The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-08-21
Mackinac Island and Beyond.


The Mission House has a history Six.
ty years ago 3 Protestant mission was es-
tablished here for the preiseworthy pur-
pose of civilizing and educating Indian
youths. These long halls and low rooms
echoed the tread of earnest men, toll
somely leading into the mysteries of Ian
guage and religion the reluctant child
rem of the woods. The mission had it's
day, and now these same low rooms form
restful retreat for the overwork ed
brains and worn out nerves, which are
the annual results of hot-house culture
and high civilization.
We do not forget that the home like
neatness and comfort of the place are
due 10 the pleasant lady, and the white
and son, who dispense with such kindly
courtesy its hospitalities. The grand
father, as we learned to call him, is a
happy specimen of q genial, beautiful
old age Having numbered his four
score odd years, he is yet as sure footed
and clear headed as many o man of half
his age. He seemed to take special in
terest in our party, and accompanied US
on our ride over the island. We con-
sidered ourselves extremely fortunate in
having SO intelligent guide. At one
place he showed US, half hidden by sur
rounding foliage, an old pine whose ten
der branches had been tied into q knot,
close and hard by some frolicking sold
ier in the long ago. This curious growth
he had watched and guarded for thirty
years, and he complimented US by say
ing he only pointed it out to those whom
he knew would have no evi. design upon
it.
Nineteen thousand acres of this island
have been selected for National Park.
The wisdom of the selection is apparent
in the natural advantages of the place.
No private gentleman's lawn can boast
such beautiful, stately pines, such Wig
orous growth of birch and maple, such
happy grouping of rocks, and shrubs,
and trees, and flowers. 1t is Natures
own management unmarried by the han
diwork of man.
This island was once the head quarters
of fur trading company, and the John
Jacob Astor House down in the village
commentaries that fact. Some of our
party examined with curious interest the
dusty old records of sales and recei pts
which are exhibited. They read on the
yellow page, 81 cotton handkerchief
6 s." and then looked with sudden new
interest on their own dainty. hemstitched
linen ones. They speculated upon he
number of yards the housewives of old
could conscientiously put into a dress,
when calico was five shillings instead of
five cents a yard, and fell to wondering
about the color and size and shape of
that 81 silk shawl 81 s." that dra ppGd
the fair proportions of some old time
beauty.
But our five days at Mackinaw were
t,nded ard with real regret we bade fare
we'll to our new old friends, who had
come down to the boat landing to bid US
God speed and a happy continuance OF
our journey.
We sat long on the deck of the Scar
den City" watching our little island as il
slowly faded into the distance, trying to
trace in its receding outline the monster
turtle back, the resemblance to which
gave its French sobriquet-MichelM Msci-
mac.
These next days upon the water were
DAYS of rare enjoyment. With the ther-
mometer above one hundred in Chicag @
and Toledo, we could dispense with our
heaviest wrappings, and forgetting OIL
half frozen state on Lake Huron, sit upon
deck in sunny comfort, feeling THAT just
10 DTe8tne anu 10 Oc WAS tue COnsumbtiOu
Of existence" Happy, drcamyc restful
days! Our only work the lazy linking
Our own thoughts, enjoyment of others
or the watching of the wonderful, con-
tinually changing effects of sea, sky and
clouds.
We had anticipated the time when
re aching mid quite out of the sight
of land, we should sit upon the hurricane
deck, and with only the broad sweep of
sky and water before US, imagine our.
selves upon the wide Atlantic.
1t might take some stretch of imagina
ton to compare our tiny boat with tie
handsome, well-appointed steamers OF
the Cunard line, and these placid, blue
waters with the denser Atlantic, but
here at least we get that impression of
ocean sailing which is bounded by the
cramped confinement of ship board and
the utter helplessness of humanity when
committed to the merciless waters.
| As we drew near Milwaukee a very
preceptibIe and sudden change in the
temperature became apparent. bot
hotter, hottest-we thought We bad
] reached the superlative Of that WORD