The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-02-26
CAUGHT ON THE FLY;
OK,
GIImpses From a Car window.
from 50, PdM 10 Comet Bl,0s cja 'Sto"r
CITY AMI 81. Pant R!H HoW,


Sioux City Il 81. Paul train on oct. -, bounC
for the city OF Sioux, and, as George Franco
Train says, THE geographical center Of the earti
Omaha"
| The golden beams sent broad rays OF quivcrng
! light into the darksomc recess OF the pine anC
hemlock growth that crown the lodges and pic
turcsque heights, domes and pinaclcs of THU
beautiful region, and OF which briefly depicted
few outlines OF Its more glorious scenes in my
last As the train pulled out from the depot and
the hills and domcs OF the Capital Of the North
Star State" began to grow more dim and dis
tant, us the train neared the junction OF the G.
VI. q ST. F. our eyes wandered over the scene,
and we began to contemplate the picture OF pas
toral loyliness which the autumn woodlands pre-
scnted-now so radlantly gorgeous In their vivid
colors, as the glistenlng gold OF hickory and the
scarlet maple leaves gently waved among the
russell boughs in the CHEEKY air. While In the
midst OF these observations, the train came TO
a stop on the bluffs which 1t had been gradually
ascending; aud here another and, il possible, rs
beautiful, but entirely different, panorama
opened to our view. Looking back we beheld
the Father Of Watcrs,' III all its majestic gran.
dcur, stretching away to the right and left OF us,
its rocky banks OF white sandstone glistenng In
the sunlight, picturesque beyond conception,
and lending peculiar charm OF lovlincss to the
entire region. OF to the south, away over the
great prairies, stretches an arm OF the c. NJ. &
St p railroad; and to the west, the sunlight
flashes about, giving q good night kiss to the
frowning battemcnts and sDow-white buildings
Of old Fort Smelling; while our route to the great
southwest, leads along by woods, bluffs and
marshy lands
As our trains rolled on, town after town and
village after village fitted by-not MS in other
sections Of our great and glorious"-in quick
succession, but at intervals, their tall church
spires and more prominent structures looming up
for Il moment and then disappearing as the train
bounds on. But soon the scene changes, towns
and villages appear less frequently, and now
we behold the great prairies stretching away
mile after mile in every direction, their surface
dotted with occasional farm houses, reminding
one Of a lonely ship upon boundlcss ocean.
Shakdpce, with its 1000 souls, was one OF the
principal stops, u charmingly situated town in
the midst of as fine an agricultural region as the
sun shines upon, From hasty glimpse through
a car widow, one would imagine 1t to be right
smart" place. its buildings, dwellings and shad
ed streets would also indicate taste and cultya-
ton in its inhabitants.
"On the wing'--of time-we are flying over
smooth rail, listening to the rumble OF the steel.
bound paper wheels OF Pullman palace carl
Paper wheels, did you sayr' remarked an old
gentleman in the seat ahead Of Us. yves, sir;
and they are safer, better and more durable than
iron" BLESS my eyes! / wonder what next they
will be making Of papery' 80, perhaps paper
babies, paper women and paper men-thc latter
to take the place OF the Eastwood
ones OF to day." And with this settled myselffor
a 'snooze," while my thoughts dwelt for some
time on the many queer things and serious peo.
pie seen by u traveller. Soon the drowsy god
seized me, and fell Off into rosy dream OF
buckwheat cakes and coffee. Twas slowing them
away with wonderful rapidity, when one of those
what do you call 'em, with wings?-appeared
and led me away to the great beyond, where |
was about to be admitted to the "Pearly Gates,
when gentle tap on the shoulder and an upper
ativc yell awoke me and frightened the god
away! II was the ubiquitous newsboy wanting
to sell me, "Withn an Inch OF my Life" what
= suggestive name" I thought, and returned il
with the remark, "Pye been there" what,
you" said he. "Yes, I've had more than ten
thousand hair breadth escapes, but didn't know
it," "Well mister, can discount you on that
racket. | came near being hanged once, and
three times sank to the bottomlcss deep, never to
rise again, and kno,o tF "And what do you
III h,r NJ I
expect to be president OF the United Statcs-I
was born In Ohio, drove on the canal and am now
working up a Moblicr racket to qualify myself"
And Just then the brakeman yelled: "KGs,ota
Junction. twenty minutes for supper" This is
the point where the Sioux City Il 81. Paul cross.
es the {. II n. w. railroad, but OF no particular
note, yet the meal they dish up" Is fine.
As | returned to the car beaming little chcrub
occupied my seat and roasted on my bran new
beaver hiatt while his dear mamma, perfectly In.
different as to the objectionable mischief OF her
darling con and the utter ruin Of my ctoprau,
laughed ut the instructive peculiaritics OF limo
cent childhood! With soft solicitations and the
sweetest OF pet Names endeayorcd to coax him
from his roost to which he had climbed for the
purpose of surveying the situation on the plat
form, through the window but he would not
be coaxed. tendsrly yentured t. lift the sweet.
scented rascal to u more comfortable seat but he
wouldn't have it. Finally persuaded him with
a little "brute force" when his healthy cries
aroused the ire OF his dear mamma, and she badc
him, Come away from that cross man" at the
same time insisting that my hat was mot bit
hurt, only little bentn'
Along towards the 'we- sma' hours" We
reached Heron Lake, about 100 miles from st.
Paul, ard here We left the trains for n day amid
its numerous lakes and endless praircs. 1t Is
situated in the midst OF region that has long
since become a fayorte hunting resort; but all
Minnesota may be considered that blessed with
over 1000 lakes, varying In size from 800 yards
to 10 milos in diameter, many Of them pctur-
csque, with Transparent. waters, pebbly bottoms