Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-10-02
Letter of a Wanderer.
DoMINIoNvILLE, Glengary Co.,

Ontario, Sept. Is, 1885.
Ed. STANDARD:
After a residence of thirty-three
years in the solitudes of the Pacific
slope, 1 purchased an emigrant'
ticket from your townsman, S.
Ward, that brought me through
from Portland, Oregon, to Montreal
Canada, right side up, in six days
and eight hours; difference of time
between the two places, three hours
one minute and seventeen seconds,
by my watch Zone of Burr's reliable
stem -winders.) 1 came emigrant at
the suggestion of mine host E. T..
Young, who having emigrated"
knew well what constituted an out
fit and well knew how to fit out. 1
will also make suggestion to emil
grants: select none but genial
spirits" for fellow travellers, and then
you have a genuine protracted pic
mic. l am not communist, though
communism works to a charm in an
emigrant car. You exchange cour.
tesies and delicacies, the latter done
up i'll cans, the former something in
bottles; dress in your second best;
play whist, and have a good time
generally, giving no heed to high
or light trestle work, or thought of a
tirst-class smash-up that would land
you-where? Why at the excursion
ground, from whence" no excur-
slonlst ever uses return ticket; but
provide yourself with good supply
of philosophical ammunition, fully
prepared to enjoy the happy hunting
domain, a IL Indian.
RAILRoADING,
My first journey by rail produced
much for reflection. 1 reflected that
if all the rolling stock of all the
roads were made up into one train,
it would reach from the Atlantic to
the Pacific. If all the telegraphic
and telephone wires in use were put
together it would make communica-
tion with the moon and have enough
left for good-sized family clothes
line.
ONTARIO,
Where l am now sojourning, is an
agricultural district, and thu good
farmers are in the midst OF o bounti-
full harvest, September 14th, season
unusually late. The people are very
hospitable and sociable; also in
tensely religious, SO much SO that
they will consign any one that does
not coincide with them in their views
to Hades in forty nine seconds. liam
consigned.) The best policy for one
with pliable conscience to pursue,
is, while in Rome be Roman, and
if not liking Rome leave Rome by
the first train and 60 to Washington
Territory, where you have free
speech, free press, and women have
the right to vote.
The predominating denomination
in this province is iron clad Presby-
terian that gatiin' gun or rattlin'
tongue (like mine) can not penetrate.
Catholicism prevails in Quebec and
its adherents are of the dyed.in-the
wool species.
The weather here this season has
been SO complicated as to confound
the most astute of barometers. The
lightning is vivid, very expert, and
will knock the gable end of barn
to the West side of the river Styx
"and crook it on the way" As to
the thunder it comes with a vim (no
soft snaps) but genuine d-fashioned
such as we read about. During one
night in the month of August, the
lightning was so continuous that a
correct reader could have used it to
read by. 1t was unattended with
thunder and was variegated in color.
While we have no sea breezes here,
there are lake zephyrs of superior
kind, yet not cyclonic in their ve-
locity.
Are much the same as the old ones
warmed over, with very few varia.
tions, very monotonOus and unat-
tractive, long since committed to
to memory by the Oldest inhabitant.
The path outlined is straight and
very narrow, difficult for whole
soul to travel without material
cramping. The Gallo language is
still used. some of the prayer
meetings are conducted in that
tongue, which fact renders me at a
loss to know whether the supplica-
ton is for or against my spiritual
welfare, in which case, to one like
me, of nervous temperament, su-
perstitious and sensitive nature, is
very trying.
BUGS.
In due season the potato beetle
visits this country and fully displays
its profession as a vegetarian. It's
olfactory organs are very actute, and
the pupils of its eyes are quick Of
roroorfsoo Thn~ no-o bn~o 6v,