The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-12-21
Westward Bound.
CHTcAQO. M. Iq-lb-eo

delphia Friday p. M. struck Chicago just
20 minutes late to make st. Paul connec-
tions. l came over the Grand Trunk-it
ought to be Sunk line from Buffalo.
The train was late one hour and these
breezy westerners, not caring Thinkers
damn for one, would not delay the st.
Paul train that much TO take dozen pas
sengers who were bound for that destina-
tion There was no wailing or gnashing
of teeth but can vouch for 1t that there
we're some peculiar gutteral souRds-com-
ing from way below-resembling very
much some forceful Anglo Saxon, ex-
pressed in all its variations, but 1t had no
effect. The only thing that could be done
was the expressions referred TO or to bite
the lips, be easy and take,a day off In
Chicago So here we are - rot In st. |
Paul as anticipated.
Well, this is country of great distances,
possessing all the embellishments of ma
ture's manifold provisions. Thirty hours
constant riding has not yet brought me
midway TO my terminus. Nothing of note
occurred on my tip so far, only, probably,
the obsei vations l made of the country
through which passed and some congenial
splits met enroute.
The train steamed out of Buffalo about
7 a. M, 1t crossed the suspension bridge
some thirty minutes later. Here, by way
of parenthesis, it may be safe TO say that
this noted bridge is a magnificent display
| 6 ;o- oiu Cd ofa
description would require critical exam
nation OF its structure, intricacies, &c,
and having but q casual obseryation-time
limitsd-thls is impossible. But my view
of the Falls and the river of msddening
eddies proved disappointment, because,
never having beheld it before, my anticl-
pations as TO the real were ss great, 80 that
when beheld it, the real dwaTfed consid-
erably. But 1t is sight worthy to behold,
the falls in their plunage and sound, and
the river in its dashiug fury, whirls with
awe inspiring effect along its course. The
river has cut i:s way through a solid rock
to depth of some hundred feet, as though
the passage were drilled by the hand of
man. 1t is remarkable thing and one of
those phenomenas that illustrates the
supernatural power of great directing
hand.
After leaving this point the ride Is
D the St Clair river, is reached. The coun-
, try is level, we'll timbered, with rich soil.
! To an observer, every side indicates pros
r perity, thrift and phenomenal development
D of resources. The Canadians evidently are
1 not behind the times. The river at Point
e Edwards is crossed by ferry to the United
= States. Here is formed the connection
: with the upper and lower lakes. The riv'
|. er St. Clair is this medium. On the Can
4 adian side the train was met by what Is
: called Customs Inspector, but who
), should be more properly termed legal.zed
e robber or bulldozer. What caricature,
n fraud and humbug this system of official
q ism is upon the laws of natural trade and
J, the communication as between man and
v man. l hope the day is not far distant
q when this system of feudal days will be
o wiped out so completely that 1t will only be
j left for the historian to relate that gov
o ernment of the people once existed and
D may it be the last, that required body Of
S sentinels to stand upon some passageway
e and levy tribute upon that which by nature
r was designed to benefit and make mankind
d happy To give a single illustration, q
d passenger was on board who bought IL
Il cents worth of Christmas toys for her chill
K dren. An examination is made, the Off
y cial says 35 cents duty. The poor woman
said that all she gave for them was Il
= cents and would not pay the 35 cents. Re
u sult, the toys were confscated, probably, al
! Butler had it, as contraband good. Shame
II on such governmental methods. Thi'
evidently was a case of applying the spoth
cary scales of Benjamin the Greater;
1899.
:, The channel between Point Edwards ant
Fl. Gratiot during the coldest weather nev
"A er freezes over. 1t is freak of nature
# for about half mile above and below thi
70 point bridge of ice is formed lasting
" during the whole cold season. 1t is evi
h IDENTIFY the handwork of God and stands a
a, monument to his design that there shoul'
"a be no interference as between man an,
10 man in his social and trade relations. An
p when looked at in this light how abomin
:, able it looks to see the movements o
mans selfshness interfere with these YER
IA laws as related above.
70 The cause of this open channel is causes
- by the current of Lake Huron's waite
:, emptying itself int the lower basin. Blu
IS from the boat, above and below, the bridg
of ice can be seen. At this point also th
change is made from eastern to middl
time. One lour late. After leaving Fl
Gratiot the line lie through Michigan an
y Northern Indiana. The characteristics @
the country are similar to those Of souther
80 Canada.
~ The congenial spirits with whom joul
- neyed from Elmira to Chicago we're typ
~ cal son of Erin-a Corkonian-on his wa
~ to Los Angeles, Cal, Patrick AcCarty b
'u name; the other was whole-souled Kar
'u sas Yankee, d. A. Merwin. on way for hi
&c home, and to finish the trio, 1t took flu
u hedged Pennsylvania Dutchman, en- rout
IL for Montana. A rather diverse combinf
" ton, but full of good spirits and happ
n' withal. The rishman furnished tn
eu amusement. He was full of Irish Wi
rs clever in the extreme and caused a cor
'n tinual roar by his inexplicable notions an
rs ideas of our country. He declared that
W came with the ieea Of few hours iourne
lis across the continent, assured us that i
his days riding he had seen fenceS-wha
"a we call worm fence-enouRh to cover a
lis Ireland. He was horrihed at this wastage
ne [ could relate, II time would permit. man