The Redwood gazette., 1895-11-28
OLD EXCHANGE HOTEL.

while those that met daily within us
walls during the winter of 1856 are
widely scattered, yet some few re-
main, and they, l am sure, will like to
dwell for few moments on those
pleasant memories.
Never was there more uncomtort-
able dwelling place. Cold and bare
and cheerless, yet one seldom thought
of physical discomforts. Wrapped
in shawls we assembled in the break
fast room where we we're cheered by
the sight of Doc. Boards coun-
tenance. If ever there was model
landlord he was the man. Always
on the alert and always good-natured.
Not even an occasional smashing OF
crockery when younger and friskier
members of his family became too
hilarious disturbed his equilibrium.
He TRANQUILITY swept up the broken
glass and smiled, while doubtless
thinking unutterble thoughts. His
wife, burdened with the cares OF the
household, we seldom saw except on
Sunday afternoons. Always kind and
serene her very presence was restful.
Those we're lively times, such, l
think, as Redwood has seldom known.
The skating rink was we'll patronized
and later on came the toboggan slide,
for surely the little town must keep
up with the times. Those glorious
moonlight rides in the great sled TO
the hills outside of the town with
Dick as driver. Shall we ever forget
them? Cub" and "Sailor" were
equal to any amount of hilarity and
Dick took a sort of barbaric delight
in driving just as near to the edge OF
dangerous sleeps as he could without
tipping over, just for the sake of hear
ing the feminine shrek. Nevertheless
the frolic was not complete unless he
was the driver. Poor Dick! His life
was sad one, as was his death. He
knew little of the home life that q boy
so much needs but he had many warm
friends among those that knew him,
and his quaint sense of humor kept
him from realizing the hardships of
his life.
The great feature of the hotel life
that winter was the weekly Sunday
evening concert. All who could sing
were invited to bring Gospel Hymns"
and the parlor was we'll filled. The
Office and hall was also occupied by
appreciative listeners who often joined
in the choruses and doubtless cracked
many jokes on the sly about the per-
formers. Nobody cared for the jokes
however. There were no prima
donnas and no one was sensitive. All
sang for the pleasure of it and if time
and tune we're not up to modern ideas,
so much the worse for the ideas.
There was harmony of sentiment if
not of sound.
What made the winter especially
pleasant was the clique of young un-
married people that congregated in
the hotel parlors informally almost
every evening. Many were the jokes
perpetuated and / am sure "Chuck'
has not forgotten the time when a
glass of cold water found its way in
side his coat collar one cool winter
| evening, nor the dismay of the perpet-
uator who fed when she saw what
her impulse had led her to do. There
| were some famous lines written by
this same "Chuck" on the rambles of
a certain loving couple. The lines
are safely slowed away among the
relics of the past. wonder if Mr..
|E-- remembers his thoughtful
kindness to US in taking us on those
beautiful drives thro' the picturesque
woods and over the breezy prsiries.
| Where are all these gay young peo-
pie nowi Echo answers" married .
They are lost to the world. They
have taken upon themselves yokes
and frisk no more: Their days arc
|spent in finding the wherewithal te
feed hungry mouths, to dress the little
forms in the prevailing fashions anc
Ito give them q goodly supply of thai
Vast knowledge which is scattered
broadcast in our schools and colleges
I Their nights are spent in weary
vigils, walking the floor with teethine
babies, or helping them through the
various diseases of childhood. Thei
recreation consists in occasional meet