The Saint Paul globe., 1901-05-26

s;dae1 rnvself only the clerk Of the boat
was on deck, and together We viewed
the few houses and the scattered huts
and covered wagons that made st. Paul
Back of these houses stretched a ayW1Ider-
ness. When the boat landed at the rude
dock. which is now the foot of Jackson
street, 1 got off, for l was anxious TO
find a dwelling house. Nobody knew
me- nobody, apparently, expected me and,
of course, 1 did not know soul.
went first to the hotel, which stood
where the Merchants now stands. 1t
was a rude affair and did not look very
inviting to one who had ben used to
the comforts of the East. For my w-fe's
sake, too, who with her small baby and
the nurse girl, 1 had left on board the
boat, was detern.ned, if possible, to
find suitable quarters. Well, it did not
take long to look about the village and
to find out that there was nothing Of
the kind to be found in st. Paul.
''In despair I had turned back to the
boat, when I caught a glimpse of what
was apparently a Notwithstanding
house on Third street., half Way be-
tween what are now known as Jackson
and Robert streets. The house was evil
dently being repaired, for thee were
piles of shinglzs lying about. 1 went
back and found 1T to be tolerably COM
modius. Returning to the boat 1 met
a boy coming whstling up Jackson
street-it was then an Indian path-and
1 asked him to wAom the house be-
longed.
They're putting 1t in order for the
new governor, sir, he answered and
passed on.
GETS HOUSE AFTER ALL.
$50 was to have a house, after all,
it seemed. Going back to the boat 1
again interviewed the clerk, and he sug-
gested that 1 go with the boat to st.
Peter, which we now call Mendoza. The
trip was soon made, and when. we land
ed at Mendoza 1 found Gen. Sibley wait
ing for me- He was an Indian trade.
then and the most important man in the
community. He greeted me very cor
daily, and we found that our people
both came from the same place, Harris
burg, Pa. I also discovered that it was
upon his suggestion the house in st. Paul
was being prepared for me. Until it
was finished he invited US to be his
guests at his home in Mendoza 1 glaI-
ly accepted his invitation and went TO
tell my wife. But such Western uncon-
ventiona,ity did not appeal to her Quak-
er sense of the fitness of things.
'' Thee knows we can Go nothing OF
the kind she said firmly Thee would
not have US put under such obligations
to stranger.
81 told her it was either Gen. Sibley's
or the woods, and finally she consented,
and very thankful We're we for the gen
erous hospitality. Besides Gen. Sibley's
wife there were several relatives living
in his big stone house at Mendoza, which
you know is the Oldest house in Mime
sofa. We discovered that he had many
common friends, and we spent some
pleasant times together. 1 made my
headquarters at Mendoza which was
more important point than st. Paul, but
every day made a visit to the latter
village
WANTED TO FIRE SALUTE.
1.-The day after arrived in Mendoza
Gen. Sibley and 1 visited Fort Smelling.
There's story they tell about that vis-
it'-here the governors eyes twinkled
and he coughed slightly to hide a genuine
chuckle-"which you can believe or not,
as you like. The officers at the fort
wanted to fire salute in my honor, for
they felt that some acknowledgement
ought to be made of the presence of the
| governor. I said that / did not want
anything of the sort. Then they asked
If the soldiers could net be ordered out
| to present arms. Again | declined.
Well said TIE com nander of the
| fort, finally, is there nothing we car %