Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-07-01
Grant County HEEAtn Correspondence.
st. mary's Institute Commencert-
Pr. du Chen.

On the morn of June Gath, a small party
from Grant county started for Prairie du
/ Chen TO attend the commencement exercise
at ST. aary's Institute. As We approached
the Bridgeport bridge We we're brought
to halt by a large food several
feet deep and many yards wide that flowed
across the road. Beyond this stream we
could see the plank Of the slough bridge jus,
over the water. and little further on again
rushed the food over the road and through
deep gorges cut in its grade. The bridge
over the main channel was .all right, sppar-
/ entity, and the water was within few feet OF
the joists o. tho bridge. It lad been inpos-
sible 10 cross the bridge since the 10th, so
| we had 10 cross in little skiff capable OF
carrying four persons, and canoe, shaped
ike half mustard pod and somewhat larger.
/ intended to carry one. In order TO get our
party over in two trips, We crowded six into
| the larger boat and three into the canoe Az
/ ter a dangerous but nice ride Of mile and a
quarter we reached the landing where we
took the stage for Prairie da Chen, and in a
short time we're in sight of the Gather of
Waters" now swellad to twice its usual size,
and looking doubly majestic. "0ver the
slough" or, 1.-THE island, is now called "Ths
| city of Venice" The streets of tina. part of
| the city are entirely covered with water, aud
the people live in the upper stories of their
| houses and move about in skiffs. Logs. lum>
Der and destroyed buildings float along con-
stantly, while hogs, sheep, cattle and horses,
| the victims OF the food, dot the turbulent
/ waters Many Of the citizens of the city lost
stock and other property. The great dread
OF the people, now, seems to be the malarial
diseases which will inevitably follow the in,
sAlubrious stencil of decaying animal and veg
etable matter, and the s.agnant pools where
the mosquitoes viii propagate their species
prodigiously.
About two o'clock our attention was turned
away from these direful misfortuues by the
opening of the exhibition, which soon made
US forge. all else as we listened in rapture to
the sweet notes of beautiful selections well
executed on pianoes, harp, organ, viOlins,
citherrs and guitars. The singing was de-
! lightful, and the ESSAYS and recilations good :;
and the programme-long, varied and inter.
esting-passed off like pleasant dream. As
the Institute IS outside our county, want of
space forbids criticism of each part. How
ever, we cannot refrain from mentioning
MISC MeIIugh as a violnist and Miss Bristol
as a reciter They performed their parts exs
tremely well.
In the fine work department the arts we're
well represented in everything ornamental
and useful that the trained hands only Of
women can produce. Some paintings by
Misses Kelly and Frederick, crayon drawings
by Misses Hoy and Coumbe, showed well-de
veloped artistic skill
Home next occupied our thoughts, and
with an addition Of three students with the
usual amount of baggage that always accoms
panics ladies, we started for Bridgeport and
got all the passengers and part Of she baggage
over by dark This completed our adven.
lures. and we went home tired but satisfied.
S. G. ANLAN.