River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-12-10
MADISON CORRESPONDENCE.
December 4th, 1885.

nominal. Madison is still the capital,
but the interest which draws the mass
of onlookers is wanting. The numer-
Gus forces of the third house" are
also lacking to diversity the play, as a
sort of spectacular interlude to the
graver drama of legislation. Under
these existing conditions of quietude
the Capital City settles down into a
peaceful existence. its slumberous con.
dition broken into only by the advent
of a travelling opera company, or the
occasional confagration of an illcondi-
toned chimney which rouses the
volunteer fire department and sends
momentary thrill of excitement
meandering down the spinal cords of
the peaceful citizens.
With such state of affairs existing
it is almost too much to ask your
correspondent to write very often or
very entertainingly. Just now, how
ever, the staid old Capital City is in an
ecstacy of excitement. The con0i-
tions of excitement outlined above are
all fulfilled in single week. and the
city is all agog over the unwonted
visitations. Lily Clay's Female Com
bination exhibited last evening
/ use the term in cold blood, and
without fear of successful contradic.
ton, it being the unanimous testimony
of all who attended the "show' that
there was not much lett Tor the
imagination. | will not assert that !
base my conclusions upon peculiar
evidence, nor will | deny it, as in
either case there might be some who
would hint that ! was not competent
Judge. Suffice it to say, however, that
all the ancient and honorable array of
baldheads was present and occupied
the front seats. No symptoms of
badness are yet apparent on my head.
In the matter of fires the excite
ment loving citizens have been partic
ularly blessed to-day, two alarms
having been turned in within an hour
this afternoon, both caused by the
combustion of foul chimneys, and both
resulting, very fortunately for the
city, III no further loss than that of
the coal and kindling expended in
getting up steam in the two engines
that guard the property of the city.
A fire tonight would indeed be a great
calamity, as we are now iii the midst
of the fiercest snow and wind storm
that has visited this section for sever
al years. The signal bureau hOisted
their black flag early this morning,
thereby prophecying cold. There was
nothing said of wind, but with the
cold the wind is blowing fifty miles an
hour, driving the snow with binding
force through the broad streets of the
city, which in many cases abut upon
Fourth Lake, over whose broad ex
panse of dark water the fierce north
wester is now blowing. A fire which
should now gain any Roadway would
rage unchecked as long as there was
food left to feed it.
Among the social diversions prom
ised-in fact, announced, for next
week, is a rendition of the famous
"H. NJ. S. Pinafore" by local talent
of Madison, for the benefit of Grace
Episcopal Church, under the tutelage
and management of the organist OF
that church. Music is strong point
with Madisonian people, there being
many very fine musicians resident
here, and some very fine singers, who
OF course will carry the solo parts of
the opera, while the chorus will be
stpong in all parts The members of
the society have been drilling nearly
every evening for two months, and a
particularly fine amateur musical treat
is promised.
The legal fraternity is on the alert
just at present, either as participants
or onlookers in the great case which
is now on trial in the United States
Court-that of the Farmers Loan and
Trust Company of New York against
the Old CnIc ago, Portage & Superior
Railway Company. to recover on
5000, 900 worth of bonds issued for the
construction of that road, which was
never built. The Omaha Railway
viii probably be made the defendant
i'll further suit in case this is unsuc-
cessful, the Omaha Company having
acquired the original charter of the
defunct corporation, aud by building
the Chippewa & Northern branch of
the Omaha system secured the land
grant which gave value to the fran
chSe. There is some talk that the
State of Wisconsin may be made a
co.defendant with the Omaha Railway,
the Legislature having by bill trans
ferred the grant to that Company on
the completion of its roadbed All
this litigation is, of course, of sup
pressed interest both to the parties
now engaged and to the state officials,
who are in measure interested in
carrying out the behests of the Legis-
nature.
Thanksgiving Day was observed
with the usual sacrifice of fatted
poultry, and reasonable amount of
humiliation, mingled with some heart
felt thanksgiving. 1t is evident to
the most casual observer. however,
that the time honored feast has lost
very much of its meaning in its trans
mission through generations of men
who know little of, and care less for,
the true meaning of its observance.
Our fOrefathers were far from rich in
this worlds goods when they met in
the fading of the year to give God
praise for the modest measure of phys
zeal blessings which they then enjoy
ed Those who had survived to see
the day could give thanks for life.
and having enough to eat and home
span whereWith to be clothed, they
were contented aud with unf"igned