Morning journal and courier., 1880-07-01
CORRESPONDENCE.

1 ] Urbhna-LincoIn-AF Former Fair Ha- ven Mans erity-Somet ethinw About | Chicago and Professor Swing.
 CHICAGO, June 24 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER: 1 night upon the Ohio river after the l pleasant sojourn at White Sulphur and the l wild ride through mountains via the Chesa- peake and Ohio road, was a rest, varied only
 as the constant lightning, thunder and l violent rain drowned the noises usually heard
 on steamers Arriving, after fifteen hours 1 sail, at Cincinnati, we involuntarily stopped ! at the appearance of our flagstaff being about | to come in contact with the suspension bridge, but safely under we passed Being perfectly acquainted with the city, it was no ! novelty; and as upon starting from home to l seek health, change and rest, we had no par I t1cular route in view, it was left to the bag gage checker to say what route sent the first cars towards Chicago, and some route we had I not before travelled. The Kankakee route he l named. Cars were then waiting: -four min ] utes;" tickets were purchased; bappape thrown in ''all aboard, :" and to our surprise l we were seated. Preferring rest to night travel, Indianapolis was decided upon Here we found the ''New Denison House" built by MT. New, in it's proportions and appoint ments equaling any out of Chicago or New York. Here, all over the West where forty years ago was unexplored territory, the growth of cities is truly astounding The arrival and departure of railroad trains more
 than equal those of our own city
 Supposing we were taking through early
 morning train, arriving at Urbana dinner was
 on aCT11oo oaI f,-.. IL. We had been allowed to dine at the first. and
 told at the second that we must wait till the
 next train. How long? Till tomorrow
 morning Wait we did, rode back to Urba-
 na and visited the Industrial University. Uni
 versailles are common in the West. good
 nights rest at Champaign found us ready for
 the next mornings start for Lincoln, Illinois,
 where we had concluded to pass a day. Lin
 coin Is beautiful small city of 6,0OO inhab-
 itants. Its appearance in many respects re-
 minds one of what New Haven was long ago.
 Plenty of shade trees and public square.
 First the Lincoln Hotel was sought AS General Grant had been there we could go.
 We found It a hotel not beneath a larger city in any respect. It was built by Fair Haven man. The family is well remembered by the
 writer. Mir. Gillette has reputation of be- ingSworth millions. I will not state how large his farm is, as it appeared to me
 preposterous. His stock is world-renowned,
 bringing here and in foreign markets the
 highest prices and bearing reputation like
 the Echo farm products of Litchfield, Conn.
 The day Commencement at ''Lincoln
 University, '" and inducements to see and hear
 were accepted. fine, imposing college building, situated on the highest ground was visited. The large hall was filled with an au- dience in appearance as at Commencement in New Haven in years gone by; beautiful faces of finely dressed ladies and intelligent stu dents, young men graduating. Young la LJi 41oa sweet sounds of song being of the &C., complishments.
 Lincoln, it is told, was originally laid out by MT. Latham, whose beautiful house and grounds we visited, and by Mir. Gillette. It was named in honor of the lamented Presi- dent as I understood, in joke all on paper
 ''who was appointed to do the work for the honor," and it is no small honor to have such a promising city hold such an honorable name. The Chicago & Alton railroad runs directly opposite the hotel, all trains stopping. Two other railroads center here.
 After three days of recuperation we start ed for Chicago. The Kankakee part we found familiar. Chicago has but little that has not been told about. Sunday Professor Swing must be heard, and intellectual treat it was. The great Central Hall build ing has since my last visit been erected for him. It seats about four thousand and is an elegant structure. It is rented, except Sun days for purposes such as halls generally are used for. The seats rented by the year for Sundays. The whole were occupied, showing that people will go where they are interested, even with the mercury at 9O0 There is nothing in Professor Swings appear ance to indicate such power. His elocution is nowhere; but his sincerity, his plainness and his independent thought are the attrac- tions. Many ideas advanced by him may be, by straight haired" people, thought to be heterodoxical. But truth is truth, and just where he is not right is the question.
 Chicago has one drawback, the want of good sewerage. All the city 'srefuse must go somewhere; but it does not go fast enough. The fall in the river and the grade of the city are insufficient to carry off the filth. The nostrils are offended in 8 measure in many places The great question in such weather is, How can we get rid of it? Business is lively here; everything is on the move; mat ters look prosperous. Now and then re- mark is dropped that St. Louis is not satis- fled with the enumeration of her citizens by the census takers. The Chicagoans feel sat isfaction in the greatness of their city I shall go to St. Louis and perhaps have some- thing to say of that place. M