Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-08-02
THE LAKE REGION NEAR MIL
WAUKEE.

Hemmed in by circling line of low
blue hills, it would be difficult 10 fnd
more delightful region than the district
Of lakes in their broad upland basin
which attracts this yearly pilgrimage,
and which may be reached by ride of
only twenty miles.
Nashotah, an Episcopal mission
founded in Territorial days, and now
theological seminary Of repute, was
long the center about which all the
region turned, and its limestone spires
and gables, rising from the dense foliage
of their little height, overlook four
silver lakes, linked through the distant
landscape, their forty modest sisters
shyly hidden in the surrounding forest.
1t was here that the venerable Bishop
Kemper lived and died, and here the late
DIR. De Koven occupied a professors
chair and long years ago the seminary
numbered among its students members
Of cultivated and aristocratic colony
of Swedes, who endeavored to establish
q Swedish Eden among scenes which re-
minded them of their native landau
attempt which failed, like many anosnsr
ideal venture. The gentle supremacy,
however, Of this beautiful and retired
seat has at length been rudely broken,
and il. is now only an interesting locality
in q vast region Of resort, with an ivy
covered chapel and winding walks that
remind one of pleasant hooks in En-
gland.
II is q little unusual for so large Q
tract of country to be 80 attractive in
every part, but, singularly favored by
nature, it has been settled by class of
people attracted as much by its beauty
as its fertile soil, and evidences of in
telligent thrift, and even degree of
elegance, are noticeable in neighbor-
hoods as yet only occupied by farming
population.
Contrary to usual farmer instinct, the
fields are everywhere beautitied by
groups of oaks and elms, or other forest
trees, and the extent of the country is
such that its natural loveliness is no
where marred by the undue prominence
OF hotels, while its country homes are
everywhere scattered in the most beauti-
| full retirement and seclusion.
It would perhaps be difficult to char
acterize the charm Of this attractive re-
gion unless it be considered "natural
park :" and ascending Government Hill,
which rises from the surrounding coun-
try with the fine effect of loftier mount
aims, fair and peaceful landscape lies
before us, its groves and fields fecked
with shifting patches Of light and shade,
and interspersed with confusion OF
bright blue lakes flashing in the sun,
and we learn with surprise that this is
one of q series of similar elevations
stretching at intervals of thirty or forty
miles across the State, and from whose
SUBMITS the Indians are said to have
telegraphed with mysterious characters
of fire, flashed through the gloom Of
moonless nights, hundreds Of miles to
the Mississippi.
In all there are said to be forty foul
little tarns, from one to six miles in
length. and with variety Of shape, scat.
tered within radius Of ten miles from
Nashotah. Bark lake, the source ol
all the others, is body Of water with
no visible inlet, and remarkable because
itsharply defines the watershed between
the great lakes and the Mississippi. Il
lies one hundred and fifty feet above {
stream but thirty rods away, whict
flows thr ough the great lakes to the At
lantic, while its own waters flow "iI
many winding bout from lake to lak'
through the lower groups until the,
finally reach the Mississippi, 10 be min
gled with the waters Of the Gulf.
A. Butler. in Harper's Magazine.