Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-09-22
An Interesting Letter From Hudson

So few people Of Wisconsin really
know of the many objects of interest,
beautiful, grand and even sublime
in their own enterprising little
state. Outsiders know; and its vast
forests. SO richly and grandly beautiful,
its hundreds of lakes of every magni-
tude and varied beauty, its wonderful
rock formations, its rivers and streams,
and thousand other points of inter-
est, ali 60 to form the theme for many
an article and give the enthusiast
abundant ground for eloquenee.
The time was not long ago, when
Wisconsin was way out of the busy
world, a vast wilderness in whose i'm
penetrable forests only the wild beasts
disturbed the shadows, the limpid
waters of whose lakes reflected in
peaceful serenity the wooded banks,
and whose mighty rivers were forded
only by the redman. Now, it is peo-
pied With an energetic prosperous
people and enterprises of all kinds
disturb alike the seclusion of wood,
lake and river.
/ Is it strange that Our people, het-
erogenous mass from all countries oe
the world should be toned into one
harmonious whole with this refining
influence of nature constantly sur
rounding them? Will they not in the
wears to be, be united in one common
brotherhood and speak with equal
pride of "our rivers, our dells and our
prairies 2" The lakes in this section
are many aud exceptionally beautiful.
They are fast becoming the resort of
pleasure seekers to pass the hot dreary
months near their refreshing banks.
Many still rest in all their primitive
beauty as yet unsoiled by the touch of
civilization; supplied from mysterious
underground source, the limpid waters
ripple over lovely aquariums. through
which the fishes dart thither and Jon,
and luxuriance of waves kissing the
pebbly shores.
Lake st. Croix is simply widening
of the river bearing the same name;
a mile across at its widest portion, it is
thirty miles long, and one must travel
many miles to find spot more suited
to mans poetical wants than this. The
bluffs rise in one grand sweep of vel
vety softness on the opposite shore,
crowned by farm houses and cultivated
fields, Lakeland and Baytewn nesting
in confding security at their feet.
Hudson, with it's hundreds of beauti-
full homes, looks across to all this
loneliness with her own charms thrown
off in bold relief against the green
background. In the heart of the city
of Hudson stands high bluff from
the top Of which after laborious climb
ing one can see the whole of the city
and miles of surrounding country in
grand birdseye view. Among the
many charms Of this enviable little
city, is the fair ground. which is sit
uated on a high bluff, with comfortable
buildings and an exceptionally good
race track. From the Amphitheater
one can feast the eyes for hours and
then come away with half unseen.
At your feet is Lake ST Croix with
it's distant perspectives; Lakeland,
Baytown and Saltwater, of Mimi, all
in sight at your right. while at the
left, spread out for miles are those vast
rolling prairios, over whose undulating
meadows the eye roams in maze of
delight.
Not long since we visited Lake
Elmo, one OF the 5000 Of Minnesota
beautiful lakes. Sweet restful Elmo
1t was like breath of Heaven on a
sultry day. We sat on the wide breezy
piazza of its commodious hotel and
watched in dreamy enjoyment the
hundreds of gaily dressed peopled who
spend their summers and holidays near
this peaceful haven. We explored
the hidden hooks, tested the durability
Of the rustic seats, sampled the swing
wand ered to the bath-house, where
following the fashion of the time, we
went in bathing. There were fifty or
more men, women and children in the
water, and the splashing. the laughter,
the merry voices of those children
(for they were all children then) must
have made the heart of Neptune
beat high with pleasure had that god
been there to witness the enjoyment of
the children of earth in his own par
ticular element. Presently when the
shadows began to lengthen, the Great
Wy D.zI c.. O.