The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-02-09
crumbling stone, partially covered with
snow and some scraggly evergreens.

crumbling stone, partially covered with
snow and some scraggly evergreens.
Cattle and horses were grazing in the
valleys. There were bushes along the
waterways and some snow on the tops
of the mountains. The houses are small,
the soil shallow and stony, the hay stacks
unprotected as we moved on a down
grade to De Smet.
After passing Missoula on the eastern
slope of the Rocky mountains we passed
through mountains Of every variety and
shape, covered with scattering scrubby
evergreens, and mostly snow-covered.
We passed through several quite long
tunnels before reaching Austin. A lady
who had travelled in old Mexico said this
was an evergreen glade by the side of
that country. The large broad valley as
we approached Helena is dotted with
clusters of buildings, fair grounds,
brewery, hotel at hot springs, Fort
Harrison and Catholic school. The val
ley becomes narrow, only about mile
wide, before dark. We stopped at Glen
dive for lunch the next morning. These
rolling plains are covered with about six
inches of snow, but the towns do not
grow as they do in forest country as it
does not require so large population to
develop the country.
At Beach. North Dakota, l saw the
first grain elevator in many year; but
it is an improvement on the old wooden
structure, being of concrete.
The Pacific coast newspapers are SO
much interested in booming their re-
spective localities that they have little
time to discuss questions relative to the
culture of the people. They would not
be willing to figure on the amount of
money wasted by the people in changing
school text books every five years for
fifty years. Though methods of present
ing the subject may vary, / could learn
mathematics just as we'll from the text
books in use fifty years ago as l can from
those we use today, after changing half
a dozen times. The English language
has not changed enough to warrant us in
buying a new grammar nearly every five
years, as we have been obliged to do in
my locality. | learned to read and spell
just as we'll as my children do today. The
tendency is away from the matter of
fact sentiments of the founders of our
nation to a fairy world, which Of course
is more appreciated by the children.
Before we progress too far in this direc-
ton it would be we'll to learn a lesson
from those ancient nations who grew in
power and wealth but finally declined
and were displaced by ruder and more
matter of fact people. | was talking
with a man raised in eastern Maine, but
now living in Spokane, Washington. He
did not seem disposed to discuss the rea-
son of changes, but said few people now
attend churches, and Sunday theaters
are always full.
While am writing this we are passing
through the bad lands of Dakota. The
land is fenced for pasture, but buttes
with their barren clay walls are becom
ing more and more numerous.
At Dickinson l was talking with a
Washington man on his way to Chicago
to make arrangements for the manufac-
ture of machine for spraying orchards.
He said that on a former trip, near where
we then were, he noticed young men
bringing coffee from the dining car to a
young lady to supplement her cold lunch.
Soon she was found to be so Intoxicated
she did not know where she was going.
A passenger had heard her say that she
was going to St. Paul. An elderly lady
was urged to take the girl in charge,
which she reluctantly consented to do.
The young men were warned away and
the girl was left in charge of lady at
St. Paul The man who told the above
story said that his father was a college
trustee and could not spare his son to at
tend the college more than months. |
told him that this was another case of a
Christianity so much interested in the
whole world that home duties are neg
lected.
Hay stacks, straw stacks and horses
paving for grass under snow reminded
me of the years | spent under similar
circumstances. 1t is pleasant life when
crops and prices are good. Indeed, this
undulating black soil is about as bewitch-
ing to the inexperienced as Pacific
coast climate. The greater part of the
value of Pacific coast land is found in its
delightful climate. An Iowa man, who
has been visiting near my home, is re-
turning home on this train. He said
that on his way west man invited him
to drink, which he declined but kept his
eye on the man. When the man left the
train he attempted to take an overcoat
along, but the owner told him to leave it.
At Mandan the air was clear, frosty
and very invigorating. When l first
came to this valley, nearly Is years ago.,
the saloon was the most prominent build
ing in every small town. Commenting
on the absence of the saloon today be-
foco n TT ,ol5iar ba c,i1 tbarn u,ora