St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-06-13
BEAUTIFUL ALEXANDRIA.
A Minnesota City With a Charming En-
vironment.
THRIFT ON EVERY HAND.
A Notable Summer Resort, Where One
Can Catch Fish and Enjoy
Oneself.
Special to the Globe.

the country around this lake-encircled
city. Situated in the heart of the famous
Park region, the little city of Alexan-
dria sets like gem in a crown of
beauty, for amid such surroundings it
would have been impossible for man
not to have caught the spirit of this
ideal creation of nature and to have re-
f1ected it in the material development of
the town. You see it in the modest yet
charming beauty of the homes here;
you see it in the bouleyarded
streets and broad avenues that
either of the Twin Cities might
envy; you see it in the lovely drive
WAYS along the shores of the lakes
which skirt the town on three sides;
and you see in the general air Of re-
finement and the high degree of culture
for which the population are distin-
guished. Yet all these esthetic eondi-
lions with which nature has generously
provided this favored spot have not re-
pressed that spirit of enterprise which
characterizes the Northwesterner in
whatever part of his domain you may
find him. l find here
BLENDING OF IDEAIISM
with materiallSm which suggests to one
that after all heaven and earth are not
so far apart as we sometimes imagine.
Alexandria is city of about $500 popu-
lation, and there is push and energy
manifested everywhere. Among the
industries of the town l observe two
large roller mills, two pillow factories
and three breweries.. There is ole OF
the finest and best kept hotels in the
Northwest, and several other smaller
hostelries that are far above the aver
age of the country town hotel. There is
a very cor siderable retail trade supply
ing thrifty and populousrural section.
AS an evidence OF the enterprising
spirit of the citizens, the streets are
lighted by electricity, and the town
authorities are just beginning the con-
struction of water works. The bonds
that we're issued for the purpose have
been sold, and everything is in readi-
ness to begin work. Alexandria is be-
coming a
NOTABLE SUMMER RESORT.
and each year is being more and more
patronized by St. Paul and Minneapo-
lis people. The hotels here and the
one at Geneva Beach. two miles below,
are already filling up, and will be
crowded during the summer season.
The numerous lakes of unrivaled
beauty, and all of them well stocked
with bass, pike. pickerel, and all the
gamiest species of the fnny tribe,
in addition to the loneliness
of the natural scenery, make this an ex
ceptionally attractive spot. The town
wears holiday aspect to-day; arches
are erected on the main streets, ever
greens are in profusion everywhere,
banners are suspended, and the entire
Lot, 1Iu h.
toned welcome to the Minnesota fire.
men, who are holding their seventeenth
annual convention here. Those who
only see fremen when fighting the
flames, or in parade on some holiday
occasion, would take them to be men of
deeds only. and not men of thought and
culture / confess to being undeceived
myself to-day when dropped into the
convention and saw one of the finest
deliberatye bodies in session that I
have seen anywhere. There was a de-
corum that church synod might emu
late, familiarity with parliamentary
usages that would put an average state
legislature to shame, and display of
knowledge concerning important sub
jects that would not have dishonored
college faculty. For the most part they
were plain, practical men. but they had
COLI pass VI hilOWlStls,C anu uOSISC VI
scholarship that surprised me. Among
the nearly 200 delegates 1 observed ex-
Chief Strong and Maj. Newson, of this
city; Chief Joy, of Minneapolis; Chief
Mcintosh, of Brainerd, who was elected
president of the association; Secretary
Cutler. of the state senate. who is the
statistician of the association; Chief
Coles, of Sank Center, who is patriarch
IN the brotherhood; Chief Smith, of
Winona; w. S. Elkins, Of Rochester;
j. IL. NieOlin, of Jordan, and others who
HAVE MADE RECORDS
and are equally we'll known throughout
the state. While looking upon the as
semblage / called to mind the story re-
lated of the first Napoleon, who. when
once riding in carriage with the king
of Austria, raised his hat TO an old
French soldier who stood by the way
side. The Austrian king suggested that
such Difference to private soldier was
sistent with the dignity of an emperor.
Napoleon replied: ''Sire, that man
helped me through the fame and smoke
of the battlefield to erect the arch of
empire. | honor my self when pay
tribute to heroism like that" These
firemen here have rot founded en-
pires. But, through the smoke and
flame of burning buildings they have
rushed to the very jaws of death to
rescue human lives and to save the
property of others. And in their pres
ence feel it is becoming in all of rs to
stand with uncovered head as trib-
ute to their herosm. I have seen here
to-day several crippled firemen hob
bling around on sticks, and l wonder
how it is that a community can be so
ungrateful as not to provide pension
for these men. The scars they bear
are as honorable as if they had been re-
ceiyed on the battlefield.
Capitalists Coming.