Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1898-05-07
JAY.COUNTY.
A Wayne County Girls Experience and
Impressions Across the
Border.

Impressions Across the
Border.
Correspondence Richmond Palladium.
PORTLAND, Indiana. May 9Th, 1898.
This beautiful spring morning, as
sit few moments looking out at the
open window across the beautiful
country, now clothed in its fresh green
attire. my mind wanders in reverie
back to the scenes OF my childhood,
and then to the familiar faces, which
until recently saw around me. And
with this memory picture comes the
impulse to write to the friends and
acqualntances " no care to give a few
moments time to the perusal of a
short letter, In which give an account
of matters of general. interest which
came to my notice since my arrival
here.
We, sister Madge and ], came to
Jay county, which is to be our future
home, a little over two weeks ago.
Everything being new to US, we. of
course, felt much interested in noticing
the country and people about us.
We are located about five miles east
of Portland, and in driving home from
that place we were greatly impressed
by the fact that hills seemed to be un-
known. We drove the entire distance
without SO much as passing slight
elevation in the surface of the
ground. And, indeed. we were more
thoroughly convinced of the fact when
few days later We were driving to a
neighboring town and inquiring the
way were directed to ''go straight
ahead until you reach a hill, then turn
to your right" Well, needless to
state, we drove ahead looking far
in front to discover the all important
hill, but in vain. At last we decided
to ask again, and were amazed 10 be
told that we had travelled about three
miles too far from the turning point.
Turning around we traced our way
until we came to the point indicated
by our guide, and behold! there was
the hill, slight elevation which we
had not noticed in our search for the
hill.
Travelling here, because Of the level
ness, is very easy. People seem to
think drive of eighteen miles and
back quite an average drive and you
will notice vehicles n passing always
seem in a hurry. Even horses pulling
loaded farm wagons go trOttiug past.
A few days ago l was amused to see a
race between horse hitched to a bug
gy and team pulling heavy load OF
hay. suppose this isn'i the common
way of racing. but at any rate it was
quite a novel way.
This seems to be a great market for
bailed timothy hay. Almost every
day from six to twelve loads of hay
pass, en- route to Portland or to Fort
Recovery, Ohio, which is also five
miles from here. The latter place is
of historical interest, being the scene
Of an Indian battle in which General
Wayne bore a prominent part. A
part of the old fort still remains and
citizens are making an effort to per-
suade congress to make an appropria-
ton to build a monument. The place
continues to show its patriotism by
sending large number of soldiers to
daily the glad news of new victory
over Spain is proclaimed by the boom
of cannon stationed at the fort.
The town is quite pretty enc, hav
ing all the modern improvements of a
large city. There are many other
smaller towns near to us. Many of
them are railroad centers. The entire
country is thickly settled.
One is impressed by the number Of
churches of this locality. In the little
town of Salamonie, a place about the
size of Boston. Indiana, l counted Ave
churches, and do not know how many
more there are Think the place
might we'll be named Villages of
Churches" There are many country
churches.
On Sunday evening You can hear the
chime of bells from every direction.
All denominations are represented, but
U. p. churches seem to pre- dominate.
ST. Mary's, a town east of us, is en-
tirely of Catholic inhabitants.
The Grand Reservoir is Just eigh-
teen miles from here. Many people
of the neighbsrhood drive over for
fishing, and then home again the same
day. We have planned to join party
of young people for fishing excursion
at that place il the near future.
Portland is city of about four
thousand inhabitants. 1t is a very
busy place at ali times. being quite a
railroad center and manufacturing
place, natural gas helping the latter
industry.
The eastern Indiana Christian En-
deavor convention met there several
days of last week. We attended dur
ing the entire session, and by so doing
were enabled to Judge of the social
qualities of Portland's people.
We were entertained by one of the
wealthy and influential families of the
place. at one of the most beautiful
houses in the place; and, although we
were comparatively strangers to them,
and they were os a church
usually uninterested
IN Endeavor, we were treated
with the utmost courtesy, and every
member of the family seemed to make
it his personal study to make our stay
among them one of comfort and pleas
ure. And, by the way, this social
quality seems 10 be general throughout
the county. One cannot help noticing
the hearty welcome which strangers
receive, upon entering the community,
and the true hospitality of the citizens
toward one another.
The convention was held in the First
Christian church, of which Rev. Sto
venour, well known by you all, is pas
tor. The session was well attended
and very interesting.
Many ministers, for the number of
which Portland is justly noted, took