Iron County register., 1889-02-28
A Trip to North Missouri.

the columns of the REGISTER tor
year and half will be sufficient ex-
cuse for a few words once more. Thai
time has been too full of responsible
ties and official duties to have leisure
for this kind of pleasant pastime
Now, however, / find myself seated IN
an easy chair in a not very smooth
riding car ..on the Wabash Ry., ap-
preaching st. Louis, from trip to
kirksville in far North Missouri,
whittier l went on Thursday last to
leliver two lectures in aid of benevo-
lent objects.
I had never before been farther
north on this route than Moberly, so
that all 1 have seen north of the lat
ter point is new to me. Central north
No. is grand agricultural country,
with splendid soil, so gently undulat-
ing as to afford perfect drainage Yet
of most easy and convenient tillage.
Timber is not always plentiful. but
coal abounds so that fuel is abundant
and cheap.
(The shaking of the car will have to
answer for any profanity your printers
may indulge in attempting to decipher
this chirography.)
The farms are splendid and in high
state of cultivation, and very product
i've, but the buildings are Uery indif-
ferent, unworthy the present state of
the county's prosperity and its enlight-
ened civilization, of course there are
many exceptions. 1t is a shame, and
incomprehensible to me why Missouri
should be behind Iowa and Kansas in
this particular.
kirksville is prosperous little city
of 1000 people, the seat of one of our
State Normal Schools, also of one of
the best and most prosperous CONNER
cial colleges in the western country.
The normal is a fine building sur
rounded by pretty campus of ten
acres, prettily ornamented by trees
and walks. The school has over 800
students,-much less than it ought t,
have under its training. 1t is a de-
lightful experience to look into the
bright intelligent faces of so many
students and talk to them. What
beneficent and po tential influences are
constantly going.out from these train
ing schools of our state, to strengthen
and upbuild society.
The most interesting thing at Kinks
ville,..to an Irontonian is the, CONNER
cial College, built from foundation TO
dome by our former towns folk, Mr..
w. J. Smith and his good wife. Who?
Billy Smith, do you ask? Yes, the
same little "toe-headei ,"rattling, wide
awake Billy, who only few years
ago was trudging about the streets of
Ironton doing "chores," ready always
to earn an honest nickel. Without q
| dime to start with they have erected
magnificent three story brick build
ing so by so feet. The 1st floor actual
business department, 81 floor Book
keeping and pensmanship depart
ments, and the 3 / floor as pretty all
Opera House as can be found in the
state outside the large chies, elegantly
appointed, and lighted by electric
| lights, rented now for $1,000 per year.
The college is thoroughly prosperous,
having about $40 students enrolled.
Mrs. Smith, (also an Ironton girl,) is
at the head of the pensmanship de-
ment, aud is recognized as one Of the
finest pensmen or penswomen on the
continent. l state but the softer facts.
1t has always been a great pleasure
OF me to say kind words of encourage
ment to young pople of Ironton, and
to speak of their success and good
works wherever [ have found them
scattered over the country working
instance the success is most phenome-
nal. 1 also met young Mr.. Farmhouse,
of lPonton. who is a close and hard
working student at this institution.
1 do not know any more inspiring
spectacle than to see boys--especially
when thrown on their own resources
industrious, ecomical, honest and
true, keeping out of bad company and
bad habits, pushing on with all ener-
gy and perseverance IN the develop
ment of all the talents with which the
Creator endowed them, so that these
may be used for the good of their fel-
low men, and adding, if ever SO little,
to the real happiness of others--and
all possible good to the commonwealth.
Now my train is nearing the Union
depot, and, therefore, adieu.
Feb. 10th, 1889. EMERSON.
Gold Rpapine- OufrfZ