The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-01-09
THE ROMANCE
OF THE PlPBSqBM.
A Tale Of the Prairies.


The ppestem, in it's own country, is
.alled river. There isn't always water
N the whole length of it's bed; but there is
water in places even in the dry season.
And when the ice and snow melt in the
spring there is quite a flood pouring down
is narrow, crooked channel.
The valley of the Pipestem is bare Of
rees; the soil is new and unbroken; even
The wealth of rich grass that might be
utilized. wastes, uncut, from year to year.
There are not people enough living along
he bare bluffs which enclose the valley, to
crowd one another, and you can stand on
,ne of the knobs into which the bluffs are
broken, and look far away at the rolling
prairie that spreads everywhere and
through which sweeps the depression that
makes the channel and the valley of the
Pipestem. -rFlere is a feeling of desolation
20 the stranger who first encounters this
almost waterlees YNer with it's smooth,
treeless banks
1t is not the conventional river with the
surroundings one would expect There is
wild look to it, 1t is the opposite OF all UNI
canny grottoes with which the imagination
has become acquainte
There are no forests here for dancing
dryads, and no pools for water nymphs,
with flowing hair: there are no dens for
beasts no liars for savage ANIMALS; no
hiding places to be resorted to by dragons
or mysterious serpents. The plain openness
of the country, with everything in sight,
the absolute impossibility of concealment.
except for the burrowing badgers gophers
and the like, constitutes an awe-creting
charm which must be seen to be apprecia-
ted.
For the most part no travellers come to
this valley merely TO gaze at its peculiar
formation Hunters after wild fowl. home
seekers and land spectators have monopo-
liZed this scenery and probably have
thought less of the situation, artistically
speaking. than from utilitarian point of
view. The flight of the game and the rich
ness of soil and grass, have been more to
them than the awe-inspiring roughness and
stiffness of this unconventional valley lying
amid the coteaux and prairies OF the new
country.
There are not many settlers along the
bluffs of the Pipestem, yet. There are
miles where thereare no houses. In the great
cities there is misery crowded together.
On tn Pipestem there is richness without
end, wealth beyond splendid desires and
dreams, waiting for the hand of man to
reach forth and take it.
But there are houses, the beginning of
settlement of a country destined to be rich
and great.
The environment of these pioneers is
much different from that which surrounded
the early settlers in the East.
The daily mails are only an hour away
rom the Pipestem and if one wishes the
ftest news from all over the world can
le had in these pioneer dwellings.
There is a choice of railroads. and
rom the door of solitary house on the
.olemn bluffs can be seen the smoke of the
Engine drawing a palace train over the
main line of great interna tional railroad.
Add this the fact that the pursuit of
agriculture is easier in the prairie country
than elsewhere; that intelligent and under
standing labor will bring better returns, all
things considered, than elsewhere-and you
have unique surroundings, which are to
have like influence in the future, when the
lands are settled and when the environ
ment of the pioneers is changed to heredity
In their prosperous successors.
There are houses along the bluffs of the
Pipestem. There is to be noticed par
ticularly: "a small cottage with some pre-
tentfpns to architectural beauty. neat
building, carefully painted. showing on its
outside none of the ravases OF the weather.
This is noticeable, as so many of its mile
pr two away neighbors evidence the action
of sun and rain. A granite foundation
gives an air of soldity to the structure.
Within are the evidences of comfort,
taste and culture. The central room of the
house. the living room into which all the
others open, is large one 1t has hard wood
Hoor over which are thrown rugs or various
sorts: there is a great dining table in the
center of the room and easy chairs are
scattered over it. Coming into it from
the outer air, in the cold days of winter,
you are charmed with the warmth, the
comfort and the coziness Of the apartment.
The sound of the wind when it is bowling
abroad carrying and drifting the snow. is
nleasant to those securely housed in this
principal room of the Calmette Cottage.
Paul Calmette and his wife Louise, We're
the occupants of this model cottage in the
wilderness. They had reached this perfec-
ton of comfort by small beginnings. Tney
had appeared on the Pipestem some years
before and had commenced life in a very
small way indeed They had title to one
hundrd and sixty acres of land, formerly
formerly belonging to a railroad company,
which they owned, so far as any records
disclosed, free from all hcumbrance. They
had been prompt to pay their taxes and
they seemed to have money to pay for the
Few things needed. Their farm was small,
IN a country where thousands of acres go
TO the making up of single holding and
where a half dozen square miles of farming
land are often under one mana cement. OF
this farm they cultivated only a portion,
doing the work themselves They were young
vigorous and seemed contented and happy.
They were not socable however and to the
distant neghbors who would have made
friends with them, they displayed an alb
solute ignorance not particularly interest
Ing to anybody and were finally left to
lead their own lives in their way.
When the new house was built, there
came workmen from abroad somewhere to
build it. Foreigners of some sort they
We're who protested to know nothing of
the English tongue. The material for the
construction of the building excepting the
stones which where quarried on the prem
Uses. were shipped In ears from somewhere
in the East, arriving with the workmen
1t was a matter of much comment for a.
time especial curiosity being given to the
great wide and deep cellar which was evid-
emily being excavated under the house.
But gossip and curiosity ceased in little
time and the occupants of the cottage lived
In peace and quiet They gathered stock of
all kinds about them each year, and seemed
TO be thrifty farmers engrossed in their
own affairs
Once a year "a letter came through the
postoffce, bearing the foreign pos.mark.
and some weeks later, Calmette met a
middle aged man at the railroad station
near by and drove him to the cottage where
he remained several days and was driven
back TO the train again. There was never
any greeting between the men at meeting
or at parting. The stranger always an
Iteared late in the autumn about the same
time every year. He had been coming for
six years past; but from the glimpses to be
had of him under his cap drawn down and
nmid his wraps, he did not appear older
than at his first visit