Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-06-11
PARADISE FOUND.

cation in a novel manner We felt that
our experiences in the past had prepared
us for whatever. unknown hardships
awaited US in the future
After many vexatious delays we were
at last ready to start.
Our electric road cart was all that
could be desired 1t was of the latest
invention, and was provided with the
necessary conveniences for light house
keeping. 1t was in fact miniature
house on wheels.
Early in the morning Of a bright june
\ day we took our seats in the roomy bam-
boo chairs, bade our friends goodby,
and closed the door of our new home.
My wife was somewhat excited at first,
owing to the novel situation, but she
soon grew calm. | pressed the electric
/ button, the engine began to purr. and
away we went
We had no definite plan as to our des-
/ tination other than this: We would start
out on the street that ran directly north
from our native village, and follow every
4 branch road that led to the right BY
doing this we hoped to lose ourselves in
a very short time, and expected to meet
I with many strange adventures.
We rolled along at rapid rate The
indicator over the door marked the miles
with regular click. click, like the tick
ing of clock. A continuous line Of
green spun out along each side of the
road dotted with telegraph poles, that
-,
apart, so swiftly were we moving. OF
course was obliged to hold the rudder
with firm hand, and keep a good look
out from the front window to avoid a
collision, for we We're continually meet
ing conveyances of every kind.
As the hours passed by we began con-
graduating ourselves By following the
several right hand roads we were, as we
had hoped, decidedly lost Everything
about us was new and strange.
'How delightful" my wife exclaimed,
as she drew the tea table near my chair.
'sThe very air we breathe is filed with
a primitive newness that is charming.
1t is as if one had been suddenly trans
ported to another planet
When night settled down and the
dusky road made it unsafe to proceed
farther we followed broad path that
led from the highway into grove of
low spreading trees, and, fastening the
doors and windows securely, retired for
the night
The second days journey brought us
into a strange country, unlike anything
we had ever seen or imagined. For a
long distance the road followed the bank
of broad river, from which the land
arose on either side to great height, in
succession of natural terraces. Fields
of vegetables and grain and fourishing
fruit orchards alternated with pasture
lots, where droves Of plump cattle and
fiocks of sheep waded knee deep IN red
clover. Everything wore a thrifty, pros
porous look.
We rode slowly along, admiring the
beautiful scenery. A few houses, ex-
ceedinly all and tall apparently built
from the same plan, were seen in some
of the most sheltered spots. In the dis
tance were tall chimneys, from which
great clouds Of black smoke arose, and
as we advanced we could hear the low
hum Of machinery. We were evidently
approaching large manufactures of some
sort, and my wife expressed hope that
we were nearing some town, as our sup
ply of provisions, owing to the wonder
full appetites we had acquired. was fast
diminishing
Her hope was soon realized, for sud-
den turn in the road gave us our first
view of a most remarkable town. The
streets ran at right angles with each
other, which gave the place the appear
ance of an immense checker board. The
houses were of the same uniform style
as those we had seen in the surrounding
country-very neat, but extremely
small My wife remarked on one pecu-
I liarity of their construction. Among
them all there was no sign Of the kit
chen addition in the rear, to which we
had been accustomed
I The tall chimneys we had first noticed
were part Of the one story buildings,
which stretched along the bank of the
river for several blocks. 1t was quite
early in the morning, and none of the in
habitants were astir, but feeling the
pangs of hunger, we began to look
around for corner grocery.
Just as we were opposite one of the
low buildings on the bank of the river a
boy wearing red uniform came rush
ing through the door and started on a
run down the street. He carried red
tin box in his hand. Icalled him and
asked to be directed to provision store.
He stared at me as if in doubt of my san
ity, and while waited his reply no.
ticed very peculiar expression on his
/ countenance, sort of an infantile ex-
4 preston which was at loss to account
for, until his lips parted as his amaze
ment increased, and discovered that he
was toothless.
Without giving the required informa-
/ ton, much to our surprise he ran away.
And then another and another, wearing
the same striking Uniform, and with the
same baby face, darted through the sew
eral front doors of the buildings, and
followed in the track Of number one.
They all carried the red tin boxes, decor
ated with different labels. There were
vegetable, animal. cereal. saccharine
and acetous, besides many other names
that were entirely new to u.s.
We saw them stop at each house where
boxes of the same style they carried
were hanging from the front door knobs.
1 Our curiosity was excited, and forget
ing for the moment our hunger, we
hastened our speed, determined to in
vestigate. We saw one of them take a
small quantity Of something that resem-
bled the homeopathic pellets we kept in
our medicine chest and drop them in the
box that hung from the door knob. Then
away he ran to the next house and re-
peated the operation. AS far as we could
see these red robed boys were dartina
here and there, crossing each others
paths like June frefies before astorm.
We watched them while, but oul
clamoring appetites sent Us again in
search Of food We turned many cor
ners and followed long lengths Of streets
but not sign Of anything eatable could
we discover. Just as we were becoming
thoroughly discouraged man with I
fresh, pleasant face and well fed ap
pearance opened the door and lifted tht
box from the knob. Not without som,