River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-04-12
MADISON LETTER.


MADISON, April Q, 1888.
Ed. JOURNAL: During my last visit
to the little city by the Kinnikinnie
the last of the Farmers Institutes for
the winter was in session here, and
drew togc.,ur a large number of far
mers from different parts of the state,
and spectators enough To make the
attendance too large for the capacity
OF the Assembly chaL.Oer. Mr.. Nor
rison had arranged an elaborate pro-
gramme, and called together his corps
of able workers, SO as to make the
wind up as near as possible summing
up of the entire work of the season.
The meeting is pronounced a grand
affair, and leading men (who pay heavy
taxes have been heard to say, that
the appropriation for Farmers Insti-
tutes was the wisest expenditure the
state has ever sanctioned, and that, if
nothing further should be done the
seeds of instruction already planted
were worth p million dollars to the
state. Such opinions as these coming
from heavy tax payers who are not
farmers are very significant, and speak
volumes for the work Mr.. Morrison
has accomplished, and will do much
towards securing future and increased
appropriations for the continuance of
the work. The Farmers Institutes of
Wisconsin have already national
reputation, and the benefit resulting
to the farmers from them max es them
a fixture, and will bring dishonor on
the head of any legislator who dare
presume to raise his voice against
them.
The election in Madison last week
resulted in a Democratic victory and
crowns whisky king for another year.
The chief struggle here seems to be to
get whisky and beer on top, hence it
can safely be concluded that the chief
duty of the Mayor is to preside over
the hosts of Garmbrinus, and sit on
the throne of Bachus. This will no
doubt be well done as the Mayor elect
is polished saint and official dignitary
of the Congregational church, with
temperance professions which he at
tempted to sustain by setting it up for
the boys, combining his libations to the
temperance beverage known as ''pop,"
thus proving his claim to the suffrages
of the sturdy drinkers, aud dealers in
tangle foot and temperance pop, and
at the same time proving to his own
satisfaction that he who can so far re-
sist temptation as to drink pop must
be christian indeed. Some people
disagree with him, but they are cracks
of course and should not NEEDLE with
these nice questions.
There are three things this city is
celebrated for, to-wit, beauty, educa-
ton, and grog shops. Saloons are full
of people on Sunday, and on some of
the main streets the passers by can
hear robust profanity within when
passing these regulators of the city
government. The people seem to like
it for there appears to be no effort to
change it, and the prospect is that
there will continue to be conglOmer-
alton of piety, eruditiOn and grog for
long years to come.
During the three first days of last
week the capital city was visited by
John II. f. Kolb commissioner of
agriculture and migration of Ala
bama, and three other gentlemen of
that state, who are on a tour of the
northwest advertising the advantages
of the south offered To actual settlers.
Col. kolb and his companions received
much attention and awakened quite an
interest in favor of the Sunny South.
Gov. Rusk returned from his travels
on the evening of the 4th fully restor-
ed to health and has been the recipient
of many warm congratulations.
The snow all disappeared here long
ago and mild weather has been the
fashion for some time, bringing out
the green grass and spring birds to re-
ioice the heart of man. 1t is refresh
ing to hea, the robins and blue birds
sing, and see the lawns begin to smile;
and the great contrast between this
and three feet of snow forces itself on
the mind to the disadvantage of north.
ern Wisconsin.
Sunday brought ont the usual throng
of church goers, and the houses OF
worship were crowded wi tn those who,
released from the busy cares of every
day life, sought, no doubt, enlighten-
ment in those truths which if applied
to individual life would make man.
kind better, while other throngs
assembled to participate in those
evils which, in this reckless genera
ton are bringing ruin and disgrace to
50 many. Thus the unequal struggle
between darkness and light goes on in
sort of NIP and tuck" way, with
little to indicate whether nip or tuck
will win the race, except that nip
seems at present to be ahead.
Cloudy weather has prevailed since
yesterday, but the clouds now show
their silver lining and the weather is
delightful. The farmers are begin
ming their spring work and the plows
will soon be in motion. Send us
snow bank. Doc.