River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-11-05
Way Up Here.

GRAND RAPIDS, MINI, oct. 18th, 81.
DEAR JoURNAL:-When you look at the map it
doesn't seem so very far from River Falls to this
place, but when you come 10 walk it las l shall
have to do when come home, if my finances
keep on holding out the same as they don't
now,) it seems farther.
We had a rush of job work this week and
worked FIVE nights ia order to finish the same
by to-day. ! enjoy my work very much and
have il now well in hand.
was initiated into the science of birch canoe
ing last Sunday and narrowly escaped being
initiated into the water as there was strong
wind blowing. The one serious drawback to II
was, the canoe leaked, and when a person is
sitting on the bottom of canoe and the water
is occupying the same spot, well-this is not
very dry subj ect but I'll pursue it no farther.
The flies still continue to pay their re-speoks
to u.s. principally on the windows, but as fam
iliarity breeds contempt" l am getting used to
them. l have found out why they inhabit this
place more than others, the Magnet attracks
them.
This is a lovely day and | must go out of doors
and get back the coat of tan which ! have lost
since coming here. Spruce and tamarac gum is
plenty around here and shall try and lay in
supply this afternoon.
III tue uGAl EOoIl W Tue OtltG 10 n NAh5 StSAN
and the clerk puts in his spare time for about
three hours each day and evening in praeticing
Nellie Gray on an accordion.
''The music low and thrilling,
Floats out on airy wing
And makes me feel like killing
The man who pumps the thing.
I'll have a cruel revenge on him some night,
I'll get out my occarina and practice "Johnny
get your Gun" just to make him take dose OF
his own medicine.
The government is now at work at Sandy
Lake, place 40 miles below here, putting in
dam like the one three miles above here. There
are quite number of them on the river higher
up, used for raising and lowering the water for
navigation ami log driving. took the one just
above here in a couple of weeks ago. 1t looks
more like narrow bridge than like dam.
went down TO La Prairie with four others
week ago last evening to play for dance The
same was genuine fzzle, no one appearing at
the hall, so we had the pleasure of hoohng 1t
back here and carrying banjo and two violins
two and half miles. La Prairie is no good at
all and gave me the impression of grave yard
with the sections cottage in the center and
small street light in front TO keep off the ghosts
One building has gone up there in wood in the
last six months and one more has gone up in
smoke
Grand Rapids is building all the time and at
the brick yard here kiln of brick will finish
burning in day or two aud three or four build
ings are then to be veneered with the same.
Sidewalks, eight feet wide, are being put in on
all the principal streets and the roads have all
been graded.
At one of the hotels here they have a tame
moose, that has been broken to drive, and two
young bears in strong pen. The bears would,
think, make lovely pets Ito look att
Indians are quite numerous up here, and
sweet creatures they are, too. They wear the If
hair in long braids down their backs and it re-
minds me more, in color and texture, of
horses tail braided than of anything else. You
have, most of YOU no doubt, heard of"O'Brien
and his highwater pants" Well the noble red
men seem to be nearly all disciples of that man
in the style of their breeches, the same coming
down to within about six inches of their ankles
and the interim between pantaloon and moe
casino being usually filed up with pieces of
dirty white cloth bound round the shank of the
wearer. The Indians facial adornment is most
la a mustache and imperial and a coat of dirt
don't want to be an Indian.
have stretched this out long enough and will
stop before go any farther. Hoping that this
finds you enjoying the best Of health, and that
am the same, sign myself, with regards to all
my friends, Respectfully you rs,