The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-11-17
A VISIT TO GETTYSBURG.
Mrs. j. j. Woodman Writes Entertaining
ly Concerning the Battlefield.
Harrisburg, Pa, Nov. 10, 49,

1dTTlSOuTR, Ia, NOV 10, loOis
ED. NoRTHERNER:-
Feeling sure your readsrs will be in
terested in hearing from us in our wan
behring's and in catching glimpse OF
new scenes which we are privileged
TO enjoy in this grand and in many re-
spects wonderful land of Pennsylvania,
i am constrained to give you minia-
ture pen picture, though fully con.
scious that there is mighty truth en-
braced in the expression Things seen
are mghtier than things heard"
We took the M C. train at Lawton
at $50 Sunday evening, having found
the sleeper an agreeable place to rest
from the excitement of the local option
campaign. We closed our eyes to the
great world, and when we next opened
them we were moving slowly, cautious
ly out over the wonderful gorge of
Niagara. The silvery mists of morning
lighted up the wild scene. An hour
later a puny, little, beardless man had
Mr.. Woodman "collared" and, having
paid quarter for the privilege, we
great depot at BuffOlO, and hurried out
upon an east-bound train. 1t seemed
to me they didn't want us to stay with
them, and we certainly did not desire
to remain where they seemed to be
veritable wild Buffaloes.
Very soon, the great hills of Pennsyl-
vania shut us in, but the rich autumn
verdure of the valley was a scene never
TO fade while memory lives; 6:55 p. m.
found us crossing the broad, beautiful
Susquehanna. Fifteen minutes later,
we were in the spacious dining room of
the Lochiel hotel and were being salut-
ed by dapper young men in dress coats
and brass buttons, decorated with white
aprons some housewives might reason.
ably envy. But | must not take time
to mention what we ate for supper, for
if did you would need to issue sup.
plement The National Grange, p. of
h., however, convened Wednesday
morning and the press of the city say
that there are upwards of thousand
patrons in this city and assure their
readers that we are as well behaved and
fine looking citizens as any they have
seen, to which statement bell boy
says, "Shu, Mssus"
Yesterday the national grange re-
ceived and accepted an invitation to
visit Gettysburg, about forty miles from
Harrisburg, and it is of this "hallowed
spot" | would write. AS we drove
through the streets of the little town
with its houses SCARED by ball and
shell, we were made to realize how
great the desolation of war must have
been. We had in our carriage one who
wore the blue and one who wore the
IL
ton, side by side, and, as | looked into
their faces, | felt that both were men tit
ly representing foe whom only heroes
could stand before. AS we looked upon
the great hills and were told where the
two armies were situated, and in i'm
agination saw the great hosts moving
steadily toward each other, and when
we paused just where the first days
battle rested and counted nine hundred
and seventy-nine white stones, which
bear the strange, cold words, THE un.
known dead, aud as our feet press the
grass we look through tear dimmed
eyes to see if the warm life blood from
their bodies yet crimsOns the grass;
but it is green and soft and beautiful,
and covers the mounds with its warm
verdure, and we are full of gratitude
for that hope and faith which helps us
to believe they yet live, though in
another room in the mansion we call
life. We instinctively bow our heads as
we pause under the stately marbles
raised in honor of them all. Cannons,
muskets, breastworks. batteries, walls
and trees and rocks teach us how the
very air rained down shot and shell.
Z Nature made this ground, and we feel
something of the spirit that moved
their hearts as we look upon the proud
statues of Hancock and Meade, and are
comforted somewhat when we remem-
Der that the victory is ours, and this
Union must and will be preserved The
pen can never tell the feelings of sor-
row and gladness which were strongly
blended in this holy ground. Methinks
there if only one other spot in all this
world as dear and sacred. and that
other is Gethsemane.
Kindly yours.
MRS j i WOODMAN