Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-09-04
Pleasure Resorts ana Romantic
Views in Minnesota.

Almost everyone is aware of the
tact that Sunday, the day set aside
for bodily rest, mental and spiritual
Improvement, is becoming more and
more a day Of pleasure and recrea
ton, and especially so among those
whose time and attention is, during
the six days of the week, occupied in
the pursuits of life. As to the results
of good or evil from this practice it
is not my duty to say. The summer
resorts of this vicinity are popular
Sunday resorts, and, thinking that at
least there could be no harm in visit
ing these places for the purpose OF
seeing and learning, the writer last
Sunday joined an excursion to the
most noted locality and spent the
day in a manner which some would
call sabbath breaking" but which
in reality was innocent, healthful, in
structive and pleasant amusement. In
the first place these resorts are not
sheer gardens" nor carousing places
for the scum and lower classes to
congregate and make hideous the
Sabbath, or any other day. Instead,
we see steady going, moral and in.
dustrious people embrace the oppor-
tunity to free themselves from bust
ness and labor to enjoy the pleasures
offered by nature.
We take the train on the st. Paul.
Minneapolis 81 Manitoba railroad
riding over tract OF country as va
rying IN scenery as only parts of Min
nesota can be. until, fifteen miles
southwest of Minneapolis we enter
the village OF Wayzata, at the foot Of
which lies, stretching far away to tho
south west,
LAKE MINNETONKA,
Signifying, in the language of the alb
original inhabitants, ''big.waters /"
The government survey records the
whole body of water as covering 49,
600 acres. At the station above
named the steamer "Hattie May''
awaits the party she is to carry on
around the lake, stopping on the trip
at each point Of interest long enough
for an examination of it,
This expanse of water is a series
of lakes, bays and channels, whose
banks, at times gently slcping wood
land, and again abrupt cliffs or rough
hillocks Of brush and whichever. ere.
ate diversity Of scenery, and the
beautiful islands dotting the lake.
clear water covering MOSES ofmany
colors, makes the whole trip a sue.
cession OF sights and pleasure.
Two miles from the starting point
on the south shore protruding on,
into the lake is point known as
SPIRIT KNOB.
In the time of the Dakotas il was
known as Spirit Uakon. To them i,
was most important spot as an OBJ
servatory and signal station, and to
this day splendid view may be had
from it, But few years ago this
spot was covered with all the relics
OF warfare and the large stone front
ing the water, since removed &c
Washington, was covered with IN.
scriptions reprinted annually with
the blood of victims.
BIG ISLAND
is the next attractive point including
some 400 acres. It's maple covered
coves and picnic grounds are as M
merous as the parties that enjoy
them. Where once the wife of The
red man manufactured his sugar anc
sweets, perhaps some bitters, for he,
worthy lord, the white chief now
reigns over fifty or more tepees, who's,
inmates are cultured young peopl,
making sport among the roses.
Passing through a wood girtel
channel and over the bay beyond, W.
see. situated on an elevation and il
the background of a picturesque land
scapc, Hotel Harrow. summer re
sort of artistic structure. Theme,
through Lower Lake and Gideon'
Bay and we are at the most famous
of all points on the lake, on accoun
OF the different conventions held Their,
during the summer and which wer,
so profusely advertised. This is
MINNEToNKA LAKE PARK.
Here the. Park Association, incor
norated by the last State Legislature
owns 225 acres of land which ha
been formed into an immense park
To every sense of the word this is
: park, being regularly laid out, Will
its coast and woodland drives, it
shady walks, rustic seats, play ground
, croguet grounds, camping, conven
ton, tent, concert-and evening bal
grounds. The hotel is located on
commanding height and from the oh
servatory, IS feet above lake level
may be seen ST Paul, Minneapolis,
long stretch of water and an exten
of neighboring country for twenty
five miles around This imposin.
edifice is 400 feet long by 65 in width
a wing 80xlS2 in rear and each stor'
surrounded by oval verandas. TIL
Association invites excursions of al
kinds, whose purposes are free from
immortality to make use OF thes
grounds.
Adjacent to the park on the ives
is the experimental fruit farm of tn,
state. AS this farm is Only year OLE
nothing can be said of the results o
the experiment
leaving Lake Park the boat en-
ters a large bay from which view
of half dozen islands, each with ,
significant name, can be obtained
Most of interest is Crane Island, IN
habited by family of Blue Heron
which annually makes an appearance
broods family of young and returns
to the sunny South.
Some Of the islands and mounds
of the lake show evidence of having
been the home of pre- historic race
as numerous mounds, from some o
which have been taken skeletons anG
remains OF pottery, indicate. Thes,
mounds are on high ground, few
being Is feet above the water level
II you make this trip scores of facts
and sights, not in this article por
trayed, will meet your gaze, which
are, however, worthy place in your
note book and you would hardly be
lleve that in your days wandering'
you had trayersed no less than thirty
fnur miles ~ ,,,atar hnsidos tho ,ralJ .