The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-10-10

| saw Saltwater last week for the first
world for few days recreation on the.
dump, that would get an opportunity to
learn whether my unfavOrable opinion,
formed behind the bars was correct. ]
must say that it is very good looking town,
and seems to be alive. | see many things
here that are not seen in every town Of its
size which go towards making a city.
High telegraph poles bearing many wires
on either side of the street, high buildings,
gas posts, water hydrantS, street cleaners,
news boys saloons, fat sleepy police, dudes,
and lOaferS at the station. There must be
some 7-day adventistS here. too. for the first
day | was out they gave me one ''snlpe'
and all the water melon could eat think
Saltwater is right in the line. Ii any one
will look straight up to the sky while in
Saltwater they quickly see that the town
occupies the central point of the earth /
am reminded of some Tennessee towns
when looking at Saltwater. For instance.
Chattanooga, Clarksvlle, and Paris all 10
Gated on streams similar to the st. CrOiXy
also their valleys and hills. There is beauti-
full passenger depot here. and the r. +.
competition eXcels that of Nashville, Ten
nessee. But there are no chair coaches nor
vestibule trains here, | an sorry to say,
which makes it look like will have to
walk out of the town, for | cannot ride in
Jim crow cars. Saltwater has three news
papers. Republican, Democrat. and other
wise, but they are not very enterprising. fot
l expected that they would have their re-
porters down to interview me. | had pre-
pared myself by reading the Mills Bill and
ha txyn lpfthrS of ooPpntoncp | Intended
to suggest the fOrtification of Saltwater,
but there is no need of that for the saw
logs in the river far SurpaSSeS the number
of shining places that John saw when he
looked the last time.
We are the cynOSure of the town just
now, especially myself and another cOutry-
man of mine, those who would not see us
are made to do so by the little boys who
shout NEGRO. negro. look at the negro"'
MY friend does not like this and says he
would break them in two if he could get
hold of them.
| see lot of church steeples here and
bank. l saw the Jail. the chief of police,
bill boards with Haverly'S nnStrels billed
on them. Miss Emma Abbot company's
pictures are in the windows. On the whole
if | had any money to invest, here is good
place, for | really think | would gain the
whole world here and lose my own soul just
as we'll as anywhere. People of Still
water have my best wishes and wish them
to know also that it is the only town | was
ever in that | brought nothing into and am
taking nothing out
| see that Wisconsin is just across the
river and there is a bridge leading over
there So when am out if | can get by
the policemen | think | will walk over there
and back. just to have it to say that [ have
been in that state, for intend to put more
than thousand miles between me and Still
water very shortly. Away in the future it
occasion permit, | will tell my friends that
l was once western pioneer and helped to
build Saltwater.
Good bye. my fond preseryer and pro-
tector: when | am gone you will miss me as
| will you: but it the separation is as deSir-
able Oh your part as it is on mine, no tears
will be she'd and we can not be made worse,
by the separation. W. T.