Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-01-13

Monthly Of the current year, asks the fol-
Lowing question, what can justify one
in addressing himself to the public as if
it were his private correspondence" and
answers the same by giving three good
and sufficient reasons for so doing, none
of which are particularly applicable in
the present instance, as / have no story
to tell. neither can hope to put in fitting
words any common experiences not al
ready we'll told, and unless state the
plain fact, and say write because I feel
SO inclined, must summon vanity enough
to use his third reason as an excuse that
may possibly serve: ':Anything one likes
provided he can tell it so as to make it
interesting"
WHEN LEFT AUSTIN,
As the through train to St. Louis was not
running, the emily way to insure good con-
nections for the whole distance, was to
take freight TO Mason City, which did.
in company with citizen of Austin, and
perhaps half dozen others. The morn
ing was charming. and for the first halt
Of the short trip. good time was made;
then the stopping at the stations for work
began to take up more time, and to cause
some uneasiness in the minds OF the trav-
ele:s. Watches were consulted and
inquiries wore made in regard to
the precise moment the passenger
tram left Mason City. Zone sanguine
individual was sure that he had not rid
den all night and walked ten miles in the
morning to reach that train, for for
He was evidently acquainted with the
S. s. lesson of the previous week, for he
came to the conclusion, as our chances
grew beautifully less. that there was
Jonah aboard, and proposed that lots he
cast tor the offender, kindly making an
exception in favor Of the only lady pres
enI.
1T WAS ALL IN VAIN
For the conductor to send dispatch to
hold the train, for just as we came in
sight OF Mason City, away it steamed {!
Here was prcdicamect. Only forty
miles from home, with prospect of
twenty. four hours delay. Upon maxim"
inquiries at the dcpot, l found that no,h-
ing was to be gained by taking the night
| train, so brought to my aid all the reason
| and philosophy could muster, gave my
self up to the inevitable, and made myself
as comfortable as possible in place
| where the only mental pabulum that could
be found was a last weeks local paper.
| and a little old book published some
were in the beginning of the present cen
fury.
AS we started next day, l overheard a
| I'm glad we're goin'," and the hearty re-
Spouse that came quickly to nv mind was
in the words of Will Carlton, "Thcm's
J my sentiments, tew." The ride through
CENTRAL IOWA
| Was devoid of any special interest, the
| general features of the country being the
same as those of any prairie region.
About Eldora, however, there was very
pretty scenery. bluffs along the river over
grown with evergreens, reminding one
somewhat of the scenery along the upper
Mississippi. The
| JOURNEY THROUGH MISSOURI
was taken mostly in the night, but from
what saw of the state between dawn
and o'clock. the time of reaching Kan
sas City, it seemed to me that the work
Of creation was eitl.er incomplete or else
something in the way of terrible catas-
trophe had occurred to mar it,
Where the land was level it was
swampy, where il was at oil bluffy it was
rough, stony, and generally disfgured,
hood. did see fields enclosed by the old
fashioned zig gag fence The farm houses
we're built on the most infinitessimal
scale, the wagons, trains and farming
implements of the most dilapidated sort,
in short, everything showing great lack
OF northern enterprise and Yankee thrift.
KANSAS CITY
Is truly set on hill, or bluff, overlooking
the Missouri river. AS l saw all of the
city that could be seen from the r. r
portion of It, could hut think that the
question of water supply for its 100, 600
inhabitants must be a serious one, unless
there were some lake or stream of clear
water near, for it would certainly be un-
attainable through the mass of rock on
which it is built, and surely no person
that had ever caught a glimpse of the
turbid waters of that great river could
summon resolution to take draught
of it.
FIT. SCOTT
Is 100 miles directly south of Kansas City,
10 a. m. and 2 p. M, on day so charm
ing as Thanksgiving Day was in this lati
tude, over the smoothest and easiest OF
roads, In an elegant coach, was really de-
lightful.
The appearance of the country changed
much on reaching the west side of the
river. The land was high and rolling,
and the fields Of winter wheat clothed in
the verdant tints of spring, contrasting
with the sober autumnal hues, made 4
beautiful picture. The houses, too, were
of a much better order of architecture,
and the stone wall and hedge supplanteCl
the Anticipated rail fence. Occasionally
l saw on the hedges a yellow ball that al
first supposed was some sort of excres-
cence or fungus growth. but it finally &C.
Cured to me that 800 miles south of
Southern Minnesota, the climate had
hedge was the Usage orange, and the
yellow balls were the fruit thereof
Here, too, l saw another sight unfa-
miliar to my later years. Wordsworth, IN
enumerating the scenes of his childhood
that we're dear to him in after life, gives
the orchard the place of preference. Who
that has reveled in one in childhood,
enjoying first the loveliness Of the bloom.
then the delicious perfection of the ripe
fruit. can ever lose the fragrance of the
memory And now the sight of them,
brown and bare as they were, sent a thrill
of pleasure through every pulse.
This is y place with population Of
10000, and is growing rapidly. Work on
y new R. r. has just begun this week.
New houses are still in process of cree.
ton. In fact, building. am told, goes
on in the winter just about the same as
in summer. There are many pleasant
drives in andiabout town, though from the
nature of the soil, the roads, when dry,
are hard and inelastic, and riding is not
quite the pleasure that it is at home
The ride to the National Cemetery is an
exception, however, "a it is oyer fine.
macadamized road, which extends one
mile and half 10 the southeast of town.
The Cemetery is on . western slope.
containing 20 acres, and is enclosed by q
- 81 49,