The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-05-26

through umbrellas and rubber coats,
the thermometer low down in the for
ties, bowling wind, with intervals of
corduroy road that endangered every
spring and wheel of the heavily-loaded
vehicles, constituted larger variety OF
experience than had been bargained for.
At times it seemed as If new commits
SION might need to be sent out for the
relief of the first, even as successive
Arctic expeditions lose themselves hunt
ing for those that have already per
ished. One member of the com
mission, the owner of the only tall
silk hat in the party, had been much
flattered the day previous, on discover
ing that this mark of distinction had
made very profound impression upon
the people who stood staring at the
procession as it moved along. The tail
hat was taken, or mistaken, for the In
sigma of office. Combined with more
venerable appearance and winter beard,
it signifed to the inhabitants who had
never seen live Governor before that
the wearer must be the Chief Executive
of the State, and many an exile from the
land of Poland, Germany and Scotland,
in the burned district, will go to his
grave under mistaken notion that Gov.
Jerome is the image of a prominent De
troit bank President. What little pride
the representative of the national-bank-
ing system may have derived from this
mistake had the stiffness all taken out
of it, when he took off that hat and sol
EMMY looked at it after he had secured
shelter from five hours rain storm.
He subsequently had the movements of
the party so timed as to land him in De-
troit when the darkness of night would
save his head-covering from disparaging
remarks on the part OF his fellow towns
men.
INTERVIEW WITH THE COMMISSION.
On the third day the Governor and
commission met several score of the
representatives of the burnt district Mt
Port Hope. An address of welcome IN
their behalf was presented by Frederick
Stafford, to which Gov. Jerome made a
brief and sensible reply, particularly
calling attention to the fact that the re-
lief was nearly at an end, and caution
ing them against being demoralized and
pauperized by the insidious influence OF
abundant charity. But for the untavor-
able weather much more could have
been seen and more ascertained in re-
gard to the results of the prodigious
work of benevolence which has saved
this community from pauperism, but
enough was disclosed to prove that, on
the whole, the benevolence of the pub.
lie has been ]udiciously disbursed and
proftably distributed.
Some of the recipients have undoubt-
edly proved themselves unworthy; there
have been good deal of jealousy and
heart burnings among them, from real
or imaginary fear that their neighbors
have got more than themselves. This,
however, was inevitable. and probably
could in no event have been avoided.
Omniscience itself could not have dis
tributed the relief so as to satisfy every
body. At least, omniscience never has
yet done it, and the inhabitants of the
burned-out" districts do not materially
differ from those who live elsewhere.
The Governor and com mission were
accompanied by e. w. Cottrell, of
Greenfield, Dougald MacIntyre, of Al
mont, and Messrs. Macdonald and Nc
Kay, of Minden. Great credit is due
these gentlemen for the prompt and
business-like management of the expe-
dition, except in the matter of the wealth
er. That was disgrace TO them.