The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-08-21
AS SEEN By AN OUTSIDER.

just now the goddess Ceres Walks
abroad over the state, with her san
daled feet, scattering her bounties on
every hand. And as one travels
through miles on miles OF waving
corn, fields OF flax and wheat and all
manner Of food products, it becomes
apparent to even a Nebraskan that
this rival on her eastern borders is
really and truly ''some pumpkins
Half score Of years ago or more,
Iowa-at least the northern part
experienced q season Of overwhelm-
ing failure. Wheat, wheat, wheat,
and nothing but wheat, did 1t. Sue
cessive failures Of the one great crop
ruined many q plucky farmer and
sent him to other states, impover.
ished and compelled to begin life
over again. But as often happens,
failure taught many useful lessons,
and the farmers Of Iowa learned we'll
the lesson taught them by sad exper-
fence. Diversified farming" hence
forth became emblazoned upon the
field OF their escutcheon, and to-day
Iowa is rich in cattle, honey, flax,
corn and other things rs well as in
wheat-many successive failures in
any one of which would not bring
ruin, or hint of it. This is, as every
one knows, the banner state OF the
Union in dairy products, and is not
far behind the first in fine stock in
terests. This county Of Howard has
many fine herds and flocks that
would delight the eye of the connois-
seur, and be source Of envy to all.
Mr.. Converse. the member from this
district, il noted for his fine herds,
owning as he does several fine farms.
all well dotted over with the ''cattle
upon q thousand hills" And Mr.. w.
c. Nichols has the largest flock Of
pure Shropshire Down sheep in the
state. He has just returned from
England with.a addition to their
flock of ITO head bought in the fam
Gus Shropshire county itself.
Cresco. the point Of the present
writing, is little town of $500 peo-
pie, built upon section Of the rich
est rolling prairie and lovliest wood
ed land in the State. The Milwaukee
and st. Paul railway runs through
the village, which is prominently q
tree town. rs scarcely q house but
nestles down among the stately beau
ties, much like brood of chicks be-
meath the mother wing. 1t is also as
tony" town as you will find in a
months travel; and though small,
can boast of not q few elegant homes,
among the chief of which is the resi-.
dence of Mr.. VIM. kellow, which,
with its stately brick proportions
and French roof, its spacious lawns,
rows Of hedge, and pretty grove in
the rear. would do credit to any sec-
ton of Omaha, and would not suffer
by comparison with some OF the
handsomest homes there. In close
procession come those OF j. B. Ca
ward, the merchant. DR.. Clemmer,
the druggist, the Borthwick's, the
Whites, and many others.
OF course the little city has, like
every other. its drawbacks. 1t has
its tattlers; it's woman Judas whose
tongue is never still, whose kiss be.
trays and whose lance wounds in the
dark. 1t has its professional fossils;
its share Of the parvenu and it's bust
ness cadayers. But it has also it's up
and doing believers in Cresco; it's
wide awake workers; its glorious
women and its blind saint. 1t pos.
sesses also what you'd scarce expect
from one SO small" higher degree
Of culture and refinement than you'll
find in any other three times its size.
1t has its full quota Of the 'beau
monde" who know what is ''good
FORM and who keep posted in al
the ''quirks' of fashion in all direc
tions. Did you doubt this, you should
have been present at Mrs. kellow',
reception this week. All Omaha lady
Of the upper ten" society might
once inside, well imagine herself in
attendance upon the SWEETEST o.
similar affairs in her beloved city or
the big Muddy The style" o.
everything was quite '.au fait'' anG
beyond criticism. In matters of dres,
the ladies keep fully ''up to the times
and do not have to buy new gown,
when they find themselves in Chica
go, Omaha or New York.
There are Ave churches here, ane
in the Congregational, the Deacon
esses take their places and do theil
work quite as efficiently and with IA
more grace than do their brothers il
the same capacity; and the high
toned members would smile smil,
Of contempt at your pitiable bigotr,
and ignorance were you to hint tina
those refined ladies were out of thei
sphere" or engaged in q task TO
which they are not eminently fitted
The "city' boasts of three papers
all weekly; two republican and on,
democratic, and though a ''rantinf
republican" myself, / will do the sim
pie Justice to say that that the latte
was never known to curry favor, O
sell its birthright-for ''nless Of pot
tage'-political or any other kind
Mr.. w. r. Mead is its efficient editor
Do the Omaha lovers of the falnou
West Point creamery butter o
that state know all about the pro
cess OF its manufacture? Well, Wis
tied typical Iowa creamery the 9th
er day, and in my next letter will tel
you all about it.-"LAUREsTINE" IL
Omaha Mercury