Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-05
CHAPTER yu-SIGHT SEEING.


cottages and broad fertile acres in fee
simple!
CHAPTER XII.-sIGHT SEEING.
Chicago What wonder of the age whose
first Sunday-school teacher is still ivingi
Wat shall say for i'll Twice it has been
laid waste by fire. But with the nerve and
push peculiar to this people of the West,
they have rebuilt with greater beauty than
before.
We took morning drive through the
parks that surround the city like selected
remnants from the garden of Eden. Here
those who long for the beauty OF nature,
the fragrance of flowers and the songs Of
birds, can enjoy them while resting from
the noise and confusion of the busy city.
This drive is an extended boulevard that
surrounds the city with belt of beauty.
The parks were brilliantly beautiful with
the rich green of the grass mingled with
the gay colors of flowers and shrubs.
The business streets of Chicago are a
living thrOng. Each one rushing on to at
tend to his own affairs, forgetful Of the
crowd and needless of all about him. But
that we found, is characteristic of the peo-
pie of the West. One evening we stood by
the bridge on Wells street, near the great
Northwestern depot, watching tug boat
towing in a large vessel, when the whistle
sounded for the bridge to turn. Men
grabbed by the arm the ladies that were
walking with them and rushed ahead.
Children ran on Juggling at the skirts of
their mothers who could not run. All was
hustle and confusion. l thought there
surely must be but one train per day, and
all must reach that or go without their
dinners.
Just: as the bridge began to turn queru-
lOuS old woman, her arms full Of bundles,
and an umbrella in her Land, came rush
ing up the walk; turning to a bright-eyed,
rosy-cheeked girl who was with her, she
said:
There, We'll be left That is our train
standing there just ready to go! Saman-
tina Jane'll think we're lost!'
"Oh, aunt, its only an hour to the next
train, what if we do miss this one" said
the young lady with composure.
-"Only an hour?" I said to the duke.
"Why, l thought it would be a week, at
least, from the fuss and hurry these people
make"
You'll get used to this" laughed the
duke. "They must hurry to make room for
the next crowd. There are one hundred
and fifty thousand persons who come and
go in this city every day."
"Then do not wonder at the rush. 1t
seems strange where so many people come
from and go to-" said, soliloquizing.
The Board of Trade attracted our atten-
ton 1t is a very large edifice built Of stone
and marble, very finely finished. Having
tickets we We're admitted to the visitors
gallery. 1t is a magnificent room, with
massive marble columns, frescOed ceilings,
beautiful pictures and finely wrought bal
comics.
1.-The people of Chicago may justly be
proud Of this building" said the duke. cit
is the third one they have built since the
fire of 1871. The first was a little wooden
structure. Then fine stone building was
erected. This in turn became too small and
plain for them, so they have built this
one''
"Weu, this ought to satisfy them for
some time to come. What babel of vol
ces One might almost think that he was
at the ancient tower On the plains of
Shinar"
"Only see how few of the men are of
even middle age" said the duke. ''SOme
look like school boys; yet here they are in
this wild exciting rush of speculation, in
toXicated with the hope Of success, or vain
| ly struggling against defeat"
! Are you familiar with their worlings?''
/ asked.
~ understand it takes thousands of ool-
lars to become member"
"What do they mean by throwing their
hands out in that frantic style?"
"They are bidding; and in that very act
some one may be financially ruined"
How can that be?'' asked, puzzled to
know how such an act could harm anyone.
"They buy and sell on what they call a
margin, and they may exceed the amount
they have on deposit. The prices of crops
| are in a measure established here before
she seed is sown or the crops grown"
From the Board Of Trade we visited the
panorama buildings where the battles OF
| Shiloh, Missionary Ridge and Gettysburg
were repl esented. In these great triumphs
! of art tho hand of man has so skillfully re-
presented the spirit of the scenes that all
we needed to make us dodge was the
sound of whistling bullets and bursting
shells. The wounded, dead and dying
were so life-like that we felt like offering
cur aid to help care for the suffering. AS
we stood leaning over the railing trying to
separate the real from the ideal, a tall
| fne-lo0king man standing near US said
"There, that man on the bay horse in
the gray uniform occupies the position
held in that battle"
When he ceased speaking, slender man
with a gray beard turned toward him, say
ing:
THAT man on the gray horse in the blue
coat is occupying the position l held in the
same battle.
Then you are General PrentiSs," SAID
the first speaker.
"And you are Marmaduke," was the an
swer. They shook hands as cordially as
though they had never drawn swords
against each other in deadly conflict. On
inquiry we learned that nearly one thou
sand men who were in the battle of Shiloh
nave visited this wonderful palnMng.
Our stay in Chicago was a continual
! round of excursions and sightseeing. One
morning we assembled the 276 steps anG
| found ourselves in the tower of the water
| works. The city lay beneath US almost 6
solid block of masonry and architecture
The crib in the lake, two miles distant
seemed but very few rods away. 1t was
a clear calm morning. The lake was like
an immense mirror rejecting back every
image cast upon its bosom. The sails ano
steamers came into port with a quiet ma
jesty. ascending the slips and canals thai
penetrate the city, until the great prairie
landscape bristled with masts and spars
along the extended and still extending
wharfage 1t was scene of beauty, ming
led with business-of nature and com
merce, of God and man. We remained
silent long time, trying to grasp the ex
tent of the scene and the most interesting
points when the duke broke the silence