The times., 1883-07-20
MONMOUTH, Ills, July, II, SO.


dens of the sunny southland in which
| sojourned SO long. In coming
north once more my attention is
called to many contrasts that my
long residence south had rendered
me Indifferent to; but / can not give
them particular notice here,-I mean
to make this letter more IL after of
surface meat, and to begin with, per-
haps l should say something of the
place from which this is dated.
Monmouth is a place of at least
seven or eight thousand inhabitants.
1t boasts of a number of excellent
public buildings, handsome resi-
dences and general advantages 4; and
on the whole the town does present
stylish, city like appearance. The
greatest pride is centered in the col.
lege, l believe. 1t is really an ex-
cellent institution, we'll attended and
capably and advantageously man.
aged, being under the direct charge,
/ understand, of the United Presby.
terian church.
The Fourth of July celebration in
Monmouth was looked forward too
with great deal of. interest by every
one, for it was generally understood
that unusually extensive preparations
were going on and that the day
would be great one. People began
to crowd in before sunrise, and by
the time the procession was ready to
form there was such mass of human
freight on the streets that it was next
to impossible for one to elbow
through it. The procession was long
and dexterously managed. 1t passed
through all the principal streets, car
rying the crowd on its hanks, while
every window was filled with faces
eager to see the best of it. The
usual oration followed, to which
many attentive listeners lent their
ears, and IN the afternoon the moln-
ing's excitement which had quieted
| during the interim, was aroused
again by the appearance Of. the
| Whangdoodles. Their stake offs"
were quite good and occasioned much
hearty laughter. The Monmouth
people expected more entertainment
from the fire display than any other
part of the day and no doubt it fully
answered their expectations. Every
thing passed off well, not single ac-
cident occurring. The last piece was
especially beautiful, representing the
characters 'July 4, 1883"
The springs near Kirkwood which
were discovred while digging for
coal, are being put in excellent order.
The grounds are nicely improved and
promise to be very pretty. An cx.
| cellent bath house including a dozen
or more rooms, has already been
completed, and the workmen are
hammering away on the hotel. Late
reports say that the proprietors con-
template making considerable addi.
tions to that building, and having a
small lake on the grounds. The wa
ter is pleasant to the taste, and those
who have given its medicinal quail
ties test, are ready to speak in be-
half of its virtues.
i was in Burlington during Theo-
dore Thomas season there and his
entertainments were excellent. His
orchestra was as it always is-good-
and his other support exceptional on
the whole, of course part being su-
perior to the rest. / heard Madame
Julia Rivi King interviewed by re-
porter in the hotel parlors on Satur-
day afternoon. When she entered,
she told the reporter that she had
quite distaste for such, at which he
assured her he would not make it
unpleasant, saying he only desired
some information about Mmlle.
Marie Litta, who, he regretted to say,
died that day. Nine. King was
much shocked by the intelligence
and proceeded to give her question
er as much information as she could.
Drifts of the conversation reached
nv ear from which T gathered that