Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1883 — Caught On the Fly. [ARTICLE]

Caught On the Fly.

[For The Republican.] I stepped on board the train at Rensselaer, the signal was given and away we go across the beautiful prairies of Jasper and White, over the bottoms of the Wabash, and arrive at that city named for the French hero who helped this Nation in the time of her need. With the assistance of a smiling hackman and two honest, but not extra capable horses, I was transferred to the South street depot, where I stepped on board a car on the C. I. St. L & C. R. R., and was whirled away over a prairie covered with fine crops of corn, oats and hay. The conductor sings out “Lebanon” and we are reminded that we are in the “State” of Boone, which with its Beech, Sugar-tree and Elm, is a sample of Hoosierdom in all its glory. A long blow of the whistle, a longer ringing of the bell and we are at the capital of our State, with its broad streets, its neatly built and well kept residences, and its genial people. A small boy encouraged by a nickel transfers my traveling baggage to the Grand Hotel. After ridding myself of accumulated Indiana soil, 1 called on our genial and deservedly popular Governor, at the executive chambers, and found him quite busy with the affairs of State. After many pleasant meetings with personal friends, I again boarded the train and after a pleasant ride of three hours, I found myself pleasantly located at the Gibson House, Cincinnati. A fine hotel in a fine city. A city whose improvements indicate wealth and solidity, but whose business will not compare in enterprise and thrift with that of Chicago. The City Council this week elected a board of health, consisting of six men, five of whom are by occupation, saloon keepers, “straws show which way the wind blows.” In a few hours I was off on the B. & C. R. R. for the East. The Master of ceremonies in his white cap and skin of an opposite color puts lower No. 9, in order and I turned in for the night. “Cheat River” rings in my ears and I opened my eyes on a bright morning in the historic State of West Virginia. The Brakeman’s cry carries my memory back twenty-two years, when three green regiments, two from Indiana and one from Ohio, after marching over Cheat mountain and wading Cheat river, met and put to route General Garnet’s army. “Cumberland, twenty minutes for breakfast” greets our ears from the stentorian voice of the S. C. C. and we are at the summit of the Alleghanies. The atmosphere is bracing, it is later than my usual breakfast* hour and when I come out of the dining room I would not have the courage to look in the face of the “Incubator” of the spring chicken whose wrecked remains I left behind me.

Away we go rushing down the side of the mountain, following the Potomac’s course, we leave Maryland, cross the river back into West Virginia. The scenery is grand in the extreme. Sooh we reach Harper’s Ferry, and while the driver and stoker feed and water our mighty iron steed we will step out and take a look at John Brown’s Fort, there it is a small brick building, just as it was when, almost a quarter of a century ago, John Brown struck for the liberty of the black man. Again we cross the river into the peach State and soon “Washington” greets our ears. Only a few minutes we spend at the Capital, and fifty-nine miles further we fare at Baltimore. Away again and we soon arrive at Wilmington. The city of brotherly love is reached and passed, the Capital of New Jersey is west of us and soon we arrive all safe and sound at the Grand Central Hotel, in the Metropolis of the Western Hemisphere.

R. S. DWIGGINS.

Ayer’s Hair Vigor imparts vitality, gloss, and freshness to the hair, and restores its original beauty. White Bronze Monuments and Statuary, manufactured by the Detroit Bronze Co., of Detroit, Mich., are works of beauty. This work will not crack, crumble or become moss-grown, but is guaranteed to retain its original beauty, and is cheaper than any other monumental material. W. H. Hollman, Agt. tor Jasper county. ■■■MR***#* Sells Brothers have all the tools belonging to a well regulated blacksmith shop. They have several blacskmiths with them, who shoe al) the horses and make the necessary repairs on the wagons.