Faribault County, Minnesota - Chapter 17, 1896

Chapter 17

The morning of the first day of January, 1871, broke over this land, bright and still. Blue skies and a balmy atmosphere ushered in the new j'-ear - it was the Sabbath day.

This year not only began, but ended on Sunday. In reference to the Sabbath, or Sunday, for whetlier properly, or improperly, both names are now generally given to the day linown as the Christian Sunday and are so here used, there are several propositions . which may here be discussed.

It is well known that the Jews and certain Christian denominations, hold that Saturday, the seventh day of the week, is the true Sabbath day and the day which all people are, by the fourth commandment of the decalogue, required to keep as the Sabbath day. But, on the other hand, the great majority of Christian peoj)le keep Sunday, or the first day of the week, as the Sabbath day, and some legislative enactments, relating to the observance of Sunday, are to be found in the laws of most civilized nations.

Whether under the Christian dispensation, Sunday - the first day of the week - kept in commemoration of the Christ's resurrection and the descent of the Holy Gliost, on the day of Pentacost, and kept by the apostles themselves and other followers of Christ, in the assembling themselves together and "the breaking of bread," preaching and the reading of the scriptures - a practice continued in the church in all ages, since their day, was, by competent authority, substituted lor the Jewish Sabbath, under the old dispensation, which, on the coming of the Christ, is said to have passed away. And here did the Christ, wlio declares that "He is Lord, also of the Sabbath," who in the three years of his ministry and, also, during the forty days between His resurrection and ascension, spake "of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God," instruct his apostles concerning the Sabbath, or Sunday.

Whether Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, who was a disciple of St. John, and was ordained by the Apostles then. living, spoke wisely and with authority, when he instructed some of his disciples, who wished to keep both Saturday and Sunday, that they should not keep the Sabbath of the Jews (the Saturday), but lead a life conformable to the Lord's daj-.

Wlielher the observance of one day in seven, as the Sabbath, be it the first or last day, or any other day of the week, is a compliance with the spirit of the law.

Whether the sixth day - Sunday - before the Passover of the Jews (Saturday), was the day on which God rested from the work of Creation, and the original Sabbath, and whether, when the Israelites left Egypt, the day was put back one day to our Saturday, and so remained for fifteen hundred years, until the Christ arose from the dead on Sunday the original seventh day of the week, and that Sunday and the original Sabbath are now the same day.

Whether in the lapse of time, a discrepancy of one day has occurred, in consequence of which the present first day of the week - Sunday - is in fact the identical original seventh day of the week.

Whether, from the time when the command was given to keep the Sabbath day holy, the weeks, day by day, have been exactly regular in their succession, and that counting, day by day, from the beginning, our present Saturday, or Sunday, or any other day of the week, will prove exactly correct in the order of time. And here, what effect on Sunday did the Act of the Parliament of Great Britian, in 1752, have, when it was enacted that the third day of the month of Sei)tember of that year should be called the (14th) fourteenth.

Whether or not the Edict of the Emperor Constantine issued A. D. 321, commanding that all work should cease in the cities "on the venerable Sunday," was the first official recognition of Sunday. Sunday was, originally, and long before the Christian era, the old pagan Roman day of the Sun - a day in the pagan worship dedicated to the sun.

Whether in this land, where "no religious test shall be required as a qualification to office," "where no law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercises thereof," where all are guaranteed the liberty of "worshipping God according to the dictates of their own consciences." and where "no control of, or interference with the rights of conscience is permitted," any state, as such, has any constitutional, or other right to enact laws, pi'oviding for the observance of any day as the Sabbath or as Sunday, and enforcing the same by penalties. Has a majority the right to determine this question?

But may not the State, considering the value of the Sunday, in its secular aspects only, enforce by law, its observance as a day of rest from toil?

That this day should be observed by all, in a proper manner, is clearly declared in the fourth Commandment. None of the Commandments are more positive, more full or more in detail than this. By this command, we are in six days to labor and do all we have to do, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, to be kept holy. The seventh day - the Sabbath - is not ours, it is the Lord's. We have no right to pervert it, or use it for our ordinary purposes. We can only use it for purposes designated by Him to whom the day belongs. All this seems to admit of no argument.

This day is evidently intended to be kept as a day of rest and luorship, in which all the ordinary labors of life are suspended, and works of charity and necessity, only, are permissable. The word "Sabbath," means rest. God rested on this day from the work of creation, and he commanded the day to be kept holy. It is not a day of frivolity, dissipation, or amusement, and it is certainly to be kept quietly, restfully and reverently, and as the Jews were commanded to have a holy convocation on the seventh day - the Sabbath, and Christ, as was his custom, went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and "stood up for to I'ead," and as the apostles and disciples assembled for public worship, subsequently on the Lord's day, as they did also on the seventh day, or Sabbath - the day is intended as a day of public assembling together for the worship of God.

That the day should, in all things, be kept with the strictness of the ancient Jews, or the rigidity of our Puritan forefathers, would be unreasonable and certainly not the intention. The Christ said that "the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath," that is, it was made for man's benefit and, therefore, it is lawful to do good, as doing works of necessity, mercy, charity, piety, on that day. In the Church calendar, Sunday is a festival, not a fast. On the other hand, what is known as the Continental Sabbath, or Sunday, that is, the Sunday as it is kept generally in Continental Europe - a day devoted to recreation, amusements, excursions, gaming, theatrical performances and general dissipation, is simply a perversion of the day. The public welfare and the cause of religion would be much better promoted, even by the old puritanical Sabbath, than by the Continental observance of the day. Sunday must not be secularized.

There are some things in the conditions of society, which militate greatly against the proper observance of the Sabbath. Among these, there may be named tho fact that persons who labor hard in factories, workshops, mines and otherwise all tho work days of the week, and many hours of the day, which prevails much in Europe, and is coming to be the fact in this country, are almost compelled to ignore the Sabbath day. When Saturday night comes they are exhausted. The laborer has had no time during the week to attend to his private or personal business affairs, or for self-improvement, instruction, amusement or rest, or enjoyment of family life, and when Sunday dawns he feels that he must devote the day to some of these requirements. But suppose that even Sunday should be abolished, as has been proposed in certain localities, what would be the life of the daily toiler. Of all men, the workingman should be the friend of tho Sabbath day. An eight hour day for the laborer and a Saturday half holiday, will be among those improved conditions of labor which will some day be recognized everywhere. Human experience, in all ages, has taught much of the value of the proper observance of tho Sabbath.

The keeping of one day in seven, as a day of rest from ordinary labors, is necessary to the well-being of man, and of all working animals. They can accomplish more labor and under better conditions, because of this rest.

Its hygienic effects are greatly beneficial to man, mentally andphysically, not only because of the rest and recuperation but, also, because, according to the customs of all Christian lands, it is a day of personal cleaning up and change of raiment, and the mind is diverted from the ordinary tread mill round of mental and physical labors, to something new and different for the time being. In this age of nervous diseases, insanity and suicides, caused by over- work, hurry and worry, the Sunday rest is especially valuable.

The famous Dr. Parre declared that the keeping of the Sunday is necessary to the public health, and many other eminent physicians indorse this testimony, and so do statisticians and sensible observers in general.

It is morally and religiously beneficial, because the mind and attention are, or ought to be, called from sordid, temporal, worldly affairs to a higher plane, to instructions in religious duty and obligations, and to spiritual and eternal interests. Sunday is the great conservator of the morals and religion of the world.

Blackstone, the great commentator on the laws of England, says that "'A corruption of morals usually follows a profanation of the Sabbath." Justice McLean, formerly of the Supreme Court of the United States, declared that "where there is no Christian Sabbath, there is no Christian morality."

The proper keeping of the Sabbath is necessary to the well being of the State. Justice McLean, above-named, also said, that without the Christian morality which is conserved by the Christian Sabbath, "free institutions cannot long be sustained." Our American liberties are largely connected with the weekly day of rest.

Adam Smith, the eminent writer on political economy, declares that "The Sabbath, as a political institution, is of inestimable value, independently of its claim to divine authority."

Macaulay, the English historian, writes that "If Sunday had not been observed as a day of rest, during the last three centuries, we should have been, at this moment, a poorer and less civilized people."

But it is not only where the Christian religion prevails, that the value of keeping one day in seven, as a day of rest and worship, is recognized, but the Jewish and great pagan religions bear testimony to the same facts.

Sunday, the first day of the week, is claimed as the proper day of rest by Christians, generally, Monday by the Greeks, Tuesday by the Persians, Wednesday by the Assyrians, Thursday by the Egyptians, Friday by the Mohammedan Turks, and Saturday, by the Jews and several Christian denominations.

Finally, to sum up the subject, considering the authoritative command of the Great Greater, in regard to the observance of the Sabbath, its value to man's mental and physical well-being, its importance in the conservation of morality and religion, its value to the State and to the progress of civilization, the disregard and desecration of the Sabbath approaches very near the turpitude of a crime. And the writer regrets to record the fact that very generally, throughout the world, the profanation and desecration of the Sabbath is one of the evils of this age which seem to be rapidly increasing and over-shadowing the nations, our own among the number. But the writer adds here, with great pleasure, that locally (in Faribault county) the people generally, with a few exceptions, have ever been a Sabbath observing, church going peoi^le. People who have the good of their race and nation at heart, can do no wisey act than to encourage, at all times, the proper observance of the Sabbath day.

Morbus Sabbaticus

A writer says, that morbus sabbaticus, or Sunday sickness, is a disease peculiar to church members. The attack comes on suddenly every Sunday - it never occurs on any other day. No symptoms are felt on Saturday night. The patient sleeps well, eats well, but just about church time, the attack comes on, and continues until services in the morning are over. Then the patient feels easy and eats a hearty dinner. In the afternoon the patient can take a walk, talk politics and read the Sunday paper. This sickness never interferes with the sleep, or appetite - it usually attacks only the head of the family, but no physician is ever called. Yet the disease is serious and becoming so prevalent, that it is sweeping thousands every year prematurely to the devil.

Judicial

The first January term of the district court in this county, commenced its session Januai-y 3d. Hon. Franklin H. Waite, judge. There were eleven criminal and eighteen civil cases on the calendar. The term lasted six days, and much important business was transacted.

The June term of this court commenced its session on the sixth, and at this term there were on the calendar nine criminal and thirty-one civil cases. The first trial yet had in this county for the awful crime of murder, occurred at this term of court - that of Nels Hast, a more full account of which is given elsewhere. This term, though a short one - lasting only four days - was for a number of reasons, one of the most interesting and important ever held in the county. Hast was convicted of murder in the second degree, and was sentenced to imprisonment for life, at hard labor, in the state prison.

This was the first life sentence passed in this county, and of the four homicides which had occurred, this was the first instance in which the perpetrator was punished.

A passing reference must now be made to the meeting of the "grave and reverend seniors," the county commissioners. They assembled on the third day of January; Arthur Bonwell was elected chairman for the year, after which the board proceeded to the transaction of its usual business.

They met again on the fifteenth day of March, on the twentysixth day of June, and on the fifth day of September, but a careful inspection of the records of these several meetings, furnishes nothing of special note. Yet the business done at these several meetings, as always, was important, as being necessary to the well being of the county.

The fact is that the great mass of the business, the real work of the world, public and private, of the town, county, state and nation, of all societies, corporations and individual pursuits, is of the ordinary routine character, having little of special interest, and nothing of the noise and glitter of what are called great actions.yet necessary, absolutely necessary, to the very existence, the stability, success and progress of all our institutions, political, religious, social, financial and educational, and, therefore, of the gravest importance. The world's real work, intellectual, moral and physical, is done by its quiet, busy, daily toilers, and is of incalculably more importance to the well-being of society, than all those brilliant actions, so called great deeds and noisy demonstrations of which alone the world seems to take any account.

At the winter meeting of the Agricultural Society, held in the early part of January, S. Pfeffer, of Blue Earth City, was elected president; A. D. Hall, of Wells, secretary, and L. W. Brown, of Prescott, treasurer. A meeting of the society was held at Blue Earth City, July 14th, which adjourned to meet at Wells on the twenty-sixth day of August. The object of this meeting was the revision of the constitution and by-laws, the preparation of premium lists and to determine the place of holding the next fair.

The fair was held at Wells on the 4tli, 5th and 6th days of October. The exhibition was not great, but the attendance was good, and financially the fair was a success to the society.

The Weather

The first snow storm of the winter commenced on the eleventh day of January, and continued two days. With this exception the winter was a very mild one. No great depth of snow fell, and we were not visited by any of those terrific "north westers," known by the euphoneous name of "blizzard," that occasionally give us some idea of the intense cold, and furious storms of the polar regions.

In January, of this year, there was considerable rejoicing throughout the country, in consequence of the fact that all the southern States were represented in con gress for the first time since December, 1860. "Reconstruction" was completed.

The State Legislature

We now invite our readers to the halls of legislation at the State capital, to see what w as there done of interest to the people of this county.

that their election wduld be contested, and that testimony was taken in reference to the matter. On the assembling of the legislature, both Messrs. Whallon and Chamberlin took their seats in their respective houses.

Without going into all the details incident to these contests in the legislature, it will sufiice to say that on the twenty-fifth day of January the contested election case of Whallon and Thompson came up for final action in the Senate on the following resolution:

1st. Clark \V. Thompson received a majority of the legal votes for senator in the Twentieth Senatorial District, and that, therefore, George W. Whallon is not entitled to a seat in this Senate.

The question being upon the above resolution, a division of the question was called for, and upon the first clause of the resolution, the roll being called, there were thirteen yeas and seven nays. So that clause of the resolution was adopted.

The question being now upon the second proposition, the roll being called, there were ten yeas, and ten nays. So the second clause of the resolution was lost. On a motion to reconsider the vote last taken, there were ten yeas, and ten nays. So the motion to reconsider was lost.

As the matter stands thus far. Mr. Whallon is out of his seat and the seat is vacant. But on the thirty- first day of January, Mr. Farmer, who had been absent on the former vote, appeared in his place in the Senate, and requested permission to record his vote upon the motion to reconsider the vote upon the second proposition. He was allowed so to do, and cast his vote in the affirmative. The proposition to admit Mr. Thompson being then before the senate, the yeas and nays being ordered, there were fourteen yeas, and five nays, when Mr. Thompson came forward and was sworn in. On Tuesday, February 7th, the matter of the contested seat of Geo. C. Chamberlin coming up in the House for final action, and the question being on the resolution to oust Mr. Chamberlin and give the seat to Mr. Patchin. the vote stood yeas, twenty-eight, nays, twelve. So Mr. Chamberlin was ousted, and Mr. Patchin admitted to the seat as representative of this district.

On the twenty first day of February "A bill for an act to remove the county seat of Faribault county from Blue Earth City to Wells," previously introduced by Mr. Thompson, was passed in the senate by a vote of thirteen yeas to four nays.

The passage of this act naturally created great excitement in Blue Earth City and vicinity, and it was determined by the residents of that village to defeat the passage of the bill in the House if possible. It was reported that the people of Wells had previously secured the names of five hundred and ten inhabitants of the county, to a petition to the legislature favoring the removal of the county seat. The people of Blue Earth City then proceeded to canvass the county with remonstrances against the removal and the passage of the act pending, and secured the names of fifteen hundred and forty legal voters, the lists being all sworn to by the persons who procured the singers. These remonstrances, in the aggregate, contained the names of over two-thirds of the legal voters of the county. They were forwarded to St. Paul and laid before the House. The result was that on Monday, February 27th, the House committee on towns and counties, reported adversely on the bill for the removal of the county seat from Blue Earth City to Wells. The report of the committee was adopted by the House, by a considerble majority, and a motion to reconsider, under a suspension of the rules, was lost by a vote of twenty-five to fifteen, and the fate of the bill was sealed. And now, as was very natural, there was great rejoicing at Blue Earth City, and a corresponding depression of spirits at Wells.

The further action of the legislature of this year, of special relation to this county, was the passage of an act apportioning the State into legislative districts, in which it is enacted that "the sixth district shall be composed of the county of Faribault, and shall be entitled to elect one senator and two representatives."

Also "An act to incorporate the village of Wells." Also "An act to authorize the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota, Railway Company to extend their line of railroad into Minnesota, and which provided that said railway shall cross the State line dividing Iowa from Minnesota in Faribault county.

From what has been stated above, it will be observed that this county was represented in the legislature of 1871, by G. W. Whallon, and C. W. Thompson, in the senate, and G. C. Chamberlin and A. L. Patchin, in the House, being a little more representation than this county ever had before, or since that memorable session.

As a passing remark, it may be stated that but little, if anything of value, was gained by either party to the great contest of 1870-71. The bill for the removal of the county seat did not become a law, and the internal improvement lands were not divided, as the bill was vetoed, nor was any other act passed of any special advantage to either party.

- March. - A Missouri paper olTers this for the requiem of a departed contemporary. It lias had many local illustrations. "Leaf by leaf the roses fall; Dime by dime the purse runs dry, One by one beyond recall Mushroom papers droop and die."

- Advices from Paris give details of the inauguration of another revolution. A mob has seized the city, three prominent generals have been shot, the streets barricaded, and the government and the American diplomatic corps have left the city.

- The tide of imiuigration to Minnesota has already set in and "prairie schooners'' are already to Ije seen. It is the opinion of well informed persons, that immigration to Minnesota will be very heavy this year.

- St. Patrick's day was pretty generally observed throughout the State. - A conductor on the S. M. Railroad says that as he was collecting tickets the other day, he came to a very tall, pleasant looking gentleman, who seemed very anxious to reach his journey's end - when the conductor reached for his ticket, the tall gentleman took him by the hand, felt his pulse and asked to see his tongue. That doctor does not live far from here.

- There are several different kinds of shirks - the religious shirk, the political shirk, the physical shirk; Init of all shirks, the meanest, the most contemptible is the public shirk. By the public shirk we mean the man of property who is beneOted by the pushing of every public enterprise, and yet who persistently refuses to put his shoulder to the wheel to assist.

- It may be said with truthfulness that the salvation of this State depends upon the coming harvest. Never at any previous time, since the State was settled, have the people been so generally deep in debt. They owe the merchant, the machine man and the liaiiks. The amount of money loaned on mortgages is enormous. This money is loaned at a high rate of interest, ranging from two to three per cent a month. * * »

- Jug butter can be bought in its utmost perfection at reduced prices. Some of these items are a little curious, but they represent some of the events and conditions of the times.

The Song Of The Seeder

Seeding commenced the latter part of March, and was mainly completed early in April. Corn- planting commenced about the tenth day of May, and a much greater breadth of land was cultivated to corn this year than was usual.

St. Patrick'S Day

The numerous notices in the newspapers of the current year, of the very general observance of St. Patrick's Day by a large class of out citizens, suggest the propriety of a few words on the subject here.

St. Patrick - a bishop - was the grea tmissionary and apostle of Christianity to the Irish people, and is revered as the Patron Saint of old Ireland. He was born A. D. 372 or 873, and died March 17th, A. D. 493 or 495. There appears, however, to be some doubt as to the accuracy of these dates. He began his labors as missionary to Ireland, about A D. 432. He was an apostle of great zeal and ability, of high character, fearless and of untiring energy, and has the credit of having converted almost the whole of Ireland to Christianity. It appears that he worthily bore the commission of the Great Master, recorded in the Scriptures.

- 3Mhew II, S: 18-19-20. And this is the highest, the holiest commission ever issued to man. And the grandest men of all the ages are these brave, selfsacrificing and devoted missionaries who bear this Gospel of Jesus Christ to the heathen, raising up the idol-worshipper from his darkness and degradation into the blessed light of the Son of Righteousness, placing his feet in the path of civilization and progress, and pointing out to him the way to eternal salvation.

The day is usually commemorated by religious services in the Roman Catholic churches, and by processions through some of the principal streets of the cities, and by other appropriate demonstrations. The day has generally been observed in this county in some manner, usually simply by religious services. St. Patrick's Day is not, however, a legal holiday in this State, and it seems to be com - memorated only by the Roman Catholics, yet it might very appropriately be observed by all Christian people, and especially is it

The proper color of decoration on this day, is green, and the prevailing custom is to display upon the person a small badge, representing the leaves of the shamrock, as a recognition of the day.

Teachers' Institute

April was signalized this year by the fact that the State Teachers' In.stitute was held at Blue Earth City, commencing April 17th. Some eighty (80) teachers were present and were much interested, as well as much benefited by the meeting. The institute was under the direction of and conducted by Prof. Wilson, State Superintendent, Supt. Niles and Dr. Aiken, all noted educators. A number of very instructive lectures were delivered by these gentlemen on educational subjects.

The Fourth Of July

The Fourth of July was celebrated at Winnebago City and Delavan this year, but not at Blue Earth City. The celebration at Winnebago City was a great success. It was estimated that over two thousand people were present.

We present the following account of the celebration taken from the local newspaper, and also a number of extracts from the address of Hon. G. K. Cleveland, because of the references contained therein to many matters of interest in the earlier days of the county, and also as a tribute to the memory of one nowdeceased, who was once a citizen of the county, and was honored with some of its most important offices.

"After passing through the principal streets the procession halted at the bower.when the exercises were opened by music by the band; this was followed by prayer by Rev. J. D. Todd, and singing by the Glee Club. Dr. D. Noteman then read the Declaration of Independence in an impressive manner, and was lustily cheered at the close of the same. The au'lience was then treated to music by both tlie brass band and Glee Club. After which Hon. J. A. Latimer, president of the day, introduced Major G. K. Cleveland, of Mankato, who delivered an oration of which we can only give an imperfect idea by the following extracts. We regret that our space forbids giving Major Cleveland's address in full, but as we cannot, we select those portions having a local application, judging that these will be of most interest to our readers - at least those who are considered 'old settlers.' The address was as follows:

Fellow Citizens: Friends of to-day, and friends of other days! Judging from what I see before me and around me, this is 'July,' and 'Thompson has

My friends, of Winnebago City, of Blue Earth City, of Fairmont, of Shelby, of Sterling, of Mapleton, Wells, and all of Faribault county. This opportunity of celebrating with you the glorious Fourth, is to me an occasion of unalloyed pleasure. This spot was my home from 1857 to 1862. I shall never forget, and will you, who took part in celebrating the Fourth of July. 1858, ever forget the joy and rejoicing of that day. Yonder, on the site of the old school-house, stood the green booth. Beneath it groaned the loaded tables which the Winnebago ladies of that day had spread with royal, no, with Republican bounty. 1 use the word in a national, not a partisan sense. The ladies in question were famous for an intimateacquaintance with the mysteries of both substantial and pastry cooking. I venture they have not lost their skill. That was the first celebration of the Fourth in this city. The Fourth of July is like quails and prairie chickens - a bud of civilization. It follows the settlements. The Declaration of Independence was read; patriotic songs were sung; the day, the President, the old flag, the ladies present, and the girls we had left behind us, all were toasted. That was a memorable celebration. We who met there thus, for the first time, claimed half the State of the Union for birthplace and homes.

We came from the Maine woods; from the shadow of Plymouth Rock; from the hills and valleys of the Empire State; from wood-crowned Pennsylvania; from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. Yankees, Knickerbockers, Leatherheads, Buckeyes, Wolverines. Hawkeyes, Hoosiers, and Suckers - a hodge-podge, a hasty pudding, to be soon simmered-down into Gophers. This is no inglorious ending. Gophers are the real ancient mound-builders of the Mississippi Valley, and by a happy transmigration of souls, have returned to their ancient seats, to found a race more mighty and enduring than the first. We came with the same patriotic associations, the same revolutionary reading, the same manly pride in American greatness, the same mother love for the old flag, the same rock-bottomed confidence in American destiny, the same amazing faith in the scream of the national eagle to scare the world. Hither we came seeking homes, happiness, fortune. We found here a virgin soil - a flowery wilderness - a spot of uninhabited earth fresh from the hand of God. Its soil of marvelous fertility had never been cursed by wheel of bloody conqueror, by foot of cruel oppressor, or sweat of slave. You received it unstained from the hands of the Almighty world-builder, overlaid with the cream of a thousand centuries, and consecrated on that Independence Day to order, liberty, and law; to the equal rights of all men, of all climes, who should here set foot; to advancement, education, and to that religion whose corner-stone is the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man.

But are they all here who took part in that celebration? Let them answer to roll-call: Ladd, Welch, Jenn^ss, Goodnow, Moulton, Foley, Towndrow, Wheeler, Tommy George, Dunham, Spickerman, Seely, Dunn, Sherlock, Kimball, Humes, Grove Burt, Capt. Bigelow, Madison - where are you. all - and a hundred others, Hi. Young included? More than half are gone - scattered by the toss and whirl of time. Enough remain to enjoy with me a moment's retrospect. The first social party I attended in this State was in Burnett's log hotel over there - do you recollect it? - in the winter of "ST-'S, when a solitary fiddle discoursed ravishing music, while the feet of forty dancers tore their soles on rough spots where the landlord's adze had smoothed down - or, rather, in a well-m(!ant effort, had roughed up - the warped edges of the floor-boards. Young ladies, like quails and prairie chickens, follow the settlement - in time. At that time there were no young ladies in these youthful "diggins." Butyoung luarricd ladies were numerous. These came from over the river, from Verona, from Bass Lake, from Shelby. They hroiight their tiahies - and a little pantry made clean for a clothes-room, was piled from bottom to top shelf with sleeping babies, from three weeks old and upward. It was a sight to behold. It always did seem to me that the soil and climate of the upper Blue Earth valley was remarkably congenial to the growth of babies - God hless their pug noses! The supper that night was sumptuous, and the social, innocent pleasure, temperately and most heartily enjoyed. The first sermon I ever heard in Minnesota was at tlie hospitable home of Capt. Bigelow and his most amiable and estimable lady, when Elder Jacob Conrad preached. I pronounce his name with pleasure, and am proud to be numbered among his friends. Noble, faithful, cheerful of spirit, he lived among the sometime rough and wayward settlers of the frontier the religion he commended to others. He planted the Banner of the Cross where too many only thought of planting potatoes and corn. His illustrations of truth and duty often had the spice of an odd and humorous originality whi'jh often provoked a smile, but which did not fail of their mark. Noble, Christian man! Long may he live to enjoy life and do good . The first grave I ever stood above in Minnesota, was yonder in the woodland - the untimely grave of murdered Fisher. I do not recall a single natural death during the first three years of my residence here, so gracious and so healthful was the time. By your favor I was first honored with an office - that of Probate Judge. In the political contests of those early days local 'honors" were 'easy' - for Republicans - they were overwhelmingly in the majority. Twice was I honored by your suffrages with a seat in the Legislature. But it was not votes alone that elected me. [Here the speaker paid a tribute to the memory of the 'stiffnecked, crop-eared Indian pony' which had carried him through his electioneering expeditions. He then referred to the late civil war, paying a glowing tribute to those brave men who left the comforts of home to assist their country In her great peril; painted in vivid colors the fearful scenes of carnage in the field, and the broken-hearted wives and mothers left at home; referred to the present disseniiions in the South, and considered the rule of unprincipled renegades from the North to be one of the prime causes then-of; spoke of the 'new departure' doctrine inaugurated by Vallandigham, and favored the throwing aside of old issues by both political parties, and on nuestions of national importance all work together His closing remarks were eloquent, patriotic, and highly entertaining to the vast audience in attendance].

Mr. Cleveland was loudly cheered on taking his seat. The brass band and glee club then favored the audience with some charming music, which was followed by the benediction, delivered liy Rev. Mr. Ross."

Our Rural Summers

How beautiful are the azure skies and the golden sun, which rises early and looks for many hours, and until late in the evening, upon the daily scenes, as if loth to be absent long, and leaving, long after he lias gone down, the summer twilight; and who ha.s not listened with pleasure to the late summer evening concert of the cicada and other musical insects, when all other sounds are hushed? And now the trees, the groves and the great forests are clothed in their fullest foliage of dark green, and how numerously they are occupied by the birds, of every variety of plumage, which here make their homes, and charm the world with their music. How pleasant

The fruit trees bear on every bough a burden of growing fruit, which gives the assurance of the coming rich reward, for all the labor expended in their care. And in this favored season, the earth is carpeted with rich grasses and blooming flowers, and we see on every hand, wide and cultivated fields, bearing their wealth of growing crops, - the rustling corn, the green, waving seas of other grains, or which are, perhaps, already growing golden, and ready for the abundant harvest. Nor can we overlook the grazing herds of cattle, the flocks of sheep and droves of horses, all well-fed and contented in the green pastures, for from these grain fields and droves and flocks and herds, come our living, and the wealth of the world. And to-day every breeze bears to us the fragrant odors of the wide spreading landscape. The softly falling dews of the night and the refreshing showers of this season, are full of blessings for man.

This, too, is the season of the school and college commencement . exercises and long school vacation, the "outing" time of the city business man, the season of pic-nics and outdoor festivals, of celebrations and the assembling of great literary and benevolent associations. And now is out- door life in the country full of useful labor, and all kinds of business activity. Now, too, the pleasure seekers are in the field and forest, on the land and on the waters, in quest of rest and recuperation.

Heaven itself is but an eternal summer. It is the summer that gives us the goodly fruits of the earth, without which, all things having life would perish. But the promise made in the world's morning is, that "while the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat and summer and winter, and day and night, shall notcease."

The Hum Of The Harvesters

Crops of all kinds were good this year, except wheat, which was generally light, many pieces not producing more than from five to eight bushels per acre. The average yield over the county did not.

probably, exceed tea bushels per aero. The corn crop was the largest ever yet raised in the county. This was Minnesota's great corn year. If an Illinois farmer had been visiting this county, during the summer and fall of this year and had seen the tall thrifty stalks, the large and perfectly rippened oars, he might well inquire why this county was not adapted to raising "Cawn." He would not only have seen corn, but might have truthfully said with the poet

"On cither hand The jellow pumpkins Ho, Sprinkled about the over-burdened land, Suggestive of delicious pie. Whose charms, a home-bred, hungry soul. Cannot withstand."

The South West And The Mail

On the second day of September the last number of the South West appeared. The editor, in his good bye. after stating that he had sold out. says: "We shall now have an opportunity of a 'play spell' that is not in the least disagreeable to contemplate, after having conducted a newspaper for twenty-seven years."

On the sixteenth day of September the Blue Earth City Mail appeared at Blue Earth City, published by M. H. Stevens, formerly of the Post. It was a large, eight column weekly, "neatly printed and ably edited," as the usual phrase goes. Mr. Stevens had bought out the South West, referred to above.

The Contest For The Offices

It will be remembered that by the new apportionment heretofore mentioned, that this county now constituted one senatorial and representative district, being entitled to one senator and two representatives in the State legislature.

This being the year of the gubernatorial election, the candidates of the loading parties were Hon. Horace Austin, republican, and Hon. Winthi'op Young, democrat.

The democi'acy held a County Convention at Blue Earth City on the ninth day of September, and made the following nominations: For Senator - Geo. B. Kingsley. For Representatives - John McNeil, C. G. Slagle. For Treasurer - Geo. Barnes. For County Attorney - Richard Field. For Sheriff - A. B. Davis. For Judge of Probate - A. Hanson. For Coroner - J. M. Drake.

A great deal of "noise and confusion" now prevailed in the convention, and in the hurry and excitement the vote was declared a tie, whereupon a motion was made and put and was supposed to have been carried to adjourn, without nominating senator and representatives, and the convention broke up in a general jumble. It was, however, claimed by Mr. Whallon and his friends, that the name of one delegate friendly to him had not been called, nor his vote counted, which if it had been done, would have given him one majority, and of course the nomination.

The result, however, was that it was generally considered that no nominations had been made by the convention for legislative offices, and the field was open to all.

A great deal of figuring, intriguing, "log-rolling" and combinations began at once among the local politicians - a great running hither and thither, a consultation of factions and individuals and interests. Dissatisfaction was expressed with the nominations of both parties, and as a result, about the close of September, certain independent candidates for legislative honors were announced. E. H. Hutchins and Geo. W. Whallon were announced as candidates for the senate. S. P. Child, Andrew Hanson, Henry M. Huntington and C. A. Lounsberry as candidates for I'epresentatives.

A "People's Mass Convention" was called to meet at Wisner's Grove on the tenth day of October, for the purpose of making nominations. This convention, as announced, was not to be a party aifair - it was not to be controlled in any way by politicians - they were to be cast aside together with all kinds of "rings" and "cliques," and honest men were to be nominated.

It was alleged that some of the candidates already nominated by one party or the other, and several of the independents wanted the indorsement of this convention. Others again, who had nothing to make or lose, were glad to see a "rumpus." The convention met on the day appointed. It was not largely attended, considering the efforts to get up an excitement.

McColley for treasurer, Richard Field for county attorney, J. E. Wheeler for sheriff, J. M. Drake for coroner and W. J. Robinson for probate judge.

Of these nominees, we may remark, that soon after the convention, Messrs. Latimer and Woodruff withdrew, Mr. McColley declined the nomination, and Mr. Robinson did not accept nor run as a candidate, and all the others were defeated, as appears by the oflScial returns.

The canvass was a very spirited one, and although there were no public meetings and speeches, every elector in the county was well informed of the claims of the several candidates. The contest was mainly on persons and localities, politics being greatly ignored. The principal contest was for the offices of senator, representatives and sheriff. The candidates for the senate made prodigious efforts and left nothing undone, while a number of the candidates for representatives pursued the business of electioneering, from the rising of the sun, each morning, to the going down thereof, and extended over considerably into the sombre shades of night. But all such contests must end at last and some result be obtained.

For county commissioners the following named gentlemen were elected: Henry Sellen, in District No. 2; W. W. Potter, in District No. 4, and David Catlin, in District No. 5.

It may be said of this election, that all the candidates for senator and I'epresentatives were more or less dissappointed at the result - some in being beaten, others in being elected, some in the majorities being either so large, or so small, and the result of no election ever held in this county produced such incense grief and indignation in the hearts of some of the defeated, as this, yet the election was fairly held, the canvass honorably conducted in the main, and no frauds were ever alleged.

Defeat is among those unpleasant things in politics, as to which every candidate for office must take his chances. And the defeated cannot always see why they failed.

"How many men have died believing The world was blind to their achieving, And has ungratefully ignored The gods designed to be adored! Who has not heard the woeful wail Of unappreciated whale, Who thinks, if chance had let him blow, The world would not ignore him so." - Holley.

Pick Ups

The first heavy frost of the season occurred on the night of tlie nineteenth day of September. This item may not be of much interest to some people, yet there are those who are much benefitted in linowing just such unpretentious facts, and especially in knowing, for instance, when the first frosts have occurred during a number of years. It is from the knowledge of such apparently unimportant events that the work of farmers, in all countries, is much regulated.

The weather, during the spring and summer of this year, was generally pleasant. There were but few storms, and not much rain. The year was one of those known as a dry year, and was dry especially in the fall. Winter set in early in November, quite cold, and continued so right along, the twenty -ninth of November being the coldest day of the winter. On that day the murcury run down to 31° below zero.

The Year Of Fire

This year will ever be prominent in the annals of time as the year of fire. The fire fiend went forth in his robes of flame, on the wings of the winds, and great cities, thriving villages and vast districts of country were laid in ashes.

On the 9th and 10th days of October the great city of Chicago was mainly burned up. Many lives were lost. Two hundred millions of dollars worth of property was destroyed. Ninety eight thousand people were rendered homeless and pennyless. The insurance losses paid amounted to?18,000,000, but hundreds of insurance companies, many of them among the strongest in the world, were made bankrupt. It was the most extensive, destructive and appalling fire known to history, the burning of Rome, in the reign of the monster, Nero, not excepted.

Soon afterwards a large part of Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and a part of Michigan, were burned over, destroying many villages, vast forests of timber, and other property, and throughout the whole country fires were more numerous and destructive than usual.

Alexis

And now we may close the record of this year by the statement that, in November, the Grand Duke Alexis, of Russia, arrived in America, and travelled through the country for several months, attracting considerable of the public attention. And here is a peg on which some pertinent remarks may be hung. While it is evidently proper that the representatives of foreign governments, the kings, the scions of royalty and others of the aristocracy of monarchial nations, should be received and treated, on visiting our shores, with proper respect, attention and hospitality, it is well to be careful not to stultify our republicanism and self-respect and sink our dignity into obsequiousness and flunkyism. The prying curiosity, the fawning and toadyism which characterized the conduct of many of our citizens, e.specially those known as "society'" people among the upper tendom of our cities, on the visit of this young man, noted for nothing he ever did. or thought, or said, was disgusting to all thinking people, and must have surprised the Russian himself. Such sycophancy is not only inconsistent with self-respect, but also with our character as Americans, and with the spirit of American institutions. We pride ourselves as a nation, on our free government. We acknowledge no nobility but that of personal worth. A man is no better for his ancestors, or his relatives, even if they were, or are, kings, unless they were noble, because of their intelligence and viritues, and he is like them, and he is none the worse if they were ignoble, unless he shares their unworthiness.

They from abroad or at home, who are entitled to our homage and to special public honors are the Lafayettes and Kossuths, men who have said something, done something, represented something in the world's progress in civil and religious liberty - or men who ai-e the great leaders in science, literature, invention, the kings of thought, the reformers, the educators, the men who represent the brain and the work and the industries of the world. Such are the men who are entitled to our highest regard and attention, and to whom we can afford to doff our hats.

Here is a little story with much in it: Maria Antoinette, Queen of France, wishing to send to Washington a royal gift, as a token of her appreciation of his great merits, consulted Lafayette as to the form of presentation. She recited the formularies of adulatory terms usual in addressing kings and other monarchs. Lafayette mildly objected to the employment of such terms, as unsuitable in this case, saying "They, Madame, were only kings, Washington is the great leader of a free nation." Let Americans ever maintain their selfrespect as American citizens and the rcpresentatves of American ideas, even in the presence of the proudest monarch on earth.