The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-08-08

SO much money they say Ito H with
politics and the Bull Moose" If it
wasn't for the papers you would not
know there was an election. All there
lis in it to the common people is the
inns want to keep in and the outs want
Ito get in. The great Bull Moose that
has just discovered the. ten command
melts never quotes the one thus:
Thou shalt not he' Politics is tru-
ly great game, as the late lamented
Late Young used to remark semi
daily.
Our boat is named Leoli, | suppose
after our Mack. We fish and eat and
ride in auto and on trolly. Our P. o.
is TeCumseh, named after the great
Indian warrior, and the town is conf
posed of French Canadians, all Cath
Iolic. Not a protestant in the town,
They look happy, prosperous and con-
tented They are true to George Y
and patriotic and seem to have more
freedom than U. S. Yankees.
What would we think in Iowa of
a town of thousand people that had
no lodge of Masons, Elks, Eagles or
X of p; no calaboose and no police
officer, with two hotels, two saloons,
a convent, one Catholic church, no
DRINKS, no yags and fine schools. and
school houses? | met the parish
priest, who truly looked the part and
found him truly fine educated gen.
ltleman, and very courteous, kind and
obliging.
This country was formerly lake,
then swamps, then timber. The white
man came and the red man and the
timber left, and then the swamps were
drained by deep bitches into the lake
and the country is covered with
beautiful farms that produce fine
crops of all kinds of grain. The coun-
| try is level as the lake and only falls
few feet to the mile. 1t Is drained
by open bitches into the lake These
bitches are about 200 yards apart. l
saw no tile drains. The top soil is
about three feet of vegetable mould
on white clay that looks like fire clay.
| ] had no idea the country was so fer
! tile, prosperous and rich.
AS We came through Iowa the crops
looked fine, with here and there an ex-
ceptiOn. In Illinois they were poor
in Michigan poor and Indiana bum.
But Iowa has them all skinned mile
When you travel and see the other
places, Iowa seems like the promised
land flowing with milk and honey.
The Iowa farmer ought to be proud
and happy. Proud of his country and
happy on account of his success. In
the wide wide world there is no such
houses on the hill tops, no such low
ing contented herds, no such grunt-
ing droves of swine, no such sleek,
/ high-headed horses, no such fields Of
golden grain, and no such expanse of
waving corn, and no such beautiful
cOntented women. Purring automo-
biles and happy homes, beautiful
Iowa; lovely Iowa. Your home, our
home. The one place that we always
long to return to.
You may go to California to escape
the cold, but you wont forget the red
cheeks and springing steps that come
with the bracing cool, the skating and
the white, pure mantle of beautiful
snow. You may go to Minnesota and
Canada to leave the heat OF summer,
but you will look with longing eyes
towards the waving corn and golden
fields of Iowa, the lovely and beauti-
full.
! We have just got nicely located
and contemplate fine visit with the
children. OF course We will miss the
boys and girls at home. And the 9
O'Clock a. m. Sunday school class that
meets every Sunday morning with
Syl as Supt; Blacky as teacher, but
we can think of you and you of us,
and have joyous reunion to look for
ward to in the near future.
Remember me kindly and lovingly
to the Supt. and teacher and the dear
boys Of the class and recite the class
motto, IF you can't speak we'll, etc"
Love to you all and all the boys and
girls.
Your friend and brother,
UNCLE BILL LACEY.
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