Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-08-16
An Afternoon in the Country.

A telephone call, a hurried lunch
and down to the Union Station at
t:15, to catch the c. P. & st. L.
Saturday Afternoon Special, and
this was the beginning of one of
the most pleasant outings we have
enjoyed for some time, consider
ing the many things to be crowded
into one afternoon. The gates at
station did not open for our train
until within a few minutes of it's
schedule to start. The crowd
rushed in, scarcely seated itself,
when the signal was given and we
were moving out through the
yards, then slowly climbing until,
as an elevated train, we pulled
pass the roofs of factories, shops
and houses, and soon skirted the
river, thence following northward
along the wharf until the Mer-
chants Bridge was reached. We
found its crossing far more pleas
ant than going through the tun-
mel, as heretofore in our few trips
across the Mississippi. When
once fairly in Illinois the train
made fair time, and we sped
through fields of tall, waving corn,
past little towns, like playhouses
set near each other (asking pardon
for the comparison, for we have
always considered playhouses the
most beautiful and necessary
things in the world). 1t was warm,
but what cared we for that. Good
company, anticipation of new
scenes, and cool shady retreats,
made the weather slip off into OBJ
livion for the time.
We passed Granite City, Chou
teau Slough, st. Thomas, Olden-
berg, Hartford, Federal, Alton,
Clifton Terrace, Riehl, Lock
Haven, Elsah, then came Chau-
tauqua, our destination. Glad to
leave the coach for something more
inviting, we were soon passing
across the bridge, where we stop
ped for tickets; the passports
being secured, we were "turned"
into the grounds. Great bluffs
rise on all sides, leaving a gate
way to the river. Hotels, cottages
and tents dot the little valley,
making very pretty and inviting
scene. A little winding stream.
rocky, pebbled and scraggy, now
almost dry, winds through the en-
closure or grounds proper, giving
excuse for the rustic bridges and
crossingways which are to be seen
at irregular intervals.
Passing up the main driveway OF
street of the town, we observed
neat little cottages of one and two
stories, very inviting with theil
large porches all screened, gay red
yellow hammocks gently swaying
and mating covered floors, with
all sorts of delightful little retreats
for dreaming. Many of the cottages
have odd and significant names
one we noted being "Dad's Re.
treat" another, "Uneedarest,'
still another, "The House Thai
Jack Built"
DR.. Henry Sears, of Chicago
was the attraction of the Audi
torium. We were soon comfort
ably located, listening to his vivid
word pictures and his sound logic
which were presented "with SOU
stirring eloquence and a thread 0,
good humor which takes the aud.
fence with him all of the time
After the lecture we proceeded te
climb one of the bluffs, which over.
looks the river. After the steeI
ascent we were glad to rest. A
good shady place found, we looked
out over the country, where g
panorama OF the two great rivers
running almost parallel, with a
tract of the most fertile land in the
State of Missouri, lying in be-
tween met our vision. The Father
of Waters moved silently at oul
feet, the shadows of the trees mir.
rored themselves on it's CLASSY
surface; boats, large and small
, dotted it's bosom, and an air O
quiet peacefulness pervaded the
very breezes as they floated from
the southwest, and famed ou.
} flushed faces and calmed our over.
wrought nerves. Sorry this coulc
not last always, and after the pic
ture had burned itself we'll into oul
memory, we slid down the steer
incline, and proceeded to the hote
for supper.
7:30, the evenings entertain.
ment in the Auditorium began
The Rounds Ladies' Orchestra fur.
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