Smyrna times., 1885-08-19
For the Smyrna Times.
Letter from Illinois.

Mr.. EDITOR The weather here is
quite cool at this time, which is very
much in favor of the Illinois farmer,
who is now threshing oats, there being
little or no wheat in this part of the
State. A number of acres were sOwn
last Fall, but the extremely cold
Winter killed the wheat all out the
same ground is, however, added to the
corn acreage. 1t is said by the oldestset-
tiers here that the Winter past was by
far the cOldest since they have been in
the State. This fact caused many to
complainingly salute their neighbors
with: " Pretty cold, this morningw
"Yes, about the coolest ever here to
my knowledge" The thermometer
registered as low as 32' below zero and
still the Illinois farmer, doctor and
preacher were found at their respect
i've posts of duty. / myself rode six
miles, facing stiff northwest wind,
with the thermometer at lSo. This
may seem to some very high, or rather,
low, but the fact that the air is not so
damp here as in Delaware or Maryland,
will allow one to be as comfortably
warm at 180 as it would be there at
zero. There is not this difference in
warm weather, for when a hot day
comes upon us here we all know it
without being told, and yet as if you
were perpetually ignorant of the fact,
every person you speak to will very
politely inform you of it by saying 4:
8" It's real warm to-day"
But never has this part of our State
had such a season for corn and well
may we sit at home in the East and
read of the great cOrn-felds of the
West, for they surpass everything you
ever saw of the corn kind, although
one man will till from 25 to so acres
and gather an abundant harvest. In a
word, this is grand place and even
more thickly settled than Delaware,
but while we boast of cOrn-felds we
have no peach orchards at all, and
apple trees are very shOrt-lived.
Near this city are the lovely nurser-
les of the old and venerated DunIaps
also The Dunlap Rural Fruit Farm. y
These Dunlaps have naturally marked
the early history of this State. This
city is the home of many very wealthy
men who have lived to improve. 1t is
also the home of "B. F. j." the bril-
liant correspondent of the Country Gen
Heman.
In fact, no one can have an idea Oi
the amount of business which is done
by these Western men and all of 8
style which everyone will admire.
Gen. U. S. Grants memorial service:
were held here in the ArmOry Hal
with great interest.
The Illinois State University is stu
ated between Champaign and Urbana
which Two cities are but one mile apart
This University is of immense size an(
splendidly finished, and a young MAI
of this place is not ashamed to work
. for an education if it can be had NJ
other way. At Urbana there is ;
, splendid crystal lake and park, vel
. kept.
r North of us by way of the Central R
r., at a distance of 12S miles, is tn,
+ great Chicago of the West, with it
n rushing business men and well laid Ou
4 drives. South of us the State woul,
E remind one of Southern Delaware
;, Things and people seem not in so mucl
=. of hurry and seem to go of yer
quietly but surely.
This State is laid off in sections an
the roads are we'll kept. There is lit
tie or no timber but one vast field G
prairie and of a clear morning one ca
see steeples at distance of fully fftee
g miles. But how we long for the peac
J. and apple orchards of Delaware, c
o Maryland, my Maryland" But on
thing of late reminds us of our natiy
n home is the old fashioned ague an
II fever and how they do go for a ma
lie from the East, especially when he
d. alone. The oxygen treatment, hOv
ct ever, out-generals them; a sure thin
N to prevent one from getting the blues
r the tender, sweet and loving sound
b. the mosquito as he comes to claim h
le kinsfOlk in foreign land. This is OF
p good trait, however, of these little fe
r lows, with their beaming eyes, we
S. come hand and tempting lips. That
n they are never ashamed Of their reli
lit tives, and of course one feels at hon
ne in the still watches of the night whC
of at late hour they arrive and bid W
a arise and shine; your light haviI
re come you proceed to welcome them
or giving the first newspaper that can
a had.
On Yes, this is grand place if y,
en- doubt it come out and see us and Y
tie will make it as pleasant for you as pc
an sible. Our roads are good and we W
Lct take a drive. We are no longer Il
he West" but are prepared to show y
lg. all the advanced arts of our day rig
here, and the grandest cOrnfelds "
Die ever saw. Wishing our friends of t
lct East all the choice blessings of XII
lp- Providence, we remain,
to Yours, &c,
on 7. l.. PRICE
lp- Champaign, Ill.,, August 10, 1885.
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