The Oskaloosa herald., 1892-04-28
LETTERS OF TRAVEL

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind
|
LETTERS OF TRAVEL.
LIBBY-PRISON MUSEUM AND THE LIN
COLIN CABIN AT CHICAGO--ALSO
GRAPHIC SKETCHES OF WASHINGTON
SCENES.
ATLANTA, GA. April 8, 1892.
EditorHerGId:-Al Although have been
silent all this time have not been idle,
but have been gathering interesting
data for The HERALD. After leav
ing Oskaloosa on the afternoon of Oct.
Goth, 1891, we halted few days at Chi
cago. We shall not burden your read
ers with any description of a city so
near home and so well known, besides
Chicago is indescribable. Yet a few
items may be of interest.
LIBBY PRISON WAR MUSEUM.
1t was with mingled joy and sad
ness that We wandered in and out of
the various apartments of this great
historical building; Joy that the terri
BILE conflict is among the things of the
past; sadness when realizing that the
shadows still linger in many homes,
and that hearts will not cease their ach-
ing until they cease their Chrobbing.
Even before one enters the building he
sees upon every hand the implements
of war that are not only suggestive Of
what might be, but are there as posi-.
tive testimonials of what has been.
This famous old structure as Confed-
crate prison is too we'll known to need
| the repetition of its history. NotWith-
standing the fact that the old prison is
| filled with thousands of relics of the
late war, new ones are daily being add
ed. The prison as it now stands is said
not to deViate an inch from its original
proportions. The first room that the
visitor enters served as the prisoners
reception room, where they were re-
ceived when brought from the various
| battle6elds, searched and assigned to
the various rooms overhead. In pass,
ing through the many apartments
known as the Potomac Room" Mil
roy's Room" Chickamauga RoOm,"
Gettysburg Room" etc., (having re-
ceived their names from the boys con-
tined therein) we could but recall the
time when it was Greek meeting
Greek" brother meeting brother. The
north basement was familiarlY known
as "Rat HELL" the dark pit in which
the unruly boys were confined. The
opening through the wall, showing
where the boys made their escape, is
pointed out as one of the special fea-
lures of interest. We left the old
prison walls with feeling that the
points of difference should be weighed
Justly, and each have an eye to his
brothers honor and Interest. Let all
give hearty welcome to all the sun
blessing to the other.
LINCoLN's LOG CABIN.
At the exposition we visited the orig
inal log cabin formerly occupied by
Abraham Lincoln. With awe and
with admiration We looked upon the
dilapidated and neglected cabin. the
humble home of our martyred Presi
dent. This cabin was removed from
the extreme southern portion of Coles
county, Ill, ana WAS brought to Chlca-
90 during the month OF September. 1t
was built by Abraham Lincoln and his
father in 1881, purchased by Mr. John
j. Hall, u cousin and also nephew OF
Mr.. LincOln's, who resided in the cabin
since 1851, and who PROVIDED for Abra-
ham Lincoln's mother until her death
in 1859. The relics here exhibited
were obtained from Mr.. Hall and were
known to have been in the family Of
Thomas Lincoln, the father Of the
President, since 1915. The OK yoke
worn by oxen which were driven by
Abraham Lincoln when his family
moved to illinois, and were used on
oxen in hauling the logs with which to
build bis cabin; the mall used by LIN
coin when serving as rail splitter; and
an old handmade grlnd6tone were in
the rear Of the cabin. Within the cab
in still stands the spinning wheel upon
which grandma Lincoln spun the yarn
which she used in making Abraham's
clothing. An old bureau, clock, chair,
cooking utensils, ETC.; all of these
things were used many times by and
for Mr.. Lincoln, and were often refer
; red to by him in most tender man
ner. The ceilings were 80 low that
Mr.. Lincoln could not stand erect when
within the cabin. This may have had
much to do with his humble nature,
and it would not be bad idea if some
of his successors in the white house
had first served a term in so humble q
manner. Passing from the cabin our
attention was called to Lincoln's old
family carriage, and, by the side of 1t
one presented TO Lafayette by the U. s.
{ government in 1924; it stands in its
old time glory thing OF the past, a
relic OF by-gone days.
= Leaving Chicago for Washington, D
O.. early the next morning we crossed
, the Ohio river, little later the Cheat
river, and ere noon we had crossed the
r Allegheny mountains and we're skirt
. ing along the beautiful Potomac. Yes
"All quiet along the Potomac" now.
AS the sun was sinking low behind the
range of mountains, casting its shad-
ows in the beautiful Shenandoah val
ley, we dashed in and out of Harper's
Ferry, passing the building known a:
/ John Browns Fort. We saw many
/ reminders of the sad havoc Of war
and In another instant we had crossed
r the Shenandoah river, still dashinG
!. ahead furiously toward our destina
3 ton
WASHINGTON CITY
proper has a population of 100000, ont
third OF which is colored. The city II
finely located on the beautiful and his
toric Potomac, the broadest river II
the union, being ~ miles wide at 1t:
mouth, though but Ia miles at WASH
ington. Like San Francisco, wash
ington is truly cosmopolitan. She L
very quiet when Congress Is not ii
session, but sin her gayer hours" Their
is floating population of about 20OOC
at which time may be seen almos
every phase of society life amonl
representatives of every State in tn
union. This city should be commend
= cd for her general beauty and cleanli
= ness. the latter being the more per
a ceptible when coming directly from
/ Chicago. No other city in the Unite,
States, and possibly not In the world
: can compare with 1t in its many broaI
!, and beautiful avenues. There ara av
4 enues and streets in some of our citie
e that are handsomer, but they are poinl
e ed out as special features. as exceI
+ tiOns, while here they abound so gen
) orally that they become the rule. Wash
ington can boast Of its $50 miles Q
streets varying from so to l20 FEE
wide, and IS miles OF avenues from II
y to 100 feet wide; over 80 per cent
= these being paved with asphalt, ofteI
Il ing Hne opportunity for the cyclis
an opportunity not neglected.
+ THE CAPITOL.
spho aornar akona nf thia huiidin