The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-06-18
RAMBLING JOHNNY.

He Drops Into Columbus. Strolls Through the
| Buckeye Capital and Takes In tho Town Gen.
erally-.. Thence to Lancaster. Circleville and
Down the scioto Valley. . aa
Columbus, the capital OF the Buckeye" state,
IL one OF the handsomest cities in the West. 1t
is situated on the east bank OF the Scioto river,
very near the center of the state. Its most i'm
port ant advantages next to its being the capital,
are its railroads, OF which 1t is great center.
There 10 nothing picturesque in its surroundings,
but it has charming farming country for miles
around. Its streets cross at right angles, ana
stretch away towards the four cardinal points OF
the compass. Many Of them are passingly fine,
we'll shaded, but horribly dirty and dusty, so
much SO that it mars the pleasure OF perambu!a-
ton Broad street is its grandest thoroughfsre,
which, for real beauty and layout has but few
EQUALS in America. 1t rams east and west, has
broad, beautiful walks on each side, with three
driveways, and all elegantly shaded with grand
old oaks, elms and naples, whose branches
meet and form an arch, while the base OF
each tree is protected with three or four good
sized rocks all painted or whitewashed, giving
to the entire street unique and altogether an
original appearance Along this thoroughfare
the elite Of Columbus reside, where many fine
mansions, beautiful and well kept gardens are to
be seen, but strange to relate, few OF the houses
make any pretentions to elegance.
High street is the business thoroughfare,
which as business street has but few equals in
the country. 1t is very broad and with the DE
Golyer pavement, so that it is as level and smooth
as most OF the walks in other cities. 1t has q
gentle slope from the south, and continues for
about mile and half, both sides of which are
lined with business blocks and stores On this
street nearly the entire business OF Columbus Is
ira nsacted, and strange to say, that In all this
long line of brick and mortar there is not sim
gle building with any pretensions to grandeur,
and yet many of them are what may be consid.
cred fine. From this we might conclude that the
fever OF grandeur and elegance has not yet
struck the Columbians
Midway on this street stands
THE CAPITOL,
whose grounds and building occupy two i'm
mense blocks The grounds are charmingly laid
out, we'll kept and are to the transient visitor
the only redeemng feature of the city. Many
fine shade trees, but none lofty or pretentious
greet the eye while the walks and other attrac
tions are of pleasing nature, The capitol is 9
massive two story granite structure Of Roman
, style. 1t looks cumbersome but was built to last
1t has four cntrances-east, west, north ant
south and to gain admittance by either way
number of stone steps must be surmounted. 4
great portlco traverscs the entire building, an(
sixteen columns or pillars of huge magnltud,
support the dome and part of the roof. Its exile
> rior has more the appearance Of some ancien
I temple than the modern style of Yankee institu
y tions; and as you enter the surroundings remin,
r you OF some dungeons OF Old, so dark and gloom
are its walls. On entering by either door you fin,
u yourself in rotundo, aminiature in comparison
= to the capitol at Washington. It is about fit
feet in diameter and is tloored with mosaic block
ing. On the walls hang portraits of many o
the ex.governors, who have gone to the grea
!, beyond But conspicuously noticeable is lon,
!, painting OF Commodore Perry and boat full G
q 'tars" at the surrender Of Lake Erie. Lookin
!. up into the dimy lighted domc-which is pei
i haps seventy.fye feet or more--you see nothin
! to relieve the monotony and SO you pass u
9 stairs to the senate or assembly chamber, Their
to be greeted with the same dismal solitude
q And yet for all this, the building is grand oil
n rookery, commanding great deal of admiration
J., by all who visit t-but especially the grounds
Some Of the public and charitable institution
. are magnificent structures, among which
8 might mention the Sisters Of Charity Hospital
a sort Of Chinese or Macarann style of building
with more steeples, turrets and other ginger
: bread concentrations than can well be mag
. ined. The Deaf and Dumb Asylum-a large tiv
six story structure, is built of brick and has spa
;, cous, well-kept grounds, on which the mute
t frsk about and enjoy their own particular rack
q et." But the most magnificent buildings in tn
clty-or the state and not surpassed in tn
country, are the Lunatic and Idiot Asyums. The
= are without doubt the finest and best arrange
institutions of the kind on the American cont
/ tinent. They are distant from the city mile o
two, and situated on plateau which command
rather imposing view for miles around. Tn
grounds are charming, well kept and some O
the drives are simply splendid
0 left Columbus via the Hooking Valley road
and about shutdown dropped into
LANCASTER,
r which, as the Ha,rkeye man says, as the HON
OF Tom Ewing, and naturally the democratic ma
jority is as big as a snow storm. Gen. w.
Sherman is also Lancaster man, and Gen. PHI:
: Sheridan was born in the adjoining county. TIL
: Ohio man is strongly developed In this part O
the state" To be an Ohio man is considered al
!. exceedingly fortunate thing now days, and tina
there are so many Ohio men is the cause O
much rejoicing at our national capital at leas
but it don't go down so well in New York jus
r now. Lancaster is picturesquely located on tn
east bank Of the Hooking river, with half tn
town on the side OF hill and the other half II
avalley. 1t is not pretentious city, and at bes
has but little to commend it save what the Hank
q eye man says-and a few weak politicians tina
he failed to mention. II is one Of those quie