The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-05-05

and Iowa for it, but when they tried to
sprout it they failed, owing to the damp
ness, thawing and freezing it underwent
| the past winter
BLAST the Sidewalks" is common
expletivc with many nowadays as they
step in u hole and bark their Sims, or
step on Il loose plank and bark some one
else, shins, or run their boot against a
protruding nail and tear the whole sole
of. Why are the walks not fixed. If
every property owner would make it his
| personal business to see that his walks
are kept in order il would remedy
matters greatly.
| Fred Fowler advertises this week.
Look at the notice then go look at his
stock in the Barr building. where you
will find any and everything imaginable
and at ruinous rates. We have often
wondered how Fred could live by sell
ing so cheap, but the secret is i'll the
amount he sells. He employs two men
repairing and making new goods he
receives all class Of goods on commission
and sells at auction every Saturday.
Prof. Bettlngers pupils concert at the
Opera House last Friday night, was n
gala time for the little folks, many Of
them appearing before apublic audience
for the first time. They manipulated
the piano keys with remarkable eff
cheney, plainly showing the rapidity of
their musical education under the tute-
lage of Prof. Bettinger, while the Older
ones displayed like proficiency both
in their vocal and instrumental learning
| Every indication points to an unusual
activity in all branches of business this
season. Railroad men tell lis that more
miles of iron will he laid in 1881 than
in any previous year; wholesale mer-
chants predict an increased trade and
are laying in extra stocks in consequence
thereof; manufacturers are buoyant with
hope; the retailer is cheerful; the farmer
seems animated with the outlook and
all wear an exterior showing cheerful
mess, satisfaction and contentment.
Mr.. b. c. White, whose workshop is
on Hickory street, has just completed a
fine sail boat l5l9 feet in length, for p.
W. Pitcher Of this city, who contem-
platcs floating it upon the placid waters
of Lake Madison. Mr. White is also
building two larger sail boats for j. Nj.
Barclay, the proprietor at Lake Madison.
These will be kept by Mr. Barclay for
The builder of these beautiful water
crafts is an old boat builder, having
learned his occupation in the State of
Maine.
| The Board of Trade met Monday,
and the committee on membership re-
lportcd twcnty-scvcn new names. A
committee of three, with John n. Hall
aS chairman, were appointed to com
municatc with our members of Con-
gress and citizens living along the river
between here and St. Paul. upon the
subject OF providing measures making
the Minnesota river navigable rs far rs
here. We nope the committee will sue
lcced in arouSing sufficient enthusiasm
upon the subject to have the required
steps taken at once.
| Through the kindness Of Nh Martin
Nelson, We CLEAN few notes of the re-
lcent flood in Judson: The water rose
AS high as Charley Johnson's barn yard,
and several head of stock were rescued
itherefrom; John GuStafson's house WAS
Submerged in some six inches of water
and twelve sacks of seed wheat were
Saved; Augustus Swenson swan six
Ihorses through the flood safely; Joseph
lSwenson lost sucking colt; "A great
deal of fencing, old and new, hay, corn
and potatoes were swept away; Mr..
tSandstrum barn was found in the
woods between Judson and Mankato.
| Humor and good nature, crop out in
| the American people even in adversely.
| 1t is said there were several suggestive
lplacards placed on doors of submerged
houses in West Mankato by some wag
Iduring the late flood. One low lot
about ten feet under water was labeled
at the summit Of driven stake This
lot for sale-applv on the premises"
Another which was submerged about
half way up the front door had posted :
t"Basement to rent" Still another that
was surrounded with about four feet of
the surplus element to be waded through
in order to reach the door "No book
lagents allowed in this house.
| Two young lads who had possibly
been digesting that enchanting book of
fiction, Robinson Crusoc, and believing
in the truthfulness of how Rob sub
sisted on birds eggs and oak bark, con-
lcluded to put Rob's theory into practice,
and buying three dozen of eggs for
lquartcr, hied themselves to an obscure
Iplace on the Sioux City track, and be-
gan to "suck' the fruit with great
relish until they came across one that
Twas old enough to vote, which so
changed their ideas of experimenting
that they left the balance of the quar-
tiers worth on the dedicated spot and
employed II couple of hours in -remov
ing the ancient taste from their mouths,
and concluded to let those who would,
revcl in fiction.
The Flood Has Left Ua.