River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-01-19
MADISON LETTER.
January 10, 1888.

| DEAR JOURNAL: Emboldened by the
honor shown me in the publication of
my former letter, and the obligations
| feel in thus discovering that your
editorial nitche was at my service, /
again presume upon your gracious
temperament Gf that's what you call
it, by first apologizing for my long
windedness in the previous effort.
| (which must have reminded you of a
Dakota blizzard,l and then sallying
forth to fulfill the original promise
made to write something interesting
for your columns l know your read
ers must have felt grateful for the
| gems of information couehed in my
previous undertaking, Il use the word
previous in its most striking sense,)
especially that portion relating to my
nights repose on wheels, where the
gentle goddess embraced exhausted
humanity, regardless of age, sex. or
previous condition; and the indebted
ness created through their apprecia
Uion of my gems, shall now endeavor
in some degree to liquidate. by plung.
ing still further into my resources,
solely for their intellectual feasting.
In my reference TO the situation of
Madison between the lakes Mendoza
and Monona, mot Monroe as you make
me say,) whose limpid waters wash
the skirts of the city, had no thought
of laundry work, but simply stated
fact, in somewhat poetic manner.
las seen in the word limpid as con-
trasted with the word skirt to indi-
cate the sweet, cleanly condition of
the outer borders of the town, where.
in sweet spring time, and in summers
bdlmy evenings, 10y the lake shore, in
silent hooks, the lads and lasses nestle
among the green leaves to indulge in
loves eestatic lies, in those gentle
tones which are as music to the soul
of unTipe humanity when bTeathed in
a nook only. Such was my intention,
aud my thought, unmixed with gross,
sOrdid consider ations of any kind. |
am partial to hooks on account of the
Influence they had on my unripe man
hood in years gone by. And, must
confess that, ''limpid water" has
charms for me which had an influence
on my tender consciousness in my days
of earliest discretion, (and some little
in my days of indescretiOn,) which
will not be soon forgotten. But it is
combination of nook and ''limpid
water" that carries the uncOnquerable
charm, and often entices my thoughts
back TO particular nook where limpid
laughed in silvery spray, as it bdthed
the brows of lad and lass whose
hearts beat as one, (about 20 to the
minute, as they gdZed upon the Hmptd
dashing down the nook $ back from
bai k spout instead of a crevice of the
aforesaid nook.
cannot forget that nook nor the
limpid, and | only mention it for the
benefit of your readers, to aid them III
calling to MIND their own departed
hooks, and to give evidence that fully
appreciate my present environments,
to the hooks and limpid of which |
shall show my prOfoundest respect, as
soon as summer shades entice, and
balmy breeZes fan the brow.
AS | spoke in my former of the an
ticipated visit of Madam Rive King.
and rather disparagingly of entertain
ments in general, of a theatrical char
acter, I will say further that, the peo-
pie of this city are given to entertain
ment of high literary character, and
of such there is no lack, for both the
disposition and the ability are here in
abundance, and utilized.
1t was my good fortune to be an
auditor at the Rive King concert, a"d
were competent critic you should
have something OF description OF the
famous lady's playing. All can now
say is l was captivated aud bewitched,
and woman that can captivate and
bewitch me all at once is able bodied
She is queen of the piano, and has IA
king for a husband and that makes IA
royal family; but the king had nothing
to do with me as sat with house
full of folks in rapt silence trying to
''catch on" to those enhancing strains.
which fell as thick as the limpid spray
| in my favOrite nook. know your
i readers will form an excellent idea of
he performance after reading this
lucid and classic criticism, and that is
| lust what | intended, otherwise |
| should not have mentioned it. But.
have not told you all; l was robbed OF
much of the witchery of the music by
an unfortunate circumstance, which
was unable to control. The usher
gave me a seat most favorable for
viewing the stage aud the wonderful
execution of the performer; but while
enjoying the satisfaction which always
attends a consciousness of good fortune
the same usher placed in the chair to
the right of me, charming young lady
whom he failed to provide with a pro-
gram. Seeing her disappointment |
attempted the gallant thing by bestOw-
ing upon her my own. accompanied
" my characteristic paternal smile,
which was received with polite thanks.
(the program, not the smile.) Finding
the chairs somewhat narrow | swayed
my body to the left, to give the dear
creature room to he at ease without
seeming to nestle too closely to my
starboard, and patiently waited the
rising of the curtain. When the per-
Torrance opened and the queen" had
caught me on the fly. anu was holding
me to it until the witchery began TO
get in its work, and was forgetting
my surroundings, that same usher
chucked another lady into the chair at
my left, which forced me to an erect
position. and squeezed me up to the
lady at my right until, in my confu-
sion. l lost the thread of the music