Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1881 — On the Wing. [ARTICLE]

On the Wing.

Bloxosotos, IIL, aprA. fit of over aa, with a desire to aee apaft of Umcfts Sam’s farm. Many pexapiiffi sat oMt a long life within 4mu«irfelaof Rmir own home and neighborhood. Home is the beat place to bo, best our head and eyes are mam longing for the new sighta in onr nation's wonder land. We have n&linihd tickets to Denver, Col* via the Lake Erie A Western, Chicago A Alton, Atchison A Santa Fe and the Denver A Rio Grande railways. We had an unusually. pleasant trip, without any happenings of general interest until we roaafrgd Bradford. We there learned Mit our President had been eexottuv wounded. The train was dnlaynd. and we reached Lahpett* tog Ist** for the afternoon tram on the short line. We tarried in the StaY City until 8:30 p. x. The old court house is all torn down with s view to build a more palatial temple of justice in its stead. Thus the r old gives place to the new. Every one seemed to feel, keenly the attempted assassination of' the President. A telegram was received at 7 p. x., stating that death had relieved his sufferings. The bells all tolled a Solemn chime. We reached Oxford at 9 P. : X., Saturday night. This “Celestial City” has many “gates ajar,” and the streets are somewhat over-grpum with weeds. The loss of the coun-ty-seat finished this town. The prospects of a new railroad has enlivened the people considerable The Commercial Bonk is nourishing and the room looks cheerful. The proprietors of this institution, formerly resided in Rensselaer?* ** The site of Oxford is beousfyi and the surronndingoonntry equals any in the State. The people are sociable and well-disposed. Hud the court house been erected heft this would be a lively and flourishing place.' It is a good place to live, but we do not 800 manifested the push and spirit of a town liks Rensselaer. We leave for Bloomington ot 9 a. m., July 4. The dawn of the nation’s natal morn is clouded with gloom. The 4th of March was Fridoy and the attempted murder of the President makes the seers of evil omen look wise and whisper, “I knew it would be so.” Is Friday as lucky as any other day? Washington and Garfield were our only Presidents who were church-members, and the fiend Guiteau says in his message ttfGeneral Sherman: “The President was a Christian and he will be happier in Paradise than here.” Religious fervor and furore stirs the very depths of the holy as well as the devilish passions. The spiritual doctrine that death is a mara opening of a new and perfect life is comforting as a matter of faith but for a murderer to literalize the tenet of a church minister as an excuse for his assassination, is horrible ! A pleasant fancy is often an ugly fact.

It is an old saying, “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.” To this country our chief magistrate is a mere servant chosen by the people. It is not a happy prospect for the Republic that the assassin lurks near our President in his dkfly walk. The Nihilists is unfitted to our system of Government wen I It would seem that the untimely work of murder was intended to cast an unjust reflection upon our worthy Vice-President. The tongue of malice is busy with some great names,but no reasonable person will believe there was any conspiracy. Charles Goiteau will be called insane. and the mantle of charity may thus, cover his hideous deeds. That form of murderous insanity that has method in its madness ought not to be allowed to flourish in this country. Like the man-slaying tigers their taste for blood cannot be appeased. The community esp well afford to _ . j f’ “Dot# or their very abeeßce.’’ The pulse of the nation has not been so stirred with grief since the death of Lincoln ip 1865. The whole people saw in President Garfield the good elements of duff* actor so mingled that all are ready to say, “He is the right man for the place.” ; Our train was late and we are left rt Bloomington while we had intended to spend the evening of our losth national anniversary in the shadow of Lincoln’s tomb.

The L. E. & W. passes through an unbroken garden of oom, oats, and flax. We crossed only one narrow timber belt and very few wheat fields. On the train were several Ohio men, each of whom was finding serious fault with the festive and jubilant demonstrations at Boswell, Hoopeston, Gibson City, and Bloomington. They reported that the whole State oLOhio was given over to fasting and prayer and clad in the somber hues of' mourning over the calamity had fallen on their favorite son. No event short of the fulfiUmetflTbf Mother Shipton's prophecy stop the mouths of these Buchevs. They must have their atmakl screaming time even if the President is dying. We arrived in thia city at 4 p.m. Senator David Daria made the opening address. Thia la' his home, and a local poet says; "We appear in Senate alae. At the Nation’s Capitol; * > V. We boast of a nlghtj Davis, , > Who in weight surpasses all." j The Senator looks as if the yoke of his honorable servitude rested lightly upon him, George ;R;

Waadbag who assayed to demol“Popa Bob,” also spoke in the shwm The prims donna Litti was skoal home, sad sang “America** Is close the celebration on We feani at the fair ground our ewa impressible James Maloy, of Bmmselasr, with his running ClassMats. She took two straight heats in a race where there was cloeecomp otitic a. Malov keeps good stock aadus winning tl m pauses this year. Thk evening me sit in our windasr, in the Ashley House, at one corner of the public square, and look o«t and dernn on a sea of unwashed “Suckers,” filling the court house, court-yard, and streets about with their patriotic noises. The fire works are gorgeous, and from the doom, electric lanterns make all like brightest day. We remain here until 2 r. x. of tomorrow. In the morning we will ride out to the Normal and take a look at the city in a general way. Parb. Topee A r Kan., July 9. Dear Republican : After a careful scrutiny of those main features of Bloomington deemed worthy at s casual tourist’s notice, we past over that part of the world from thence to Springfield, the capital of Suckerdom, “on wheels.” The Chicago A Alton is first-class in all its equipments. Splendid chair can are provided free of extra charge, and the servants oil the train are vary attentive to the wants of the passengers. Tlje rolling prairie gives place to a broken, clayey land. Springfield fir 'a very muadv and unlovable 6ity in its general features. We tried our favorite way of viewing thhrplaoe from an open carriage. The roads were so very rough that it was no easy task to possess our Christian souls in patience. We drove to Oakridge Cemetery, in the foreground of which stands Lincoln’s Monument. Mr. Power, the keeper, for the modest snm of two bits, recited e very fine word picture of all the hidden soul-truths embodied in the monument and statuary groups, as well as the mementoes in “Memorial Hall,” a circular room In the base of the monument The structure is very large and the column lofty. The circular stain within were climbed and from the summit we had a view of the cemetery and the northwestern portion of the city. The statue of Lonooln is in bronze. On the

tour corners of the base of the pedestal are to be placed four groups speaking the sentiments of tho infantry, cavalry, artillery and marina service in the days of 1865. We will attempt no full description. The State House is still unfinished and the grounds are covered in part with rubbish. While passing along a street, our better half spoke up end said: “This is the old home of Lincoln. I know it by the picture.” We were incredulous, and called a neighbor, who confirmed the impression. On the 6th weprogressed as far as St Louis. We discovered the Father of Waters at Alton. Crossed below its confluence with the Big Muddy at £ast St Louis. We are the chief city of the Pukes and stopping at the Lindell, a tip-top frfftuie- on prices. In the afternoon we visited Town Hill Park and Shaw's Garden. Henry Shaw -is a very wealthy bachelor, about 81 years old. He keeps a large force of men all the time, caring for the most complete garden in America. Our better half enjoyed a look upon this minature floral world. All modern appliances are used vto preserve tropical plants from cold in winter and drouth in summer. The garden is in the southwest suburb, and is the sole property of Mr. Shaw, but he has signified his intention to leave it as a legacy to the city, upon his demise. The air was too sultry for us to make many minutes' observations. At 9 AK. W 6 again took chairr in the C. k A. cars for Kansas City. Beeroesed the river and retraced pur route to White Hall, and thence wed westward across the empire of Missouri. This State, so fertile and empty supplied with minerals, could prosper even if hedged in with a world. We do not mid so much push and enterprise as is so manifest in Illinois. Nature has lavishly bestowed the bounties, but it needs a Republican administration to push wanted improvements to the front Wp crossed the Missouri at Glasgow, end soon after sunshine gave place to moon-light, and we were glad to find a superb, well ventilated room at City's Metropolitan Hotel. The chief topic of conversation in this city seems to be the reign of Si. John in Kansas. The dealers and eonsumers of intoxicants seem wrathy. Among that class who stimulate we could on the cas remarks like this: I “ must lay in a supply at KanM#, City to last beyond the empire of St. John," Ac. Kansas City isa b™, ft mercantile plaee. The States of Kansas and Colorado end all the southwestern Territories pay her tribute. We passed Lawrence. Saw her towering university at a distance. All has streets and public places are named so as to commemorate New England's emigrant and societies in thabloody days of 1844. Brown, Lane and other free State leaders have their names given to streets sad avenues. t. We reached Topeka at 2 r. h., and have bad a very satisfactory

visit Took a walk through tin business mart and it is worthy of note that we did not hear any profanity nor see any signs of drunkenness. This is also an abolition town. Her school houses bear the names of Brown, Sumner, Lincoln and Lane. The streets are named after the Presidents. The streets in South Topeka are from 100 to 200 feet wide. , Shade trees are planted. Washburn and Bethany colleges are creditable buildings. The new State House is not large, but is a comely and sufficient structure. This afternoon we procured from a native Hoosier from Sonth Bend, who keeps a “hotel de hoes,” a good driving nag, and took a survey of the whole city. This is s place. The push and and enterprise of the west are blended in han'jony with the culture and refinement of the east. July 9,1 p. m.—We have been here 24 hours and we could nestle down and live easily with these Jay-Hawkers. The beatitudes of life tire manifest with this people more than at any other place we have yet visited. Each person seems to be confiding and easy to approach. This city needs some men of capital sufficient to start some wholesale establishments, when State pride will help to make of it a city like Indianapolis. Prosecutions under the prohibitory law are progressing slowly. This experimen in sumptuary enactments is not yet so satisfactory as to be readily followed in other States. We will stay over Sunday at Emporia and reach Pueblo .on Tuesday. We intend to go slowly during these warm days. Parr.