The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-07-31


er by fiogging, it would confer kind
ness that would be appreciated. Leav-
ing Davenport we crossed to beautiful
Rock Island where is located the Gort
Arsenal. The Island is beautifully
laid out in drives and walks in the
highest style of landscape grading.
Still crossing the river we came to
Rock Island station, and almost adj
Joining is Moline, ILL.,, where is manu-
featured the Moline plows and wagons.
Here resides our old townsman, T. C..
Long and family. During the day we
passed through the State of Illinois.
The scenery here is much the same as
one sees in passing through Kansas.
We became interested in the canal of
which we saw many miles. Colonel
woodcock pointed out across the Illi-
nois river Starvation Rock and gave a
very interesting account of how the
Illinois tribe of Indians were driven
by hostile tribe to take refuge upon
this mammoth rock, which rears its
great square head above the river
bank among the trees, and there be-
sieged until every member of the tribe
died of starvation. This tribe has
given no trouble to the government
since that time. We thought it might
be well to suggest to the new admins
tration that this method might be
tried with a good prospect of success on
some tribes that need discipline of that
kind.
In due time and without accident we
arrived at Chicago. In the mean time
we had been REINFORCED by delegations
from Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and
other western states, so that when we
arrived in Chicago our crowd had swol-
en- to larger proportion. AT the sta
ton we were met by G. A. r. Post
of that city. with band. 1t was a
very nice compliment and we thanked
them (mentally) for their courtesy.
The Post stood at present in double
column, faced inward. We were in
hurry-had transfer to make, new
coach to procure, and the many things
that always take up the time. But
Nc and 1 were bent on one thing, we
were bound to see" Gettysburg''if there
was any possible way to do so. So af-
ter getting our luggage over to the
Grand Trunk station and checked and
every thing in shape we started out,
and after being instructed and walk
ing several blocks out of the way, we
found ourselves at the right place and
paying our fee went into a dark pas
sage way, up short flight of steps
apd all at once found ourselves looking
with wide open eyes upon the grand
est work of art of this age. 1 will not
even attempt to describe tit is simp-
ly impossible-but will simply say, in
visiting Chicago do not fail to see
"Gettysburg." One can spend hours
with profit studying it. You should
first read well up the story of the bat
tie, study well some good map of the
field so as to become perfectly familiar
with it, then you can look at the
painting Understandings. We do not
see it as if painted upon a canvass,
hung upon wall, Gas in fact it is) but
it being in large circular building
and the spectator standing on an ele-
waited platform i'm the center, it is as
though you were above the field itself
and looking down upon the awful
scene. The time which it represents
is the last half of the third day, just as
the gallant charge of Ricketts, division
is repulsed.
AS a grand work of art taken in the
aggregate it is wonderful. Taken in
the abstract it is, in my opinion,
subject to criticism. The artist
Jean Philapotaux, being a Frenchman,
has put too much French in the pic
ture. Where he has undertaken to
paint some particular person, as Han
cock, Hunt, Doubleday, etc., he has
done excellent work, but the thousands
of rank and file are not as remember
the Army of the Potomac. The artist
has failed to learn one thing, that the
war for the Union was fought by boys
large majority being under 25 years
of age. He makes the army largely
composed of men-large, brawny, mus
cular men, with faces that would do
credit to a Russian Cossack. And it
made my back ache to look at the
knapsacks he forced them to carry.
Knapsacs of rdW hide with big blan-
ket and an Overcoat strapped
across the top and do,Cn each
side with strap at each end of the
bundle and big tin plate OH the back.
Just think Of it, boys of the old infan-
try. and the 30th day of July at that,
and you on the run to help eject the
Johnnies from the works. If there
were dozen knapsacks outside of the
trains they were not on the boys backs
at such moments as the artist has de-
picted; but for all that it is grand, SIM
ply grand, and 1 wish to say again
when you go to Chicago don't fail to
see Gettysburg"
Going back to the depot we helped
again to put up the decorations that
had been on the car we left. 1t con-
sisted of large canvass reaching the