Mower County transcript., 1907-09-11
VACATION
RAMBL|ES b. |. E
The Editor Has a Restful Outing
Amid the Pines and LakesOf
Northern Minnesota.


Park Rapids, MINI. Sept. 2, 1907.
Vacations over and I feel like the
small boy who hears this morning the
school bell calling him. When we lett
home on the morning of Aug. Il, l
promised myself real rest from work
and have had it. 1t has been con-
slant round of recreation under the pines
and amid the lakes. When you wish
good time come to Park Rapids.
The first afternoon here was spent
at Charles Cages summer cottage on
Fishhook Lake where the Baptist
Ladies Aid entertained about eighty
guests. Mrs. Gage and her sister Mrs.
Alex Kerr entertained us all in roval
way and as ye editor served as official
pie inspector he Jared we'll. Bathing
launch riding, quoits and other recrea-
tlon added to the pleasure of the occas
ion. The menu served was as follows:
Soldiers Standby Virginia Bread
Hawaii Java
Murphys with yellow Sauce
Lovesick Relish
Dutch Balls Molasses Bread
Jack O. lantern Pie
Hot Sticks Yellow Paste
The next afternoon was spent on a
blueberrying trip. And talk about
these berries, this is the place to see
them plentiful. We found small tracts
fairly blue with them and gathered
fourteen quarts during a short time.
In the height of the season, the Fris-
bies gathered sixty quarts in one day.
They taste like new fruit when fresh
picked. They grow largest in the pine
openings that have been burnt over.
1t is needless to say that blueberries
have been a regular part of our bill Of
fare. Wild raspberrles have also been
very plentiful and we found some.
abundant patches. The woods are full
of the wintergreen berries which are
now in fine condition for eating. In
many places the ground in the woods
is also adorned with the humble pigeon
berry.
Saturday was spent at Usage, ten
miles out, on fishing trip on Straight
river. We had Rev. A. L. Holden for.
merly of Brownsville fer our guide and
we put in good day of it. A picnic
dinner and an abundance of fishing
made an ideal outing. -
On Monday, Mr.. Frisbie and I tried
our fortunes on Elbow Lake in catch
ing the gamy muskallonge. These
fish are the largest in these waters and
are said to be tho gamiest. They are
caught weighing as high as forty
pounds. The best one caught by our
party weighed fourteen pounds and
measured over thirty inches between
tips. We beached this monster in
order to run no risk of losing him..
Tuesday, we took drive to Lake
Itasca and the state park over Is miles
distant. A leisure trip it was with fre.
quent stops to pick blueberries and
other fruit For dinner we arrived at
Little Mantrap Lake where we camped
at one of the numerous summer resorts
which are to be found at many of the
lakes here. In the afternoon we reach
ed the Lodge Of the state park and re-
NAMED over night. We tried the waters
of Itasca in the evening and in the
morning and also visited the OUT
let of the lake where the Father
of Waters starts in a very diminu-
tive stream not ankle deep. Here we
found wild cherries. cranberries etc,
and visited the field of the ancient
Mound Builders who ages ago encamp-
ed here. The forestry division Of the
students OF the state agricultural school
were very busy at work in the park
clearing up for some pine tree nurseries
and clearing out firebreaks. No one.
who visits this region can fail to be in.
terested in the problem Of a larger
state park and of wise systematic for
estry. We have been pursuing course
Of senseless and extravagant waste with
our timber for the past years and it
looks as if the lumber trusts had stolen
the biggest part Of the timber lands un-
der various disguises. On our way home
on Wednesday we stopped in upon a
family Of twelve children regular in ad-
vancing height 40 q set Of stairs, 9 group
which would have delighted the heart
Of our strenuous president. .3-
Thursday was spent on another fish
ing trip and on Friday q company went
to Potato Lake for q days outing some
driving and some going ia launches to
the mouth Of Potato river. A corn