The Press., 1893-03-09
LETTER FEoM NORTHERN H.
 LINOIS.
Garden Prairie. Feb. 2s. 1sas


 LINOIS.
 Garden Prairie, Feb. 2s, 1893.
 According to the almanac winter begins in this latitude about the twenty-firs of December, and continues from then on to about the same date in March but, ac- cording to our observation, the almanac man is out of his calculation by about three weeks and 8 half for the winter which is now so near the end.
 Thanksgiving day, Nov. 24th, was as near perfection as it is possible for day to be; but the next morning was cloudy; sleet came before noon and snow before sure that winter would be ahead of time this year, and so it has been. Two spec ial features of this winter have been the snowfall and the temperature. Not for @ body of snow on the ground. It has been eighteen and twenty-four inches on the level in the woods, and that is deep for this section. Wood-chopping has been
 
 The temperature has been low, in the re- gion of twenty-four degrees, but from twelve to sixteen has been more common. The winter has been favorable for health. While good many elderly people have died the younger class has been in very fair health, with one exception. The humps got footing here sometime last fall, and have held it to this day. It has been no respecter of persons, and there have been many cases of severity among the young and the middle ages. We have heard and known very little of the 'la 4grippe' this winter. It is nothing like as lit was 8 year ago, when the winter was more open and variable. For a farming community, where there is, much grain raised, the winter is exceptionally favora- ble. The ice harvest has been good. The quality and the quantity is first rate. Here it was gathered for home consump- ton and for exportation.
 The season has slipped away quietly. The farmers have looked to their chores which demand much time and attention They are begun early and kept at late. To care for fifteen, twenty, and, even, thirty and forty head of milch COWS, be- sides other stock, including sheep, hogs and horses, is no small job. Cleaning ur after them, and feeding them, is of itself a big chore. This winter, with it's ire. quent storms, and deep snow, and low temperature, has not made it very easy Mich COWS must be fed or they will fal behind. The aim is to get as much milk and as fine quality as possible. A great many cars of feed are brought in and un loaded by the farmers. Hay, corn-foddel and straw are fed out. So far as we know not many roots are fed, possibly a few turnips. The milk has been well paid fol at the factory, and so the farmers vii come out ahead. The hog has been o1 top this winter, and will keep there thi. spring without doubt. He is not tot numerous, and so is in greater demand Packing establishments, in all this west ern country, cannot get enough of him In country of so many milch COWS there will be many calves; but they are not al raised in it. As soon as possible they are taken from the COW and disposed of Large numbers are slaughtered and sen < into Chicago, where they are used in thu cheap boarding houses and restaurants It is cheaper to go outside and buy cow than it is to raise them.
 One thing we were struck with last fall and, in fact, it has been going on thi winter; we refer to auction sales. w. have never lived anywhere in this westerl and interior land where they have beer so frequent. The population changes some go and some come. When there il a change there must be an auction, an! sometimes there is an auction when ther is no change. Auction prices are usuall, good if the stock is good; but the ire quency of these sales is what impresses newcomer in the country.
 For amusement there has been no va } riety. The country dance is still aliv and kicking. Entertainments, under tn 7 auspices of some church, where there is ) light literary program and supper, ar held at intervals. Now and then there i } surprise or birthday party. Car , parties, as such, seem not to have muc of a hold here. In some few of the schoc districts debating societies are organized On the whole, the winter is without event ? The people stay much at home and min r their own affairs, which is creditable , Political changes produce little effect No one warns up over them. One mus go farther to the southwest or north , west for a stirring time. As long as tn cream is in the milk and the hog is o top the farmer will lie down to pleasar dreams, unless he is politician. The his ke will be otherwise classified.
 0. P. CHAMPLIN e Murphy: I would like to close ever t saloon in Hartford, but it is not in m 8 power. The fellows who drink whiske