The Indianapolis journal., 1902-07-20
ACROSS NORTH DAKOTA.
A Trip on the Fourth and Reflections
Arising Therefrom.


Correspondence OF the indianapolis Journal.
WINNIPEG, July 15.-It had been long,
sultry night. and the morning of our great
national holiday dawned with little prom
ise of interest to the weary traveller. But
we were making the trip with Conductor
Brown, an old-timer on this line, and
most agreeable and instructive gentleman,
and so we were hopeful. Our nearest neigh
bors, just across the aisle, consisted Of
young father and mother and a beautiful,
blue-eyed girl baby. We had been a little
solicitous about our proximity TO this SOW
ereIgn Of a household for so long a time as
all night, but a few mild protests were all
that we heard from the berth across the
aisle, and our gratitude was boundless. To
our minds that was a model baby and a
model whole family; and when they left US
at Grand Forks we felt deep regrets and
did not care for anything on board, al
though we kept turning the leaves Of some
magazines and books we had along. Wheth-
er Conductor Brown saw all the way
through things or not we can never know.
but at all events here he came, and in his
delightfully."- exhilarating way called our at
tention to the magnificent stretches Of
prairies through which we were passing
We had seen IL often before and imagined
IL had no charm for us this time But never
before had il seemed majestic, and yet
so peaceful and restful and hopeful. AS far
as we could see in every direction was one
vast level expanse of living green bounded
on all sides by the hazy blue summer sky
Scattered about over this bright green
floor were little groves of rich dark green
dnfS in he
sometimes having the appearance of solid
walls of green-which, on a closer view,
proved to be real groves, largely cotton
wood and box elder. planted by the settlers
to protect and beautify their homes, and
also, as Conductor Brown explained ito
prove to the world that trees could and
would grow in North Dakota If given fair
chance" Generally they were on the
northwest of the buildings, but occasionally
the latter were completely surrounded by
these dense walls of foliage. Looking
across the plains as we sped on our north
ward way these countless groups Of little
light-colored red-roofed houses nesting
against their background of soft dark
green, with a peaceful blue sky smiling
down upon them, made a picture that we
cannot soon forget. There was love in it
and heroism and faith and hope; and there
was toll and suffering, too, but victory at
last Hills and mountains and valleys
have their sublime revelations-great up
lifts for the soul. But for the breadth and
vastness that suggest eternity nothing can
surpass the far-reaching plains of the
Northwest.
often in the midst OF grand surroundings
one forgets many details that help make up
the perfect whole. Among these are the
wild flowers that nature has sown so law
ishly in all these wondrous meadow lands.
Wild roses are strewn thickly among the
grass as for some gala occasion. They do
not grow into large punches as they do in
Indiana, but are low and often branch but
little, If at all, but grow so close together
that whole acres are tinted by the petals,
shading from the palest possible pink TO
the deepest rose. Often the green is re-
Heved by great patches OF purple or lilac
with their shadings of pale and dark. Some
times the yellow sparkle like gold in the
sunshine and sometimes pure white glis-
tens like snow among the green, while here
and there scarlet poppies and lilies wave
their flaming petals, and modest blue bells
seem 10 tinkle as we pass. Wild mustard,
that so brightens the landscape in many
places, is not a thing Of joy 10 the Dakota
farmer but pest that he would gladly ex-
terminate In places flowers failed TO
appear but natures resources are bound
less and she will not long endure monotony.
II not flowers there she shows her skill in
/ ever-varying greens. running the whole
scale OF yellowish. brownish, blush, pur-
plish. grayish and greenish greens through
I all their notifications OF tone; with fecks
and bars and ripples of sunlight here and
there. and ever-shifting shadows OF vary
ing depths and hue.
O Nature
/ But for our God and thine
! We might bow down and worship thee.
\ So like 10 Him art thou
i In all thy loneliness divine
/ And in thy sovereign majesty.
Coming from among the golden. ripe
wheat fields of Indiana and Illinois II
/ seemed as II time had turned back in its
/ course as we gazed on the fresh green
i fields OF Dakota. looking very much ours
\ did about the first Of May. But we must
remember that this is part OF the great
/ spring or hard wheat belt. so far-famed for
/ its phenomenal yield and superior quality
I II is said that this belt. which reaches far
into Canada, has a capacity quite sufficient
\ 20 supply the whole world with bread
\ What a wonderful wheat field IL is.
All along the way signs OF the glorious
Fourth were in evidence. Flags waved
bands poured forth their patriotic num-
| bers and hrecrackers snapped and sput-