The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-04-28
81" wenty Yeas a ffttea. -
Denison as Seen by Eastern Eyes After Many
Years Absence.

I western hospitality which made my
residence here enjoyable was so novel
TO me as to make 9. marked impression
on my mind and heart and the
memories of these days have always
4 found me with The wish for Il renewal
of these experiences which | have
taken the first opportunity to crafty
When l found that | was about to
visit Denison after so many year | was
confronted by the fear that after reach
ing here | might find the town SO
attired and the familiar faces so few
/ that should feel more sadness than
4 Joy AS Washington was among the
cities of my western journeyings /
availed myself OF the opportunity to
10 call upon Denison S most prominent
citizen, Secretary Shaw. and upon his
wife whom [ had not seen since 1855.
The cordiality of my welcome proved
1 to me that the cares of state were not
(
I heavy enough to prevent the renewal
Of old friendships and to this pleasure
was added dispelling of my fears by
4 the information which received of
old friendship still residing in Denisop.
But even these things did not prepare
me for the completeness out Of which
my anticipations were TO be realized.
When / at last reached Denison
was not surprised to find a handsome
new railway station in place of the old
frame building over which j. II. Gable
used to preside in my day, but while
the name of the Fargo House was q
familiar one, the New Wilson
seemed W lords which were too mod ern
to please one determined to live in the
past / therefore asked what had be-
come of my former place of residence,
the Jaggar House. The driver of one
bus reached for my bags eXclaiming,
1T must be a long time since you
were here but our hotel used to be the
Jaggar House.. Atthis N oment was
greeted cordially by two old friends
and gladly chose to let the bus carry
up my impedimenta while I walked
them up through the familiar streets.
How strange and yet how natural it
seemed to be here. The memories of
the past blended subtly with the &C
Guaintances of the present until they
seemed almost a dream. From such
view as l could get of the town at night
received the impression, confirmed
next morning by day light, that Deni
son was greatly changed. Here an6
{ there were fire new buildings ant
residences, but enough of the old re
[ NAMED to preserve the identity of thu
: city as had known it. And when
| found Lou Baer still patrolling tn,
t streets as when last saw the place.
: felt consciousness that / was to hav,
) no rip Van Wrinkle" experiences il
2 my return to the places that hat
: known and loved long since. In tn,
morning l did not allow sleep or break
| fast to delay long my excursions OF
. into the streets and there my hope
were richly fulfilled. At every turn
. found familiar face and to my Joy
e found | was remembered, if not Away
J. recognized. And when man large
= than myself stopped me to remind N
II that he Was once my pupil and CARRIE
ri me into an Office near by t., meet an
d other OF my pupils, my qualification
S was very full. found that | could no
e take mach pride in their actual pros
It parity ia view of my short experienc
i as IA teacher but was glad to find tina
q had been remembered.
= During all the years of absenc
It when | had thought of return | ha
i always promised myself that ! woul
e get a team and start out, without in
S quiry a. to the road, TO try to find M
way out to- the old school at Milfor,
d Center. 1t seemed natural enough t.
/ hire the team il ON Llub's stable and
d started ont on the first afternoon will
/ confidence in my ability TO find my wa
o unaided, | told Secretary Shaw i,
+ Washington of this determination an
# ne predicted thai unless | made FIRE
q qpent inquiries wouldn't get within
i fifteen mules of my old school. | mad
: only one inquiry, after had gone abou
five miles, and then found that | wa