Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-05-01
For the Oxford Democrat.
NOTES FROM THE MISSISSIPPI
SHORE.

A cool July afternoon finds US en- route
from Albany, H., to Moline, some thirty
miles or more to the south. As our train
moves rapidly down the Mississippi shore
We have fine views OF the river and the
Iowa towns and farms, as well as those on
the Illinois side. Broad acres Of winter
wheat are ripened and ready for the-reap-
er's sickle, we had thought to say, but re-
member that the sickle is thing OF the
past, and reaper is no longer man, but
q machine. Several pretty villages lie
along our path and one, how shall we
describe it The streets, the horses, the
men, and even the children, are so be-
grimmed that we scarce need to be told
that the mining of soft coal is the sole In
dustry of the place.
Moline, mainly built on the narrow level
between the river and the bluffs, Is pleas
ant little city of II, 600 inhabitants. Many
shade trees and gardens give the town
rural air. The view from the bluffs, on
which are some of the finest residences, Is
wide and beautiful, embracing Moline,
Rock Island-both town and island Of that
name-and Davenport, on the opposite
shore.
The place has good public library, one
room in which is used as museum, num-
erous churches, including Swedish Lu-
theran which Is claimed 10 be the finest
church ediace west OF Chicago, and very
fine public school building. A dam, reach
ing from the shore 10 an island In the river,
| furnished a water-power said TO be equal
to the combined water-power OF New Eng
land; and large number OF factories are
constantly in operation, manufacturing
steam-engines, pumps, plows, and many
other articles. The city Of Rock Island,
three miles away, may be reached by
horse-cars on the way We pass college,
maintained BY Swedish Lutherans, who
also have q theological school near.
| Rock Island. the county-seat OF ROCK
Island County, is great railroad centre,
and largely engaged in manufactures. A
| bridge here crosses the Mississippi; but
we go over by ferry to Davenport, which
claims 10 be the largest, and we would
venture Is the most finely situated, OF Iowa
cities. Built on the top and slope OF
steep blum, and commanding an extensive
view of Rock Island aud the river. and
surrounded by fine agricultural region,
| there is little left 10 be desired in the way
OF location; and in a long ride past hne
residences and beautiful grounds, Daven-
port seemed 10 us very desirable place OF
residence. There are many handsome
churches and other public buildings, and
the manufactures are considerable.
Whats In name:" we eXclaim with
sigh, as, passing along one OF the city
streets, our eye falls upon sign which
reads" George Washington, whitener,
Wall colorer, Kalsominer House =
cleaner"
Out In the country two or three miles,
stands the Iowa Orphans Home; an insti'
tuition originally designed for soldiers or
phans, but now admitting others. The
Superintendent and Matron, the latter of
whom, by the way, is Maine woman, were
absent in Colorado at the time OF our Visit,
but Miss Pickard, the lady temporarily In
charge, very kindly showed Us over the
buildings. The " Headquarters Is long,
low wooden structure surrounded by u
veranda, and containing the offices, sleep
ing and dinnig-rooms of the officers, a sew
ing-room for the girls, where are sewing
machines and cutting tables, and where
the girls are taught 10 cut and make their
own and the boys clothing, good library
from which books are issued TO the chill
dren every Saturday, and reception room
with an organ and piano, on the latter oil
which one of the girls was practicine
a. we entered. Great piles OF stereoscopic
views on the taSle in this room bore marks
of much handling by little fingers, aud
large kaleidoscope, various curiosities'
and the pretty pictures on the walls made
the place seem very home like. This
headquarters building is by no means AIDE
quate to the needs of the Home, and |:
soon to be replaced by large brick edi
fee, the plans for which are already drawn
All the other buildings are Of brick, anc
include handsome school house, dining
hall, where are also the kitchen and pan
tries, laundry, bakery, and the cottages
ten in number, which are the homes OF tn
|, little ones More cottages are in process
of erection, and fine chapel and nurser.
are projected. Crossing the grounds
where some of the boys are wedding flow
er-beds, we enter the pleasant dining-hal
Just in time to see one hundred and eighty
{ FIVE boys and girls, from three to tiftee
years OF age, file in by twos and take thei
places at the tables. They sit upon stools
and the Bingham sunbosnets Of the girls
and straw hats of the boys lie under tn
stools of their respective owners durin
the meal. Each table is occupied by tn
. children from one cottage, and preside
over by the lady who has charge of tina
cottage. The children seat themselve
sideways at the tables, facing the Superb
tendent, but at touch of the bell the
turn with the precision Of soldiers, an
each little head is bowed upon the han
while the blessing is asked: another touc
!, OF the bell, and one hundred and eight.
five little tin cups that had been turne
= down upon the plates, are removed, an
II the plates turned right side up with
quick, sharp clatter. Each plate is SOC
filled with steaming soup, and the nice