of Chieago's treasures,
whose kind administrations to the sea-
sick won for her greatful membranes
In the hearts of each and all on board.
Besides these were one female lawyer,
one female champion Of Woman's
Rights" one newly married couple,
four widows, two actors, one lawyer,
one doctor, four clerks, two book keep
ers, three merchants, two fur and lum-
Der buyers &c. But the most enjoya-
BILE feature was, we had eearce sailed
"a hours when it seemed like one large
and happy family, without the formal
ity of intf0ductions. We chatted, Sang,
dandeds played Pedro, slopahaantus,
and related anecd0tes of travels and
happenings, Il took: paxtgin theslatter)
in fact each person seemed to resolve
himself into 3. committee of one to
make all the others happy. IL Our jour
ney was delightful, the lakes were
smooth as q floor, and the sunny days
and moonlight nights. all that heart,
could wish. For, four days we glided,
over siIvery tide, viewing the beautiful
scenery at st. Clair, Presque Isle and
Macinac, q distance of about 600 miles.
Then the fun commenced, as we enter
ed Lake Michigan her lfmpid waters
were "on a teal" and our passengers,
who now numbered about eighty, were
wretchedly indispoaed. enjoyed my
self enormously, my stomach behaved
like little man, and I was 5showered
with boquets of shoes, slippers, sticks.
and other immOrtelIes, as I passed
from one to another unfortunate, offer
ing my finger for a stomach pump, and
other kind and menial services. Re-
lief Was found when we arrived at
Little Traverse, an Indian village of
about SOC inhabitants, of whom about
one-halfsare whites, from the Eastern
and,diddle Statess The city is situated
at the entrance of Grand Traverse Bay
and has one of the most beautiful har-
hons in the world. Its clear, transparent
waters, its bluffs and plateaux, have
given 1t the title of /" the Chautauqua
Of the West" Our boat stopped here
for an hour and we all took stroll
about the city. My greatest anxiety
was to behold the noble red man of
whom T had read so much about In le-
gends and romances; and here was an
to be gratified. ;, As three
of us were Wandering along, our vision
was arrested by q beautiful daughter of
the abofiginees, reclining upon a rustic
sofa ipine slab) and with iuntntored
grace she chased the vermin as they
journeyed from her heavy mat of
silken treeses to her nature-penciled
brows and oe'r her dropping lids TO
drink the nectar from those liquid eyes.
i was overcomel with admiration. I
called on AL, but he too, was speech |
less. After I had regained my pres
ence of mind little, / silently drew |
from my breast pocketmy Bible, struck
= tragic attitude, and In. the sweetest, |
manner read nine verses of
the 7th chapter of Solomon's Songs.
The blushing forest maiden arose, she
bent upon Us smile SO pensive, child
like and bland, and said, /" Ha-la-con-
chee Wash-a-hog.n We went straight
way aud washed. safss -
After leaving here our next stopping |
place was Petoskey, village of about
500 Inhabitants, containing eight ho-
tells, which are filed to overaowing |
during the summer season with excur- /
tou rists and sportsnnen, seek
ing health, game and fish. Here we
changed boats for Elk, Rapids, where
we landed with great reluctance at
frOm our newly formed
friends. p When, we arrived here we
telt ct home, as it is the most enter
pfisipg place we have seen since we
left Ohio. One of its greatest, features