Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1886-02-04

than mine.
People all said, 'Nye, you are fool
to strike out on a two-thousand-mile
trip in winter over the mountains, and SO
far away from Oshkosh" did not mind
that. have been called fool before by
people who are now where the worm dieth
not and the fire is unquenched. So Ipro-
ceeded toward the setting sun.
During the summer I have gently
worked my way from Portland, Me-, to
Portland, Ore, and am free to say that
am greatly impressed with the wealth
and unbounded resources of our great re-
public In that little space of time have
examined the slate quarries of Maine, the
coal and kerosene of Pennsylvania, the
iron and lumber Of Northern Wisconsin,
the flour, the lumber and the census Of
Minneapolis and st. Paul, the boundless
farms of Dakota, the countless herds and
rich mines of Montana and Idaho, and
the almost unlimited resources of the
Northwest coast Of the Pacific.
lam greatly pleased and gratifed with
this growth, and take this public meth
! cd of expressing my entire satisfaction.
This country from which I am now
writing is to me an enigma. Here, in
the northwest part Of the Union, regard
less Of the customs Of the country, these
people are picking roses in their gardens,
and setting fy-paper around in the win
dows. Ihave seen winter linger in the
lap Of spring, but never before saw sum
mer remain in the lap Of winter until it
seemed to demand an explanation.
On the way over here had avery pleas
ant trip, with one or two exceptions, and
they were little episodes that might occur
to any one, presume One Of them was
an episode. about two months old. On
every car that I engaged passage I found
young American Of about that age, who
whooped and howled nights and re-
hearsed days. That is the reason why
am now pale and emaciated.
There was one little cub, about two
years old, whose hand seemed to be
raised against all humanity, including his
mother For days he suorted and rebelled
and howled and repudiated the action
Of the convention. Still he was kind
hearted and generous during his lucid
intervals. He would give his little broth
ers, or the other little friends in the car,
anything he had, after he had tested it to
see that it was all right. He would di-
vide his last dose Of medicine with the
other children or give them anything he
happened to have. He gave them the
measles just before he got off. From
Portland up to Seattle we had the pleas
ure of riding with two lnnatics, who
were in charge Of the Walla Walla
sheriff These lunatics were social in
their natures, and one Of them called me
'Mr. Gould" This showed that his
mind was hopelessly wrecked. do not
re semble Mr. Gould in any way, except
that understand that he intends to keep
out of Wall street hereafter, and SO do I.
A friend Of mine made his advent into
Seattle under rather odd circumstances.
He had never been here, but was on his
way here by stage some years ago. He
had letters Of introduction to leading
business men, and be intended to 60 into
Journalism. On the stage he met an old
friend in the sheriff of neighboring
county, who was going over to Seattle
and had intended to take lunatic
over but his man had evaded him.
He had the shackles and handouts,
i however, and my friend-we
will call him James, so that his family
may be spared-said it would be good
idea for him to put ON the cuffs and
things, and when they met people he
would jump up in the wagon, rattle his
chains, gnash his teeth and yell This
would scare one most to death and be
very amusing. So the sheriff agreed to
it, and they ironed James amid great
mirth and hiIarity. When the stage met
any one, especially party containing
ladies, James would jump up, clank his
! chains and emit a long-drawn yell, such
! as a hyena might use when he got his
tail shut in the door.
It was fun.
James played his part frst-rate, and
the sheriff played his part well also
James thought he rather overplayed it,
though, for when they got to town he
refused to unchain the amateur lunatic,
and asked the clerk for strong room,
with double lock, in which to put him
People came from all over town to see
the maniac. He begged and entreated
the sheriff to take his irons off, and every
| little while he would allude to his letters
Of introduction, and people would laugf
and say that was pretty good, and asl
the sheriff if the Introductory lette
seemed to be his favoritc weakness.
/ When James got down from his room
ID the morning, the clerk having been in