Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-07-24

( dad heard much froL- ner late hus-
band, who had been country mer-
chant and had for many years made
two trips a year to New York, by
private team to New Haven and from
there by sailing vessel. The name of
the North river boat was Troy, with
side wheels. Instead of a walking
beam engine it had a horizontal en-
CINE for each wheel. 1t was an ex-
pertinent which did not prove a sue
cess. | bought a descriptive map of
the river, taking most interest in
West Point and Newsburg of Revo-
lutionary memory.
Just in the edge of the evening we
arrived at Albany and took lodgings
at a nearby tavern. The next morn
ting we went to the railroad station.
The rails of the road were made Of
wood with an iron band on top. The
cars had each three compartments
holding six persons. The conductor
came along on board on the side.
There were only four wheels to each
car. The brakemen had seats on the
top of each car and stopped the car
by pressing his foot on a lever which
brought set of perpendicular iron
scrapers on 10 the rim of the track.
After being drawn by horses a short
drawn up an inclined plane bv rope
and stationary engine, where the loco
motive was attached at the top Just
before we reached Schenectady the
engine was taken off and we were let
down an inclined plane. Here the
first line of railroad ended and we
went on the next line. We arrived at
Utica about 8 O'Clock. There the
nephew met us and we rode past
Hamilton college to his home. When
we arrived at Utica we had been sixty
hours on our way. Now we can leave
Plymouth at 8 a. m, and be in Utica
at p. m, one-tenth of the time then
taken. There were many signs of
newness to me, Yankee boy, in this
region especially the stump fences
with their rough, tangled look
After a stay of two weeks. we re-
turned over the same route as far as
Albany. Then we crossed over the
river to Greenbush on horse-ferry
boat. The appearance of the tavern
did not suit my grandmother's idea
of neatness and order, therefore We
took the train for Springfield. The
next morning we went on board the
small stern wheel steamboat that ran
to Hartford. AS there was a good
stage of water we went down the
rapids instead of the canal. After a
visit at Reuben Langdon's on Pratt
street. We went to our home on the
daily Litchfield stage.
This simple story is only useful as
faint Illustration of the great
changes made in American life dur
ing the last half century. The few
living who have experienced these
changes can hardly realize them.
TIE very many who have not been
through them can hardly be made to
believe in the truth of them. A mum.
Der of years ago in an interview with
Charles Adams. for many years editor
and proprietor of the Litchfield En-
quirer. | asked him after an hours
talk OF the many and various changes
he had seen if he could realize them
His answer was that he could. AFTER
a moments reflection he said, Il can
not" One of the best pictures of life
in New England in the early part of
the 18th century is found in an adj
Dress by Dr. Bushnell at county
celebration in Litchfield in the SOS.
entitled, The Age of Homespun," and
also in poem delivered on that oc-
easion by Rev. John Pierpont. One
cannot help wondering whether those
who hive through the larger part of
the goth century will experience so
many and so great changes.