Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-06-26

peninsula is raisad some of the finest fruit
in Mich, and it is our private opinion
that the luscious peaches and pears with
which we were equipped for this occa-
sion, must have grown on this peninsula
They were certainly Of uncommon size
and richness
East Bay is scarcely less beautiful than
West; its waters show charming varia-
ton Of color, and the fragrance of the
pines along the shore renders breathing a
conscious pleasure. For much OF the
way the country has an air of newness )
everywhere apparent.
Some fine farm buildings have sup
planted the primitive log houses; but
several of the latter may yet be seen.
Two of these we shall not soon forget.
The first, little square box Of house
whose sides and roof were mantled with
a heavy growth Of woodbine of deep
dark red, frightened here and there by
patches of lighter red and green With
the sunlight falling full upon 1t, 1t be-
came a glowing mass Of color that would
have delighted the soul Of painter. A
little farther on we pass well titled farm
whose log house has an air of permanent
comfort it is much larger than the 9TH
er house vines Chamber TO Its root, and
in front is a wilderness of tall dahliaS OF
every sort, with other brilliant autumn
flowers perfect Kaleidoscope of gay
colors, half conceahng the house from
view. As we recall It's look Of content
ment we weave for it little history
this pioneer hOme-where the parents
cleared their farm, and reared then
little ones-endeared BY a thousand
hallowed memories. Now that the
rough work of life Is over, and the
children have gone out into the world,
the old folks-for they are getting to be
old folks-wiI not build for themselves
the new home which they might, but
cling fondly to the old, every fibre IN
whose rough logs is eloquent to them OF
scenes long gone. If the logs in many
an early settlers home could but voice
the things they have seen and heard, who
would not stop and listen: Arrived at
Elk Rapids, we find the hotel par ereel-
Isnce, closed for the season, and have no
other alternative than TO apPease our ap-
petites with late dinner al the only re-
naming public house inwardly hoping,
meanwhile, than no unkind fate may
send US here again This ordeal past,
We sally forth upon our tour Of inspection,
which leads US first TO the large store Of
Dexter & Noble, the proprietOls Of the
furnace and chemical works.
In the store we find group Of squaws
Of various ages, and with them a toddling
child who persists in hiding her head in
the skirts Of her elders it is only by
bribing her with penny begged for the
purpose, that we succeed in getting a
peep at her great scared looking eyes
eyes that are so intensely black that the
pupil Is quite undistinguishable. With
her tawny skin and stohd expression, the
little one proves less pretty than we had
fancied. Numbers more of our redskin-
ned brothers and SiStsrs we saw during
the day: as sayages they were unsatis-
factory complexion Of triAe darker
shade, and the peculiar contour Of face
Characteristic Of their race, were the only
marks that distinguished them from their
white associates. Had we been blessed
with glimpse of them issuing from their
native wigwams in traditional paint and
feathers, we might have better apprecis-
ted their personality.
From the store we proceed TO the Iron
Works: before entering here We encase
ourselves in rubber garments as a partial
protection 'gainst smut and dirt. We 20
first to the crushing room. Here, i'm
mense piles of ore from the Lake SuPe-
nor mines await manufacture and here
We gaze wonderingly at the ease with
which the Ponderous machines crush the
masses of ore that are constantly poured |
into their open mouths.
A little TO the left of US are the ele-
vstors, by which the crushed ore, the |
charcoal and lime, each carefully weighed
and rightly PrOportiOned, are carried up |
several stories high and poured down into |
the great smelling furnace
One Of our party, NOSE adventurous
than the rest, proposed that we 90 up
and look down into that fiery vortex.
We demur at first, but he is not TO be
put of, and has gained the consent of the
man who tends the elevators TO our going
in the charcoal elevator-the other is con-
sidered unsafe. Yielding TO the wishes
of our leader, we take our stand upon
what seems but rickety old trap door,