Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-06-01
LETTER FROM NORTH INDIA.
Former Resident of DEBORAH Writes In.
teresting Letter from Sumatra
Recalling Former Friend.
ships.

Old residents ofDecorah will remem-
Der Mr.. A. Schmiedel, who previous to
twenty years ago was a member of the
wholesale and retail cigar and tobacco
firm of Schmeidel & Kleinke, located
on the lot where @. Trzclnski's barber
shop now is. He is now at Lebong
Donok, Sumatra, North India, and
writes the following very interesting
letter to Mr.. E. Mather, which we
are permitted to publish:
Lebong. Donok, April End 1904.
Bro. E. Mather,
When man lives on the other side
of the globe it takes a long while be-
fore letter reaches him, and for that
reason your favor of November last
only arrived here with the last mail,
OH March 31st.
Your communications regarding old
acquaintance and the rise of Decorah
TO metropolis have been of the great
est interest to me. With regret
noticed that some of the older people
have passed away to the great un-
known, but perusing the list Of men,
DSAoS ceAAA hhu q SAOop oAu
friends among them, and hope that
they are all doing we'll. Many a year
has passed since | have been among
and in my minds eve l see them all
before me as | saw them last. There
is Bro. Montgomery, administer
ing spiritual advice on doctors GER
tificate there is prosperous A. Nj.
Perry, always in a hurry with his
tally-ho, and he was regular Dick
ems character. by the way. Then
again there is John Telford probably
now director of the @. NJ. g. st. P. r. K.
much dreaded by those who were short
of change. There we have the two ex.
tremes. old man Mackenstadt and Son
attending to the first wants of man, by
throwing in savoir faire and savoir
vivre brought by Fred from the east
with an elegant coat, and then again
old man COLI attending to the last
wants in the shape of wooden over
coat. Sad, but true, Trzcinski and
Muller will do the necessary for US to
make a good appearance during that
space of time. I suppose Bro. Port
man, who was dipped in the ocean
waves near Gilbralter, is still looking
for justice, and here we have old man
Stitch, the ancient, who returned from
the Fatherland, because it was too
small for him, and he missed the
doughnuts and corncakes. Well. I
don't blame him for returning to
Gods country, for enterprise and pro-
gress is fo1nd there. / am somewhat
of judge, when compare American
ways with those of the Dutch, who
took Holland, as old man Baker used
to say. / shall not contradict him,
but they also took these colonies, and
are in possession of them for over 300
years. Progress here has been very
slow. Sumatra is one great wilder
ness, with the exception of few
places along the coast, and it is like
pulling teeth that person obtains
permission to develop the country
] through mining enterprises, or things
of that kind. The Government is in
constant dread that too many
foreigners enter, and that by compile
ations they may lose their colonies
But what riches there are still con-
tanned in this land is simply wonder
tul. The PHILIPPINES cannot compare
with it, and the situation is such that
it would just be the proper acquisi-
ton for the U. s. 1t is surprising to
see that the Dutch are left alone by
everybody, but likely this is jealously
between nations. II was promoter
l would strongly advise the purchase
OF this island, but as this is not the
case. and as my vote does not count
any more than that of any colored
gent in the states, shall have to
await those who will get hold of it
some day.
For the sake of civilization 1 hope