Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-08-14

BeetOwn.
And they said ''give us rest" and
we took it, and during our rest we Wis
tied strange lands Ito us) and Beetown
notes were mix" What we saw would
hardly come under the head of local
news, and may not prove of interest to
the public at large, but it was all very
new and refreshing to us, SO here goes.
Even our county seat, after an absence
OF eighteen months, shows many
changes and improvements, among
which first were the printing offices, the
educators of the people, where we saw
in one steam press busy at work, a
whole family of practical printers, even
little pale-faced lad posting me on
type-setting. We tried to coax him to
try the mud and ochre and sprin gs of
our village, but he was evidently we'd
ded to the lease" and would not leave
the home roof. We then visited and
Inspected the commodious and neat
rooms Of another office. everything in
the best of order, even to bouquet of
flowers on the editors desk, and we
thought how happy that editor must be;
but we were informed before we left
town that Gap" was an old bachelor,
and our pleasant illusion was dispelled
and the bouquet lost its beauties in our
mind, as we could almost see some
leap year dynamite concealed within its
petals and green leaves, which we hope
there was and that it will bring forth
benedictine results. And we didn't see
a real genuine devil in either office,
only courteous, intelligent and wide
awake gentlemen.
Starting to mail postal, we were
confronted by harness shop and were
directed up to a big corner block, where
Postmaster Burr was holding forth in
the ''best office in the county," which
after careful inspection we were OBJ
liged to concede.
And the many other improvements
from the Wright House to the depot
and around the public square convinced
me that my name was Rip Van Wrinkle,
and that | had been asleep, but that
during that time Lancaster had been
wide-awake and making wonderful
progress.
Stepping into that "Greenback" bug
gy we were soon in your sister city OF
Platteville, which, from the number OF
steeples that strikes ones view as we ap-
proach it, should be called the city OF
churches.
Before breakfast the next morning
we had visited the park, the Normal
School grounds, andcperambulated the
main street of the city, After that
meal we started out again, and by the
courtesy of Mr.. Browker, a veteran OF
the old 9TH Wisconsin, were shown
through the new, oommodious and con-
veniently arranged city hall, built by
the city of Platteville at an expense oil
over S25, ZOO.
Truly, the people of that model city
are public-spirited and heavily.
taxed people.
Thanking Mr.. B. for his courtesy
Ibid you ever see an old soldier who
was not courteous?) we naturally gray
itated to sort of post mortem over an.
other printing press and material, form
erly used by the defunct Times. There
were present the sad-eyed editor of the
Witness, a Mr.. Peck, of the same pro
fession, from Chicago, (no relation t6
the ''bad boy,'') an officer of the law
holding said property, the real owner
of said property endeavoring to realize
the 'greenbacks" he had invested, q
really believe he would take gold or sill.
yer on a pinch) and your reporter in
the background. The verdict giver
by the background man is that there
will probably be another Democratic
organ published soon in Grant county
AS we grasped the hand of comradt
j. j. Davidson, whom / had not met
with before for nearly twenty years, we
realized how strong the tie is that bind:
old soldiers together; when in company
with him we visited other commanders
upon that pleasant forenoon, in Platte
vile and Georgetown, it was more
strongly impressed on my mind. So W,
talked over old times and hardships to
gether, and parted, promising to NEE
again at the Reunion on the 2Sth We
left Platteville with the impression that
it was beautifully located city.
Returning to our little ''burgh" we
would remark that there is some i'm
provements being made in the village.
Mr.. George Stephens has built a fine
addition to his house, but in making
room for which, he tore down an ole
landmark in the form of log building
dating back in the "forties.'
j. X. Patterson has erected a new
building; whether Cleveland stable o.
an old time Wing log cabin, he has mo-
informed us, but we surmise the former
Ian" has remodeled the steps to tn,
dancing hall, and also furnished new
well and pump, for the benefit of tn,
travelling public, desiring that no on,
man or beast, shall leave the villag,
thirsty.
Mr.. Jordan has contracted to teacf
the fall and winter term of the lower
school; the same as last winter.
MIR. Jas. Anderson has become per
manent citizen of Beetown; mixture
of malaria and German habits being toe
much for him. Under the beneficial
influences of pure air and pure water
and the fact that he is at home, he is
now improving, and we trust will re-
main with us for the future.
Mr.. A. G. Bonham is among us oc-
casionally, buying calves. From the
prices he pays we are afraid he is lit.
tie cranky on that kind of property
but he still wants to buy.
We note the presence of Gov. Dewey
and IL. Grimm, of Cassville, among us
since our last; also of p. Stephens and
j. +. Mccoy, of Lancaster.
Grain is nearly all stacked and the
'sound of the threshing machine will
soon be heard in the land" We don't
think the last is strictly original.
The general health of the village is
good. A few cases of green apples,
and green plums and green juveniles,
alnne encouraging DOC" to stay with
us. SIGMA.