The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-08-18
LAKE HARRIET.
A Rock Islanders Glimpses ola Pop
ular Minnesota Resort.

| uIar minnesota IttsOft.
Editor of the Argus:
| LAKE HARRIET, MINI, Aug, 16-Lake
| Harriet, the most beautiful lake
of the Northwest. lies four miles south
west of Minneapolis and is the popular
resort for the elite of the Mill city. The
motor line runs regularly to and from the
city every twenty minutes until 1885 p,
NJ, and the Minnetonka train every hour.
| Lake Harriet. for its size, is the gem OF
Minnesota, liquid oasis for the tired and
busy populace of Minneapolis. 1t is sur
| rounded by sloping hills and pleasant
| cottages Silven Cottage on the opposite
side, contains party from the city who
| make it their summer home and are re-
| nowned far and near as the liveliest, gay
est crowd on the lake, and are envied by
| their city friends Each tree and shrub
even vies with nature to be, the most
graceful of its kind. From five hundred
to one thousand picnieers come out every
day, and only last week the Woman's
Suffrage convention turned out in full
| force, bringing the gentlemen with them.
The depot in the afternoon and evening
presents lively aspect. for then the
campers. picnic folks and all meet to say
good bye. Two hundred yards from
the depot on the summit of hill is the
Belone hotel. 1t is airy, spacious and
nicely furnished. Board excellent and
moderate rates. Travelling and business
men from the city find this quiet and
inexpensive summer retreat. No liquor
is allowed on the grounds, ard in all our
wandering We have not seen a man un>
der the influence Of drink. No blind pigs
allowed. A round trip to the city is
thirty-tive cents. if you have not bought
tickets. Ii you are quick witted and
buy tickets you get five rides for quar-
ter and twenty rides for dollar A
boulevard surrounds the lake aud thous-
ands of dollars have been annually spent
| upon it. In the evening it is travelled by
continued procession of elegant car
riages and out fits from the city
Horse back riding is very popular, and
when you see long procession of prauc
ing horses advancing with gallants aud
ladies upon them. you are reminded OF
the king OF France and four hundred
men, who did nothing but march up the
hill and then march back again 1t is a
pleasing sight to watch the young people
who come out for a moonlight sail.
The young ladies so blooming, in fresh
white dresses, wait impatIently for their
lovers to choose the right boat, and in a
short time the air is alive with song and
laughter, as the gaily colored birch bark
canoes float over the water. One morn
ing young lady aud myself rowed to the
opposite shore to see what we could see
We followed winding road that let to
windmill. and came suddenly in sigat
uf dazzling white cOttage-the home of
a Minneapolis land king. Our first in-
cllnatlon was to luu, but when we saw the
colonel himself approach us with kind
" smile. we cordially accepted his invita-
ton aud walked into his spacious par
lors He no doubt noticed our steady
gaze at the windmill, for the servant
soon came in with a glass of water
Flow this reminded me of Rock Island,
and of the careful attention the people
extend to the stranger. Sunday is the
gala day of all the week On this dav
thousands of laboriug men with their
families come out for days recreation
It is the only day of all the week that
some men have one hour of precious
freedom in the sunlight Let christian
people study well before they condemn a
man or woman the privilege of one
glimpse of nature, even if that day be
Sunday. Music is on the ground all day,
but You never hear a loud or ill-spoken
word. Everything is in perfect order
and the people are as deeply impressed
with the music as they are when walking
up the aisles of some noted aud elegant
church.
Every Thursday evening the campers
give a hop, and a jolly time they have for
few hours. The people of Harriet live
in tents, and parties of fifty and sixty
come out nearly every day. We predict
for Lake Harriet a bright future, where
dust covered individuals who are not al
lowed the waterworks, flee in the carly
spring from the wrath to come. No
wonder Rock Island has suffered for rain,
aud the people have almost all gone
away No use TO prey for rain rs long rs
the city council and mayor refuse the
Seventh ward people their just rights
the waterworks JESsICA.