Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-01-15
Lake Minnrtonka.


Mr. EDITOR:
II was when the scar aud yellow
leaf were in full glory. that [ found
an stl1 q ,t7, & rs und trip 0a
this beautiful lake 1t has a coast of
500 miles. AMI is divided into upper
and lower lakes. by the .'narruws. of
which | will speak hereafter. Taking
the train from Minneapolis at early
morn We soon found ourselves In
Wayzat1. one of the sHnmer resorts
on the lake. Before the train hal
fairly stopel We saw two siie wheel
Steamers lying at the wharf. the
Mary, and May Queen. we entered the
latter foun the Ladies cihin nicely
FURNISHED with cushioned seats. rustic
easy chairs. latest news frnn round
the worli but it WAS sight seeing
instead Of news We came for. and tor
this reason We made orr way en- deck
The wheels were soon put in nation.
an as ~e ,nked ahead me ti,nnoht it
was the sea of gls.s. not ripple on
the water nor a cloud in che sky.
making nature. beauty +" the eye, aud
music 70 the ear Oar Gaiie sonn
disturbed my revere by iircctin- my
attention to the ps,ce We were ap
prnachiag, on board N large letters
were these WORKS Maple Wood"
and from behind the Maple trees ~e
could just see a white house. and IA
party of young people we're coming
down the walk towards the boat. as
soon IA we had anchored We SAW that
Friends had met Friends once more.
that the tie of all ties It'll remained
uhseyerel As we left them my
thoughts wondered To the friends of
my earlier days. could | only have
them with me now, my happiness
would seemingly be complete And
for moment | Was sad, it was mo
mentarIy. for love NATURES beauty TO
well To he sal midst her lightened
glory. | soon saw rustic sign near
the waters edge. aud AS we drew near
er and nearer (tsking eac,, letter hy
itself) | could make out the sign
thus: wild Waoi,' and it was
will in every sense oi the word Not
a human being conli be seen, the
scraglv crooked oaks were covered
with grape vines. the fruit was Just
turning. AMI the dark green leaves
made 1--we Y contrast To that uf the
Wnolhinc dressed IN the richest dress
ut crimson aud brown, surely [ sail
this is Of viii ATTY. graz iaIre #
! wiztrl beauty, aal ron.h msynIfi-
! cence lonyed In remsn anl 20 on
shore bat no, we hiStcne.i on. The
next place of interest was high
rocky isianl covered with tail trees.
in the centre il red house which
makes strlkin. contrast from the
green anal brown leaves. Oar Guide
told us :hi< MAS called Bright Wood
Island. : 1t is rented during the
summer to pleasure seekers at its
banks were lu nber OF sail and row
boats, men. women ami children ware
coming down the rocky pathway.
most ut them carrying baskets. We
were tol they hal probably started
for Gideons Grove to spend the day.
| In the distance We saw what [ called
the city of seven hills. an | who knows
bat up one of ii iills the Ynatii bore
the banner with the strange devise,
..Exeelsior, for this is the name of
the village. In the fore ground is ii
large boarding ilous" three st"rys high
and as many verani.hs as the house
is s.orys high Private re,i.lences,
several stores, one rustic ch air factory.
too Mills. two Churches and School
li"use constitutes the city At the
boat landing we saw a great variety
of row ami sail boats. fishing tackle of
all kinds Pleasure seekers Coming
and guing all the time The Captain
beckoncl US To the boat. ami soon we
were riding on The placed waters, feel.
ing sum~hat tirei with my walk, |
! occupied an easy chair until [ Was
tnla that We were going through the
''narro~s. it is rightly named for
it seemed, as it we we're in a vast
marsh. only rno,u for the boat, even
, then We were treading on pond lilly
leaves, the motion Of the buat would
water they would 20. hit not to stay.
it only made them look brighter and
more beautiful, We watched them un-
til our eyes grew tired and were
directed to look another way to an
IslInd where several men were at
work clearing the ground o: under