The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-05-04
LOOKING BACKWARD.
William O'Oonnell Writes Entsrtainingly
Of His Old and New Surroundings
Remembers Lake
County.

ished from our genial friend VIM. O'Cou-
nell, who lately left Lake county and re-
turned with bus family to his old home
at Baraboo, Wis. Under date or May 2,
he writes.
EDITOR LEADER: / and family are
now living with my father in his snug
home just outside the limits OF the pros
porous city OF Baraboo, about 40 miles
north OF Madison, the capital Of Wiscon-
sin. Father is much pleased with the
sudden increase OF his family, and when
his nine grand children are now to be
seen playing upon the sacred grounds OF
his old homestead, the world once more
begins to seem new and joyous to him.
The children seem reconciled to the new
condition OF things except now and then
some OF the older ones indicate by very
plain remarks the burning longing for
their dear old home in Dakota. While
my wife lie glad TO once more have
home in Wisconsin, / fear ID years resi-
dence on Dakota soil has united me for
the new condition Of things.
The land here b not level enough. The
fields are too small. The fences are In
the way. The stumps in the fields don't
seem right. There 10 o much OF O.
chance here to use main strength, and
not enough chance to use machinery la
farming operations. And while the
breezes OF Dakota are, at periods, on
tinuous and too violent, here the air for
want OF motion, seems 10 lack whole
and the elements Of vitality.
In Dakota life 10 full of spirit, here 1t
seems more torpid. The ''get up and
hustle" common to prairie communities
seems to be due to the life giving condi-
tons Of the atmosphere.
Some here by farming have done, they
say, remarkably we'll during my absence
OF thirteen years, but as compared with
the progressive farmers OF Lake county
during the same time the Wisconsin
folks are almost at q standstill. / believe
people should try to be content and sat
isfied with whatever their lot happens to
be, 80 | will endeavor to be here. But
7 can never forget the dear old home in
Lake county, no longer mine; o can
/ ever expect to find such friends and
neighbors al those left behind In Lake
county q few days age.
/ will not omit to mention that instead
Of coming here direct from Madison, I
went down to Sioux Falls. From there
on to the Yankton Indian reservation,
thinking that il / should some future
day . dit to return to Dakota, the in
formation obtained by a sojourn 70 the
counties Of the more southern part OF
state might be an advantage; but To-
where are there such advantages of soil
and society as in the banner county OF
Lake.
We had a chance to zee the Ringing
Bros. great show, whose headquarters
are here and which showed in this city
yesterday just previous TO starting on
their seasons campaign.
Our children will begin attendance at
school tomorrow. The school facilities
are good. There is a good chance for
the boys to advance If they pursue the
right course
In looking back upon the past there
are instances clearly showing that many
have not ridden safely over the dangers
which menac the youth OF our country.
One case in point is Of an acquaintance,
who 15 years ago was a mere boy and
notwithstanding the benefits of good
parents, good schools and good society,
lately found himself IN situation to take
the Kelley cure. Finding even this
unable to keep the Unsuitable thirst Of
the inebriate from his lips, he sought
the remedy against his weakness for
strong drink by suicide. The man still
lives, with his throat horribly slashed by
a razor. Contrast this man as be now
is, the finished, product OF tho saloon,
with what he might have been had
saloon influence been placed out OF his
reach. Still, after all the young men
whose intelligence, manhood and very
lives are sacrificed in order that the
saloon may flourish, there are many peo-
pie who think it 10 q necessary evil,
which, In the course OF things, is entitled
TO its victims, ever if those victims are
precious in the hearts OF loving parents
and Of Almighty God. We can hardly
think that their sacrifice in so needless
and degrading a manner was ever de-
signed.
/ am informed that there are is ga
looms in the city of Baraboo. They have
to my personal knowledge done their
work of evil In the past, and though
there il an order OF intelligence and
morality among the citizens here, IL is
probable that these 16 agencies of
human corruption and destruction will,
as ever. continue to prosper. This, too,
in o christian city whore schools and