The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-07-21
ON THE WING.
Reporters Pay a Visit to Lake
Crystal.
Some OF the Sights Seen on a Drive TO
the Little City Nesting Between
the Lakes.

The city reporters of the two daily
uapers accepted an invitation yester-
5av afternoon to take drive behind a
team of BID. Pay q Sons fast steppers.
This firm has recently been making al
ditions to its livery stock and aHords
some Of tine nobbiest turnouts to be
found anywhere. Among the Vehlcles
lately received is a handsome slx-pas-
senger park surrey, which is just the
thing for family use or for the use OF pail
bearers at funerals. A new Stanhope
is also one of the late acquisitions. IL
is a thoroughly uptodate vehicle ana
one that will prove popular, 1t has
two seats and is very easy riding. Pay
& Son are now in better position
than ever before to please their pat
rons.
The reporters turned the horses
heads toward Lake Crystal late IN the
afternoon, and after a pleasant drive
arrived at the little city by the lakes IN
time for supper. The crops were
found to be all that has been claimed
for them by the most optimistic. Re
ports of wheat being down were found
30 be incorrect, and the grain promises
a very heavy yield. Other small grain
is looking equally we'll except that
s Ome oats seems to be too much
tangled to rise again. Corn is forcing
ahead and some fields are beginning to
head out. The sight as one drives past
miles of waving fields giving promise
of abundant crops is one that is inspir-
ing, and the only hope is that three
weeks more of favorable weather may
be had.
In approaching the outskirts Of Lake
, Crystal it was seen that the village has
a noteworthy improvement under way.
1t is making a boulevard of the road
that parallels the railroad track, and is
also grading up the road that skirts
Lilly lake. These two fine driveways
into the village will be greatly improv
ed by the work now in progress.
A bountiful supper was procured at
Henry Humphreys restaurant. Mr.. Il.
is having his residence enlarged and
remodeled, and will have a comfortable
and commodious dwelling when the
work is completed.
The familiar figure of Col. Neff was
seen as soon as the reporters emerged
from the restaurant. The Colonel
grows daily to lock more like Bob In
gersoll, and has a warm spot in his
heart for the reporters, who are under
obligations to him for courtesies shown
them in the way of seeing the sights OF
tina village. The Colonel had just issu-
ed the Union, and the good people of
the village could be seen reading the
columns of their home paper.
If Mankato had the lake that bears
the name of our neighboring village the
sum of its happiness would be complete.
Tt is a beautiful sheet of water and for
boating purposes cannot be excelled
The park on its bank is a delightful
place to stroll in the evening and a
number of young people besides one or
two picnic par les we're there last eve
ming, enjoying the moonlit scene and
she boating.
Lake Crystal is just nowlflled with
pretty young women who are attending
the state summer school. Over hun.
bred are in attendance. Prof. G. F.
Koehler has charge of the school and
County Supt. Freeman was on hand
yesterday. The school is proving a
success, and we know of no better place
for the young people to gather for a
month than at Lake Crystal, where
they can enjoy the fresh air of the
prairie and the cool shade of the wood
ed banks of the lake.
Lake Crystal has water works, elec-
trio lights and other things that only
large cities formerly boosted of. 1t has
a good class of citizens and is one of
the places where nature intended
people to live in contentment and hap
piness.
The drive home was under an almost
full moon, making the landscape nearly
as light as by day. and the balmy air
made the ride all the more enjoyable.
Both hands of the clock on the tower
of the government building pointed to
twelve o'clock as the reporters passed
down Second street, and the streets
were deserted save for team or two
and few belated bicycle riders, who
had been out for spin in the cooler
air of evening.