The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-02-17
LETTER FROM THE CAPITAL.

LETTER FROM THE CAfiIAh.
The storm Knights Good Effects on the
state I.c:isiature--Spiri;U Impos-
tors Entertain ut the Capital States
Prison bodybuilding Boom.
SAINT PAUL, Feb. 1.
Editor Free Press:
1t would he 10 news to your readers,
should it be stated here, that since the
date of my last letter, it has been sao'c-
ing, and blowing, and it may comfort
them in their misery to know that st.
Paul has this time felt the full fury of
the storm.
AS ever, it can be said at is an ill
wind that blows nobody any good" If
it were calamity TO business and gen
cral travel, that trains to nearly all
points in the State were suspended, on
Saturday, the saving clause comes in
where the members of our State Legis-
lature, instead of taking their usual
weekly vacation from Saturday morning
till Monday evening, were found in their
seats, hard ut work, on matters their
constituents pay them for attending to.
OF these gentlemen in ST. Paul over
Sunday, was large contribution to the
numbers and noise at the Opera House
last evening.
The attraction which filed this large
audience room to repletion, well-known
and well-drcsscd citizens and members
Of the Legislature largely predominating,
was the announcement that Miss Annie
Eva Fay, of London, England, the
world-rcnowned Spiritualistic Medium,
assisted by Prof. q c. &. Braddon,
would then and there exhibit their won
dcrtul mediumiStic powers.
The receipts OF the evening must have
been least $500 net, sum, no doubt,
entirely satisfactory 10 the party Of the
first part, which is more than can be
said of the performances, Judging from
the free uttcranccs on the part OF the
audience.
think the exhibitions of the mar
vicious did not come up 10 the eXpecta.
tons of any portion of the spectators,
SpiritualistS included. The feats would
scarcely compare tavorably with those
of first class straightforward performers,
and viewed rs cmanations from disem-
bodied spirits, displayed no superiority Of
intelligence.
A good deal Of feeling is manifested
here over the award of the contract for
the labor of the States prisoners.
1t having been currently reported that
Mcssrs. Seymour, Sabin u Co. Of Still
water, have been making a big thing out
OF this labor. Messrs. Forepaugh &
TarboX. extensive manufacturers of boots
in this city, determined to enter into
competition for that labor. They con-
sequcntly put in bid for the labor,
which proved to he the highest received
by the committee. When they learned
that the contract had been awarded to
Seymour, Sabin i Co, there was sulphur
in the air. They charge that award was
piece Of gross favoritism, and promise
that shall he music by the entire band,
before the business is settled. have no
room here to give full particulars, but
will say that the general sentiment in
st. Paul, seems 10 be that Messrs. +. &
I. have the best Of the argument, how.
ever distant may be the prospect Of their
getting a reversal Of the committees
action.
There are whispering, and in some
cases parties are beginning to speak in
louder tones, which indicate a building
boom in St. Paul the coming season,
which will surpass that Of any former
year. A large number of residences
and business blocks are already under
contract. and plans are being completed.
Several Of these blocks will be finer than
any yet erected in the city, and will be
worth description in some future let
ter. d. ID.