, 1890-04-17
THE C0EUR D'ALENES.
Farewell Glimpse of Inter-
esting Fort Sherman.
A VIEW OF ROMANTIC SCENERY
[RrvIEw STAFF CORRESPONDENCE ]

! y
degree of fertility, without resort to
irrigation, Is attcsted by the results
achieved in the way Of gardening ut
Fort sherman. Last year each Of
tho four companies had its own
garden, and the results were partlc-
ularly gratifying. All sorts of veg
etables were produced In abundance.
The garden owned and cultivated by
Captain Bubbs company produced
500 bushels Of potatoes, much Of
which was sold at prices ranging
from to Q cents per pound.
In the foothills around the town,
and I'm little valleys running down
to the arms of the lake, number "
ranches are doing well in an agri-
cultural and stock-raising way. In
all probability the growing plant Is
largely draw their moisture from the
lakes, the sandy soil serving as a
sponge.
During the afternoon the writer,
In company with Messrs. Bronson
and Curtin, Of the Times, assembled
n lofty wooded hill which slopes
down to the clear waters of the lake
From its crest most delightful
prospect was afforded of truly
charming landscape. The day was
one of those capricious efforts so
characteristic Of April. The cool,
sweet wind came across the lake in
sharp gusts, but the swaying pines
and hcmlocks afforded n shelter from
lis severity. n profusion of wild
flowers attcsted the presence of
spring-purplo blossoms held aloft
by II lcafless stem; the yellow butter
cup that bursts through the cool,
moist earth long before the winter
SHOWS have vanished from the sur.
rounding hills; yellow, bell-lil<o
blossoms that strongly resemble the
lily aud delicate with flowers, with
tiny crimson heart, growing in
clusters upon vlning plant, were
seen at every turn.
From the apex Of this flower-clad
hill the waudercr Is afforded n most
enhancing view ofthe landscape that
rolls for miles in every direction,
embracing u pleasing variety OF
W
of sunlit valleys and soubcr fells, of
grassy slopes and rugged, rocky
points, while at his feet aud sweep
ing far away into the mountain re.
ccsses, lies the clear, blue lake, the
match less gem of the mountains,
and winding away toward the val
ley is the river that gives Spokane
itS name, that lights your city and
carries you to your homes at night,
erinds the wheat for your breakfast,
and prints the paper which contains
this letter.
And yet, with all the matchless
beauty of the prospect, II subtle
charm Is wanting, Il crowning glory
is lacking for IL all; the associations
of history arc not here; rs yet, no
poets wand has touched this scene
and invested 10 with that absorbing 9
interest which Scott has given 10
the locks of Scotland, and irving Ia
the tcrraced slopes of the Hudson,
Some day, when the passion for
gold and power shall have little
abated, we shall discover In our
midst IA flame of poetic genius which
Will supply this subtle charm and
weave u garment of fancy that viii
complete the ntiractiVencss Of our
scenic beauties, But not while
town lots and mater resources are
tho sole topic of converm-
ton, and brick blocks and golden
treasure the supreme aspiration
of the average youth. ! write this
not in ~ pesslmlstic strain, for mnn
can not subsist on poetry alone, and
our first and highest duty Is the
development of the resources of this
magnificent country. But the child
Is born, aud in our midst to-day,
who viii riscu upon wind ofpoesyand
add new charms to the natural love-
illness of our magnificent environ
mcnt; provided he Is not permitted
to dah6lc around the Spokane river
in his youthful days, only to he
swept over the falls.
1t was quite dark when I left the
hospitable roof Of my host Mt the
garrison and started through the
pines along the lake shore for the
town. The gale had gone down,
but If there was any moon in the
heavens 1t was hidden by dark
banks of clouds that nll day long
had been blown ont Of the West.
About tho deserted walks of the post
there was an air of loveliness That
was oppressive. The quick, meas
ured tread of II sentry, the flaring
street lamp which served to make
the shadows darker the ceaseless
sobbing of the night wind i'm the
shndowy pines, and the lazy beating
of the waves against the shore, all
added to the drearincss Of the scene,
and If had ever entertained the
slightest desire TO sine the caynlry,n
or the Infantry either, ii had en-
tircly vanished ~ ] picked my way
through the blacllness of the night
in search of my hotel.
Upon entering the hostelry dis
covered ut the counter two tawny
children of the Orient, peripatetic,
but scarcely aesthetic, sellers of
trinlScts and relics of the Holy
Land Bent and weary they were,
grlxzlcd with age and wrinkled by
time. They said they were brother
and sister, and We're negotiating
with the landlord for one bed, as
they were old, they said, and the
violation of tho proprieties would
not he 40 shocking us " similar prop
osition might appear under different
The landlord told
them TO sail In aud ''court the bal
cony,n In the language Of immortal
Dick Swivelcr; he didn't care dur,l