The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-04-14
THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI.
Its Beauties and Its Terrors---Contrasted
with the Upper---Sirhts and scenes
The Natchez and Her Swearing Captain
1.-The Abused " Roustabout.

with the Upper -Sirhts and Scenes
The Natchcz and Her Swearing Captain
1.-The Abused " RoustabOut.
The Mississippi may descrvedly be
called the Father Of Waters" 4.10i
miles from It's mouth 10 the source Of the
Missouri, and discharglng the greatest vol
ume of water OF any river in the world
and then what wonderful difference in
the natural scenery OF It's two extremes
Indeed there is no comparison between the
Upper and Lower Mississippi, and The
traveller who has made the Journey can
scarcely realize the fact that all is con
tanned within one country or under one
government, but rather that each Is por-
ton of some new world in itself.
The grandeur of the Upper Mississippi
has always been subject OF enthusiastic
praise by every lover of nature It's PIC
turesouc beauty and wonderful scenery
surpass anything in river scenery in the
world. 1t Is romantic TO degree, and in
admiring it we can easily understand the
red mans vcneration for that portion of
the Father of Waters" For over 500
miles its banks are one glorious panorama
of ever changing grandeur, and everyone
who has an eye tor scenery will see there
the young Mississippi, fresh from lis
northern springs, unstalned as yet, by the
unhallowedIunlon with the;rioious Mis-
souri,, flowing calmly on amid strange and
unique beauties, wilderness clothed
with forest shades, lofty heights, whose
smooth slopes seemed leveled with the
scythe, domes and pinnacles, rampartS and
ruined towers, the work of no human
hand. Thousands of Americans go 10
Europe annually to see the Rhine and
other rivers, ami will write home glowing
accounts Of their travels, and draw rosy
pictures of great river scenes, telling us
that VIC have nothing in this country to
equal them, when the fact is these same
writers never SAW the Upper or Lover
Mississippi, or any of our great western
rivers, and If asked could not give the
geography Of their own state, while they
would show themselves perfect ignoram-
uses as regards the grandeur and beauty Of
their own country, Like some OF our
northern people who think they have seen
the sunny sollh by taking the great Jack
son route--!or eXample--to New Orleans,
witnessing Mardl Gras, then across the
gulf by steamer and into FLORIDA, where
they enthusc at the sight Of a Gagged allisa.
tor, or of cypress swamps and orange
groves. After few days sojourn they re.
turn by the same routc-for, to save few
dollars, they will purchase round trip
tickets, good tor two months (0 which
compels them to return rs they went, thus
gaming knowledge OF only portion of
the country, and that perhaps the poorest
region of all But like our European
tourists after a trip OF few weeks dura-
ton, their observations, on account Of
their limit and freshness may be worth
more than those whose travels have been
more extensive and with whom familiarity
has grown indifferent, How few of them
ever think of making diversified tour,
and least of all, spend the time to 60 or re.
turn rio the grandest OF all routes, the
Mississippi river,
There is no more interesting journey on
the American continent, and in no other
portion OF the globe is the power of run
ming waters so clearly shown as along the
Mississippi. While the geology OF the
Upper Mississippi is one Of beauty and
grandeur, that of its lower portion is the
reverse Gliding along upon It's mighty
current one sees strange sights, and learns
of happenings that are terrible. When the
rains have swollen its tributary rivers TO
more than their ordinary volume, then il
is that the Mississippi is grand TERRIBLE
and treacherous Always subtle and ser.
pentine like in Its mode of stealing upon
its prey, 1t swallows up acres at single
grasp, sweeping them away from their
firm hold on the mainland on one SIDE,
and on the other covering entire planta-
tons with wreck anu rum.
In Its mad career it lays waste leyees
that cost millions, and goes tearing
through crevasses anu eddies, distracting
the planters that dwell upon It's banks, and
sending dsmay to thousands IN single
night One day it promises fall, but the
next 1t may rise suddenly and make pig.
mics of the villages along its banks, or
float them off altogether. The planter on,
the bottoms secs with dismay his fields,
diminish year after yea", and acres slip
ping into the dark, muddy current, but the
ease with which cotton, corn and sugar IS
raised along lis banks is such that they
are willing TO run the risk ami take the
chances. The river Is forever making
land on one side and tearing ii away on
the other. the bends in its course BOT per-
hitting the current TO wash 10th banks
with equal force. II sometimes Happens
that in an hour the planter is doomed To-
i % Ill