Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 May 1858 — LAFAYETTE CORRESPONDENCE. [ARTICLE]

LAFAYETTE CORRESPONDENCE.

Lafayette, May 2, 1858. Mr. Editor: The Star City still continues to “scintillate” notwithstanding the continual croakiug of the old fogies to the conitrary. True it is not making giant strides to greatness like some of its Western sisters, but it is progressing slowly and surely. Preparations are being made to build some fine business houses here this summer, and neat little cottages, and more ostentatious dwellings are beginning to rear their heads in all parts of the city. Notwithstanding the hard times there is more confidence among business men, and more evidence of improvement here now than a year ago. All look forward, confidently, to “a good time coming” at no very distant day; and.consequently feel less fear with regard to the investing of money—as an evidence of this, buyers are freely offering twenty-five cents for corn in the crib. By the way, speaking of business, reminds us of noticing in the Gazette the cards of the business firms, Purdue Brown & Co., and; Jas. B. Falley. We had—while in the city—the pleasure of looking through the immense dry goods establishment of the first, and iron store of the second, and a more complete assortment of either it has not been our good fortune to be shown over by any house west of the mountains. They are doing a large business with central Illinois, and Northern Indiana, and we can assure our merchants that they could not do better than to give them a call.

The Books have been opened—and the stock is being taken rapidly—for a railroad to connect with the L. &. I. R. R. and run west to LaSalle. Should it be built it will cross the river at the foot of Main street. The knowing ones think it is a sure thing; but one thing is sure—the financier that can concoct, and build a railroad these hard times deserve a brazen monument. If completed it will run through Oxford. The political horizon is calm ns yet, as there are no opposing elements to brew a storm. It is here, somewhat like it is in Tnrpnr. juot nifi tha T onrimptonitoc to form a guard for the President’s corporal. Apropos of politics, we notice that our old friend, W. K. Rochester, is out for the State Senate—long may he wave. The ladies’, (God bless them) of the Star City have ceased to be mere imitative animals—following the iootsteps of Eugenie—■nd have commenced originating fashions; that are better adapted to the want! of the Western ladies than are those which grace the Boulevards and Champ Elysees. The last fashion displays an amount of original genius than the matter-of-fact, practical Western people have ever received credit for. It is simply to shave the front part of the head, causing the forehead to seem much higher than it really is, and giving the appearance of having more sense thanT.be law (of nature) has allowed them. Of course, should the fashion take, female barber-shops will have to be started, which will give employment to a great many young lediec that are now idle,'and, as men have almost ceased to shave, a striped pole will soon indicate a place where ladies’ heads are shaved instead of mens’faces. All honor to the “female wimrnen!” they are a great institution, and have redeemed the West from the charge of possessing no original genius.

But railroads, p ditics, fashions and every other subject of minor importance sinks into insignificance when the Artesian Well is spoken of; ’T4s hard to get a man to converse five consecutive minutes upon any other subject—"tis the veritable “Fountain of Youth”—for which the Spaniard searched so dilligently, but so unsuccessfully—it cures everything—from the most confirmed case of consumption, down througn all, the grades ol disease to which human nature is heir, to the most obdurate, and want-to-be-scratchable case of itch or Wabash-scratch-es. It is reported—though we do not vouch for the authenticity of the story —that a gentleman and lady in the State of Boone—aged 72 and 75 respectively—used of the water until they were only 17 and.2o, when they quit using it—justly fearing that they would soon return to babyhood and swaddling clothes. But to lay aside jesting and speak of it in the terms of praise it deserves, *it-js fcertaiqly far superior to any mineral spring fn the United States. Dr. Wetherell, of this city, has just completed an analysis of the water, and says that it contains more medicinal properties than the famous Blue Lick Springs. Did you ever tuple the water! * Of course you didn’t. Did you ever taste a combination of tar-.water, blue ink, asafetfda and rotten eggs! of course you didn’t, nnd consequently can form no adequate idea—no just conception of the nauseating feelings of the want-to-puke-ative-pess that comes over a fellow after taking the first drink; though I have been informed that after drinking it a short time one prefers it to pure Water. It is proving a powerful auxiliary in the tompeance cause,

■nd a greater enemy to the grog-shopa than all the Maine Laws ever passed. It reforms drunkards by purifying the system, satisfying that unsatisfiable spirit that is constantly crying for more drink to quench th® ungovernable fire that rages and burns in the breast of every drunkard, burning up —consuming every noble aspiration—everything that is good, and pure, and enobling; and causing the man to lose the divine likeness which his Creator engraved ’ upon his heart, and become a mere brute. ’God grant that it may go on until its influences are felt all over the State. Some cases of sore eyes, that had baffled the skill of lhe best oculists, have been cf- ! fectually cured; and, as it effects cure by purifying the whole system —thus removing the cause of disease— safely premise that its cures will be permanent. Various projects are on the for the better application of.the water for medicinal purposes. One gentleman hjjs offered eight hundred dollars per year ffewhat water will waste after all the thirsty are satisfied; but this attempt at speculating,off’ one of Nature’s free and benificent g£|ts, is pretty genreally frowned upon—the general feeling seeming to be in favor of the City Council publishing Dr. analysis, in pamphlet form, for distribution, and then let it run as freely as God gives it. There is at the well three dippers and two places of drinking, and yet there constantly waiting their turns, while the “jug line” reminds one of the good oldday when there were “Bucket Fire Compass.” Jtnne Homme.