St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-23
Indian and the Pioneer We're
Waging Their Last
Great War,
And LuxupieS Were Few and
Far Between for the
i Settlers Early.
A Glance Back to the Hard
First Days Of the
City's Past.

up 10 view our cONulClOU DIS SpdIStly
settled portion Of the world, without
resources and without credit. As we
pass the panorama in view we see some
of those who were here, and their Occu-
pations and distinguishing character
istics. While our pioneers were denied
absolute necessaries of life. yet they
were rich in faith as to the future
growth and development of our state.
In truth. were they men of fore
sight. energy and enterprise. Their
foresight is demonstrated by their
Selling upon the most valu-
able corner lots and eligible build
ing sites, and, although panic after
panic have rolled over and beat against
them, yet we find these same old pio-
neers holding on to their possessions
with a degree of tenacity and persist
ence truly remarkable. Others have
Joined them to enjoy the blessings of
good government and good climate. and
among them men of capital and brains.
and they have used every persuasive
possible to induce them to surrender
their lands and tenements for glitter.
ing gold, but the words from their silver
lips have fallen, as a general thing, upon
deaf ears. Just look at what has been
accomplished i'll forty years. A little
STRACGLING VILLAGE
along Bench street has grown to a city
with not less than two hundred thousand
inhabitants. All men will agree that
this unprecedented growth is due to
the energy and enterprise of our early
settlers. Many of them have fallen by
the wayside, yet many remain with us,
and are numbered among our most
worthy citizens. They founded here in
st. Paul community known through
out the civilized world for its inteli-
gence, rapid progress and general pros
perity. In truth, it may be said of
Minnesota, ''there is no speech or lam
guage where her voice is not heard.
Her, line has gone out through
all the earth, and her words to
the end of the world" She pos
sesses more of the real elements of
wealth and prosperity than any other
state in the Union, and, always blessed
with a wise administration of govern
ment and the smiles of gracious Provi-
dence, will be one of the cherished spots
of the earth. c0nsecrated as the home of
happiness. contentment and of liberty.
Who can estimate the great work of
these earnest pioneers III moulding the
moral character and standing of this
community? They have encouraged
the erection of churches and school
houses, and these will forever bear wit
ness to their foresight, intelligence and
moral character. The foundations of
our grand free school system were
laid by them, and the good
flowing therefrom will increase
with each succeeding year until all
earthly things shall be lost in the
mighty ocean of the past. These same
men planned our railroads, which have
done so much to develop the resources
of the state Up to 1862 the shrill whistle
of the locomotive had not been heard in
this city. How quiet it was then, but
now the ringing of bells and the blow
ing of whistles make music in the ears
of the old pioneer. We have heard the
soft, sweet strains of Ole Bulls violin,
we have heard the mellow notes from
cultivated human voices, which, for the
time, seemed to lift us up above the earth
into a realm where all was harmony;
but best of all to our ear, is the rafting,
smashing noise of the wheels of prog
reSs, as they bear away the surplus pro-
auctions of our people and bring back
to us the wealth of the great West,
which is tributary to our city. How
pleasant ii is to recall the old aSSOcia-
lions formed in territorial DAYS. The
pioneers were bound together in COM
mon brotherhood by strong ties forged
in the furnace of common hardships and
common privati0nS. Genuine hospital
ity was a characteristic trait in the man
hood of each one of them. But times
have changed since then. The young
girls and boys of that day are the grand
mothers and grandfathers of to-day.
Those beautiful eyes we then
so MUCH ADMIRED
are now concealed behind bi-focalS, and
those tiny fingers now ply themselves
in knitting mittens for their grand
children. But, after all, who would
care to live in this world if there were
no grandmothers?
Then the Indian was here, but he has
followed the advice of Philosopher
Greeley and gone West, and the odor-
ferrous Kinikinick no more tickles the
mucous membrane of our Olfactories-
churches rear their spires heavenward,
shanties have been torn down and mas
sive structures replace them. The tepee
went. with the Indian, and upon the
site upon which it stood stands the man
sion of the educated and refined.
1t is sad to think of it. but soon these
early associations must be severed for
ever. The unsteady gait of the old set
tier shows that he is growing Old: in
fact. the greater part of them seem to be
in training for the final march to Oak
land.
Then, how dependent we were on the
outside world. Our supplies had to be
imported, even to the very flour we con-
sumed. Our Christmas dinners had to
be brought from Prairie du Chen or
GaIena, and only those who were in
circumstances could enjoy |
the luxury of the American bird. Now, |
with rapid transportation, the festive
board groaning under the choicest |
viands and f1anked by the Injuries of |
every cline. it is within the reach of the
bumblesthome in the land. Then new !
corners were in the habit of bringing |
supplies with them sufficient to last for
several months. An old friend brought |
two hams, twenty pounds of crackers,
and barrel OF whisky, and he still lives |
to express his deep regret at squander |
ing so much money on crackers and |
ham. A lady friend brought broom |