Faribault County, Minnesota - Chapter 21, 1896

Chapter 21

In this county we had, on tlie oigiith of January, a very severe snow storm - a blizzard - and on the 2d and 3d days of February, we were visited by another of those fierce storms, and again on the 10th and 23d days of the same month, the storms were severe. At the latter date, a very heavy northeast snow storm prevailed over the whole country. The cold, at times, during the winter was intense.

"The unparalleled severity of the winter is a subject of freijuent dolorous comruent by the eastern journals. All the eastern states have suttered from it. I-iut Canada has been covered with such mountains of snow as to make travel inipossilile. Large districts havi' been isolated for months from the commercial centers, and large stores of grain, cattle, farm produce and manufactured goods are locked up behind the barriers of ice. The result is that all through Canada trade is almost at a standstill, and a severe panic and tight money market is the consequence. The same experience in a less aggravated form has atllicted all the northern belt of states. The severe cold has struck a chill into the marrow of trade, which has been benumbed and paralyzed. It is predicted that the opening of spring will witness a revival of business, and they already begin to feel it in Chicago."

The Courts

The district court commenced its winter term January 5th. Hon. A. C. Woolfolk, of Mankato, having been appointed by the governor of the state to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resigna tion of Hon. F. H. Waite, presided at this term, the judge elect. Hon. D. A. Dickinson, not having yet qualified. The calendar contained seven criminal and thirty- six civil cases.

The progress of business was interrupted somewhat by the illness of the judge during the session. At the June term, Hon. D. A. Dickinson presided, being his first term in this county. There were four criminal and thirty-eight civil cases on the calendar.

known that there is a class of lawyers who take great delight in trying to confuse and browbeat witnesses, and make them testify to what they do not wish, or contradict their own statements. Here is a witness, however, who "turned the tables."

"I have, Jedge," said the witness, anticipating the lawyer. "1 have answered the question. I knowed the prisoner when he was a boy two feet long to a man five feet ten."

"No, sir; I was summoned here as a Presbyterian. Nary one of us was ever Friends. He's an old-line Baptist, without a drop of Quaker in him."

Agricultural Interests

The Agricultural Society, at its annual meeting, January 5th, elected M. B. Pratt, president, P. W. Temple, secretary, and D. Freer, treasurer. The treasurer reported as the receipts of the year, $249.38; disbursements $221.15, and that the society was out of debt and had §28.28 in the treasury.

About the first of September, another Agricultural Society was formed in the county, at Winnebago City, designed, not only for this county, but for the Blue Earth Valley. A. H. BuUis was chosen president. F. Gale, treasurer and B. F. Goodwin, secretary. Notice was given that the fair of the society would be held at Winnebago City, on the 16th and 17th days of September, and regulations and a premium list were published. The fair, however, was not held. This organization proved a failure.

The fair of the established society was held at Blue Earth City on the 23d and -4th days of September. The premiums offered amounted to 8500. Besides the usual attractions, the following alluring announcements were made on large and conspicuous posters:

"Running, Trotting, English Hurdle and Foot races. Buckskin Joe, for 17 years a captive among the Indians, with forty Indian warriors, will give a sham Indian fight, on the fair grounds."

The Parliament

The seventeenth State Legislature assembled on the fifth day of January, and adjourned March 5th. At this session, the county was represented by S. P. Child, of Blue Earth City, in the Senate, and J. P. West, of Wells, and F. M. Pierce, of Winnebago City, in the House. Geo. W. Buswell, of this county, was First Assistant Clerk of the House, and Charles A. Rose, of this county. Fireman for the Senate.

An act to authorize the board of county commissioners of certain counties, (including Faribault), to remit and refund a portion of the tax levied for the year 1874.

An act to authorize certain counties (including Faribault) or any of the towns therein, to issue bonds to aid in the construction of railroads.

An act to appropriate three hundred dollars to aid in constructing a bridge across the east branch of the Blue Earth river, north of Blue Earth City.

Hon. S. J. R. McMillan was, at this session, elected United States Senator. The relief acts above specified were rendered necessary because of the grasshopper devastations, and by the three acts last mentioned, the county secured, out of the internal improvement fund, much needed appropriations to aid in the construction of important bridges, amounting in all to $1,400.00.

Under the 120,000 relief act, the sum of $400.00 was allotted to this county, which sum was distributed among the destitute, by A. Preston, F. W. Temple, and E. H. Hutchins, commissioners. This distribution was made about the first of March, and was made in merchandise, to such as proved themselves deserving.

Under the provisions of the $75,000 act, above specified, 1,900 bushels of sealed wheat were distributed in this county, to grasshopper sufferers, during the month of April. There were about 125 applicants. Over 1,500 bushels were distributed at Blue Earth City, the same having been purchased of the farmers in the vicinity, who had not been injured by the grasshoppers, at an average cost of seventy five cents a bushel. The balance was distributed at Winnebago City, and was purchased in the immediate neighborhood, at an average cost of ninety cents per bushel. P. W. Temple, at Blue Earth City, and E. H. Hutchins, at Winnebago City, commissioners, superintended the purchase and distribution of the grain, at these several places.

Meetings were held during the year by the commissioners, January 5th, March 10th, July 26th, September 7th and October 5th. Amos Preston, of Elmore, was chairman for the year. The only notable fact in the business done, was that an unusual amount of money was appropriated during the year for the building of bridges, a much needed improvement, and many valuable bridges were erected.

Pithily Put In Paragraphs

On the nineteenth day of January, the first number of the a small, neatly printed newspaper, was issued at Blue Earth City, by the Burleson Brothers, two boys, the eldest of whom was not eighteen years old. It was a religio-literary sheet, and it was much admired and well patronized.

county, caused by the circulation of a petition to the le^ishiture, praying the passage of an act granting the privilege of voting upon the removal of the county seat from Blue Earth City to some point on the Southern Minnesota Railroad. The canvass in behalf of the petition was (juite active, and resulted in obtaining many names.

A committee was soon appointed by the board of trade, of Blue Earth City, to jirepare and circulate a remonstrance. To this latter pa])er a majority of the legal voters of the county subscribed their names, and the remonstrance was sent to the legislature. But the petition was not presented to that body, and no act was passed in relation to the matter, and the whole alfair fell to the ground for the time being. The question of the removal of the county seat was again brought up in the fall, when the friends of the measure sought to make it a political issue.

The State Fish Commissioner's repoi'tfor this year, states, that there are in this county, about 7,080 acres of land covered by water. Probable 7.000 acres of which are suitable to the cultivation of fish. It is said that ten acres cultivated to fish, (to use the language of the report), are worth more than ten acres of any ordinary product.

This was deemed a matter of great importance to the people of the county. Pish furnish a cheap, wholesome and palatable food. It was the opinion of many, that it would require but a short time to stock our numerous lakes and streams with the best kinds of fish, such as white fish, salmon, shoadic, bass, trout and others, that may prove adapted to our waters. This was the first year in which the matter was brought to the attention, fully, of our people. One thousand Pacific salmon were put into Minnesota lake in the early part of the year.

The P. C. S. S. Association held its fifth annual meeting at Blue Earth City, on the 2Gth and 27th days of May. A. K. More, Sr., was elected president; Rev. S. L. Rugg, vice-president; C. H. Pattin, secretary, and C. B. Miner, treasurer. Among the interesting questions discu.ssed at this meeting were the following: "The Pioneer Sunday school and its relations to the Church." - -Modes of teaching infant classes." "Sunday school singing,"

Debris

January 11th. The trial of the great Beecher case began, which lasted nearly six mouths. Probably no cause ever brought before the courts of justice, in any age, elicited such a profound interest with so many millions of people as this.

May 18th. A terrible earthquake occurred in New Granada, S. A. The city of Cucute was destroyed. 3,000 lives lost and $8,000, - 000 of property destroyed.

Hard Times

A word now in relation to the character of the times, financially and otherwise, is appropriate here. In consequence of the financial panic of 1873, and other causes, some of which were local, here, the whole condition may be described by the phrase "hard times." A fuller statement of the condition of things throughout the country, is found in the following extract form an address delivered by the writer in February, of this year:

And to lay aside our usual boasting and to deal in stern facts, our situation as a people, at this time, is in many respects far from satisfactory.

Here are the first lines of the President's annual message, delivered to Congress but a few months ago: "Since the convening of Congress, one year ago, the nation has undergone a season of prostration in business and industries such as has not been witnessed with us for many years."

I add. A million of workmen are out of employment - many manufactories are idle - commercial transactions deranged - mines have ceased to be operated, and bankruptcy stares the mercantile world in the face. But let us look further, are there not greater evils extant in the land? It is a sad truth, that the age in which we live is one of extraordinary moral degeneracy. A reckless disregard of the obligations of the moral and civil laws, alike, seems to prevade all classes of society, to an alarming extent. It is an age which excuses an act of shrewd selfish villainy, but for an error, or an honest mistake, there is little forgiveness. It is the age of Credit Mobilers, Salary grabs, of gigantic monopolies, Congressional subsidies, rings and jobbery, an age of shoddy tinsel and pretense, or innumerable shams and cheats - an age characterized by a wild hunt after office, by extravagance and display, and an insane haste to get rich. This latter evil seems to be the root of the others, to get rich quick, by any means at hand, fair or foul, ignoring the old ways of steady, but slow, and honest accumulations.

But this is not all. Every newspaper is filled with the details of the most revolting crimes, but high over all, are the deeds of official and social corruption and financial rottenness. When was there an age so characterized by bribery, defalcations and breeches of trust. Demagogues everywhere buying their way into office by the grossest bribery, and men violate the most sacred trusts with shocking audacity. Corporations, public and private, are constantly being rolibtd by their own olllcers, of ononiious sums, and fraud stalks through the land at noon-day, and the deparvitv of villainy, seems to be reaching its climax when it seeks, as in many late instances, to excuse it's deeds, and make them respectable, by charging, with devilish ingenuity, like crimes upon those of high character, purity of life and honesty of purpose.

But the fact that these things are so, is not the worst feature of the case. As a citizen, and not as a moralist, I assert, that the depraved moral sentiment which excuses and winks at these things, so current over the land, is inflnitely more to be deplored than the existence of tha facts themselves.

The fact was that the stringency of the times was steadily increasing. For some reason the tide of immigration was turned to other regions further north and west, and two years of partial destruction of the crops in this county, by grasshoppers, high rates of interest, the calling in of moneys loaned, the urgent collection of debts, all uniting with the general causes above stated, tended to bring about a very discouraging state of affairs here.

The currency, the contraction of the currency, silver, greenback money, strikes, wages of working men, the rights of the labor organizations, were the great political and industrial questions which occupied the public attention, from 1873 to 1879.

"God give us men! a time like this demands Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and honest hands! Men whom the lust of office does not kill; Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy; Men who posses opinion and a will: Men who have honor, and who will not lie; Men who can stand before a demagogue, And damn his treacherous (latteries without winking. Tall men, sun crowned, who live above the fog In public duty, and in private thinking, For while the rabble with their thumb-worn creeds, Their large professions and their little deeds Mingled in selfish strife, lol Freedom weeps. Wrong rules the land, and waiting Justice sleeps."

This day is usually called Decoration Day from the principal ceremony incident to it, but by the decree of the society of the Grand Amy of the Republic, is known as Memorial Day. It is now a legal holiday observed in all the states and territories of the Union where the dead of the Union armies rest.

This holiday grew out of the usages instituted as early as 1862, in a few localities, of decorating the graves of deceased soldiers and sailors.

The custom spread over the country by the force of its very appropriateness, until, finally, the society of the G. A. R. and state legislatures took order in relation to it, and it has met with almost universal approval and observance since.

This is a new red letter day in the American calendar. It bears some similarity, however, to the ancient Roman festival of the Ploralia, but simply because of the profuse use of flowers, its annual occurrence and celebration in the spring of the year.

In France a custom has existed for some centuries, of decorating the graves of deceased friends, with flowers and evergreens, on a stated day of the spring, and in Germany and England, the custom has existed to some extent in localities.

With us it is a beautiful, but indeed, a solemn celebration, held in commemoration of the brave men who gave their services to the nation in the war for the Union, and fell in the struggle, or have since died.

It is not a holiday devoted to sports, or revelry, or rejoicing, but it is the day when loving remembrance writes upon the graves of its heroic dead in flowers and garlands and evergreens, the words, "In Memoriam."

And we have no national anniversary more worthy of perpetuation and universal observance, none in which our people manifest a greater or juster pride, none more touching in sentiment, or more true and precious than this, and while the nation lives, and patriotism and heroic self sacrifice are honored in this land, it will continue to be celebrated from year to year.

What is the grand story of this day? It is the now old, old story of the war, but it is so great a story it may be often told. Do we even now fully realize and appreciate its vast import and awful grandeur? Let us try to realize its true significance, that as the years go by we forget it not.

That we may do so, it is necessary that we remember that great fact of history, that there arose in this western hemisphere, under the Providence of God, from out of the American Revolution - the great republic. Nothing like it, in the character of its government, or in material, moral or educational progress, or in general beneficence to its people, had ever been seen before in the annals of time. This great nation was founded upon the principles of equality, of right, of civil and religious liberty, and self-government. The governed were declared to be under God. the source of all political power, and that civil government can justly be instituted only by the people and for the people.

Yet the strange anomaly appeared of the existence in the nation from its very foundation, of human chattel slavery in a large portion of its area. From this evil grew our bitter contentions and alienations between the two great sections of the Union known as the North and the South. Finally, after almost a century of national progress and prosperity - even in spite of this great evil of slavery - such as no other nation of ancient or modern times had ever known, these contentions, fostered by ambitious and designing men, ri])ened into open and armed rebellion, on the part of the South, against the authority of the general government.

They insolently defied the authority of the nation, and designed to destroy it by a dissolution of the Union of the States, and the establishment of an adjacent, inimical, and rival nation, based upon the slavery of a large pai't of its people. No warrant in law, natural, civil, or revealed; nothing in the constitution, or in the nature of the union of the states, in reason or justice, or even in expediency, could be found or alleged as a justification of this act, and its success meant the destruction of the life of the nation.

It was the arm of hell, reached out of perdition, to throttle and strangle the last hope of man - for indeed, the great republic had become the last and only hope of man's political redemption - the refuge of the oppressed of all nations, and when the great shadow fell upon it, millions of hearts in all lands stood still with fear of the result; for the.y knew, all the world knew, that bound up with that result was the fate of civil and religious liberty, and popular government. Ah! how much there was at stake! And how those millions waited, and watched, and prayed! They asked, "can this inconceivably great calamity be prevented?" Who will go forth and enter into the conflict to maintain the Union, the Constitution, the supremacj' of the law, and preserve the nation's life - a cause as just and holy as any which ever summoned men to arms since the world began? And the nation's defenders came! From the north, and the west, and the east! From the mountain and the valley, loyal citizens, native and foreign born, ))rotestant and catholic, republican and democrat, crowding to the front! It was in the fated year of 1861, the terrific tempest of blood broke upon the nation, and for four years a war raged such as had rarely ever been seen among the nations of the earth. This great conflict cost billions of treassure, and what was of infinitely more importance, nearly half a million of our people, directly and indirectly, gave their lives that our nation might live.

But for the Union soldiers and sailors, there would now be no national union, no republic, no liberty to enlighten the world. They not only stood for our national life, but they fought the battle of liberty for unborn millions who shall live long after their bones are dust. And in that terrible day of blood, when the heavens were black with the smoke of battle, and the earth trembled with the shock and strife of mighty armies, and deep anxiety was impressed on every heart, it was these brave men who stood between our northern homes, our great cities, our fertile fields, and vast industries, and an insolent, powerful and desperate enemy, who would have laid all waste by fire and sword.

How little we realize these tremendous facts now? But they were realized then with fear and trembling. And in the great struggle, victory came at last for the union cause. Our nation's life was saved! Its enemies destroyed! The curse of slavery abolished, four millions of people set free, and peace - oh, blessed peace! - was once more restored to this fair and united land.

From all this it may be inferred, indeed, that this great and bloody contest was not a war of conquest, nor of subjugation, upon the part of the North - it was not a war for plunder, but a war for principles, for rights most sacred, and interests of incalculable value.

And it is a worthy and true remark to make, notwithstanding the sneer of the shallow and disaffected, that it was not the hope of plunder, or promotion, or sordid gain; but it was the deep sense of loyalty to duty and the country that led the soldiers of the republic, from the highest to the lowest, with but indeed few exceptions, to give their lives for this cause. It was this, that, in spite of many mistakes and defeats, gained our victories, and brought the final triumph.

And let us not forget, that, while we would not take one jot or tittle from the honors due the commanding officers during the war, it was, after all, mainly to the private soldiers, many of whom sleep in unknown graves, many of whom fell before they ever knew the victories they had won, that we are indebted for the grandest triumphs of the war. And it is indeed appropriate that in every cemetery decorated this day, there is placed a flower and evergreen tribute to "the unknown dead of the war."

Nor are those to be forgotten who returned to us from the ensanguined field to enjoy in peace the blessings of a restored Union. They, too, left all for the same cause for that, for which, by the fortunes of war, their comrades fell. They returned not as a rabble, demoralized and vicious, as some proiJhesied they would, but as peaceful citizens, glad to lay down, after the victory was won. the implements and insignia of war, and enjoy the quiet and rest of home, and the arts of peace.

And it is now, annually, on this day, by beautiful ceremonies, we seek to honor the memory of the heroic men who Avent down to death in this holy cause.

Yet it is but little that they can be honored by any act of ours. They honored themselves. They won their own chaplets of immortal renown. We can but prove our remembrance, and attest our gratitude, for -

It has been appropriately said that like all good deeds, sincerely done, the observance of this day comes to us like a beneficence, for it tends to the elevation of private and national life, and gives us better, clearer ideas of the duties of yjatriotism. It indeed appeals to our sense of the beautiful, nay, of the grand and sublime, awakening those sentiments and aspirations that are best in us all. It testifies our appreciation of the great lessons of heroic death and sacrifice, and the worth of the great boon won for us and the world. It proves, too, withal, our sympathy with the bereaved kindred whose dear ones in the hour of peril offered their lives a sacrifice upon the altar of their country.

It is written, that it is appointed once for all men to die. The soldiers of the Revolution have long since returned to dust. The men who fought the battles of the war of "12" have gone to their final rest. The heroes, who won the victories under the burning suns of Mexico, now living, are but few in number, and the time will come (may it long be delayed) when all the soldiers and sailors of the last war shall rest in

Many, weary with the lapse of years, burdened with age and infirmities, now march in the processions on this day to the ceme teries, with feeble, halting and irregular step; day by day, the numbers of their comi'ades here, grow less, and the armies on the other shore grow larger. Many of the great leaders, and thousands of the rank and file are already there. And, in the course of nature, it cannot be long, until, on the great muster roll in the hands of the Angel of Death, the names of those now living will be called, and the prompt response, "here," will be uttered for the last time on earth.

But there will always, hereafter, be those who shall assemble on this day and strew upon their last resting places beautiful flowers and evergreens - symbols of affection and remembrance - symbols of the resurrection and of that hope of everlasting life which may await us all.

Yes, we shall come annually in the glorious spring-time, with our tribute of flowers to the memory of the dead, and we shall teach our children of the great work these men did for the Nation and the world, so that when this generation, who lived in the time of the war, shall have passed away, there shall be others to continue so worthy a commemoration.

The Locusts

The grasshoppers did no material damage in this county during this year, nor did they lay any eggs. The damage done by them, however, in other parts of the State was very great.

In Blue Earth county, adjoining this on the north, much of the crop was destroyed. To prevent as much as possible their ravages, the county offered a bounty for their destruction. Other counties also offered liberal bounties. According to the official report of the auditor of Blue Earth county, 15,766 bushels were caught and destroyed, costing the county §31,255.66.

The Grasshopper Situation

"The grasshoppers have laid their eggs in portions of Brown, Redwood, Lyon, Watonwan, Cottonwood, Murray, Martin and Nobles counties, covering a larger area of country than they did last season. ^

Then their course was steadily northward, and while, in July their northerly line was in this county, before the season was over they had passed through Nicollet, Le Sueur, Sibley and into Scott and McLeod counties. This year their course is as positively in a southwesterly direction, and from Watonwan and Cottonwood they have advanced upon the northern towns of Martin, Jacicson, and Nobles, and no doubt will worli: their way into Iowa. Measures'might be instituted to largely destroy these eggs this fall, and thus the dangers of next year averted. It is not only possible to accomplish that result, but at very much less expense than if they are permitted to hatch."

Independence Day was duly celebrated under the auspices of the grange at Blue Earth City, on the third day of July, the fourth being Sunday. E. Ayers delivered the address and S. W. Graham was the reader of the Declaration. On the fifth, the day was commemorated at Delavan.

A hail storm passed over the county ou the twenty-fourth day of July, which did considerable damage, especially in Rome township, where the entire crops of several farmers were destroyed.

The harvest of this year began about the first week in August, being nearly a week later than usual. There was much rain. The small grain was heavj' and much of it badly lodged. Some had to be cut with the cradle or the scythe, the ground being so soft. The weather was not favorable, and about the twenty fourth of August, just when the grain was mostly in the shock, very heavy, continuous rains set in. and for quite a while prevented stacking, and did much damage. All kinds of crops were abundant and good prices were obtained. The people were much encouraged until the rains set in. Prices about harvest were as follows: Wheat, 9o Qi-, ^1.10, with upward tendency; oats. 40 @ 45; corn, 45 @ 50; potatoes, 40; eggs, 8; butter, 14 @ 15; flour. §2.50 Qi. §3.00; pork, 121. Corn was a little backward, but the stand was good, and much more had been planted this year than for many years previous.

On the seventeenth of August articles of incorporation of the "Driving Park Association of Winnebago City," were adopted, and a certificate published.

A slight frost occurred in this county on the night of August 21st. which did but little injury except that it went down into the bottom lands, looking after the watermelons, which it nipped severely. In the eastern and northern portions of the State, this frost was very severe, and much injury was done in certain localities. A frost so early is quite unusual. It was nearly a month ahead of the ordinary time of frosts.

The Political Symposium

The election of this fall was quite an important one. as the following State officers were to be elected: A Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, a Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State. Auditor of State, Treasurer of State. Attorney General and Railroad Commissioner. John S. Pillsbury. for Governor, and James B. Wakefield, a citizen of this county, for Lieutenant Govenor. were the republican candidates for those offices, and D. S. Buel, for Governor, and E. M. Durant, for Lieutenant Governor, were the democratic candidates. Four amendments to the State constitution were to be voted upon.

The Republican County Convention was held at Blue Earth City on the fifteenth day of September. Fifty-eight delegates were authorized by the call. C. H. Slocum. of Blue Earth City, was chosen

The democratic and liberal republican convention was held at Blue Earth City on the twenty-third day of September. Allen Shultis, of Elmore, was elected chairman, and Geo. A. Weir, of Winnebago City, secretary. The convention nominated Robert Andrews, of Wells, for Senator, and S.J. Abbott, of Winnebago City, and Allen Shultis, of Elmore, for Representatives.

Certain persons residing in the northern portion of the county, who favored the removal of the county seat, determined to make the matter a political issue, and to arouse public interest, a preliminary mass meeting was called at Wells for the fourteenth of October, and one at Winnebago City for the fifteenth, and a general people's convention at Delavan on the sixteenth. The meeting at Wells was not large nor enthusiastic, and no meeting was held at Winnebago City. At Delavan the meeting was not largely attended, there being only some thirty votes cast on the several motions offered. The following nominations, which seem to have been made without much reference to the opinions of the nominees on the removal question, were made:

"There names were U-^;i()ll, nol :t sjtol In those days liy-pinc knew thorn not; They swarmed and tlilted everywhere, As locusts iti the desert air, In nuiuliiTs, countless as the sands, With famished hearts and acheing hands, And thirsty lips, that seemed to sigh For public udders to suciv dryl"

In June, of this year, a State census was taken, the township assessors doing the work. The following is a condensed statement of certain items of the returns:

The total assessed value of all taxable property was $3,5"23,715. The following statistics, relative to our schools, are taken from the report for the year, of the county superintendent. R. W. Richards:

No. of Districts 109. There are eighty-two frame, two brick and ten log schoo houses, valued at $53,625.00. Paid for teachers wages, $14,120.00.

I have held eight teachers' institutes and training schools in the county, two of two weeks each, and six of one weelj each. The number of per^ns who attended the spring institutes was 160, while 83 attended those held in the fall. The whole number of persons examined for teachers was 282, of whom 63 received a second, and 136 received a third grade certificate. The other 83 were refused.

The poorest teachers we have, as a class, are those, who come from some of the eastern States to spend a summer in visiting friends, and are, through the Influence of these friends, hired several months in advance in their friends' districts. They usually come well recommended as noted teachers, and they sustain their reputation as a general rule, as being noted for their failures.

They usually manage to come a little too late to attend the Institute,'" so they go into their schools without any apparent plans or ideas, other than utilizing the visit with friends.

I linow not whether any other counties are victimized by these healthseekers. We have suffered now for six years, but this is the first time I have publicly protested against it.

A New Paper

On the seventh day of October, the Wells Gazette appeared and arose from the ashes of the Wells Atlas. The career of the Atlas, always among the leading papers of the county, after many fluctuations of fortune came to an end. Geo. W. Plumley, an active newspaper man, was the editor and publisher of the Gazette. It was a seven column sheet, neatly printed - "patent internals and homespun externals."

The Autumn

The autumn weather of this year was very fine for plowing, husking and threshing, until the middle of November, when winter set in. Indeed, the autumns are, usually, in this northern latitude, the most agreeable season of the year. Other lands may boast of the spring, or the summer, but nowhere on the globe, can be found a period of the year, more pleasant than the usual autumns of Minnesota.

The autumn! the season of the ripening and gathering of the fruits of the tree and shrub and vine, the season of Indian summer, later of "the sere and yellow leaf."

The harvest is over, the grain has long been in the stack, the busy plow is at work in the fields, and we hear the humming of the thresher, throughout the land. A thousand streams of ripened grain are pouring their wealth into the granaries of the husbandman. The day of the ingathering and storage, and of wise forethought for the winter, is with us.

In the village and the city, business is growing active. The suinmor vacation is over and the summer idlers return again refreshed and rejuvenated, to the usual labors of life. The long school vacation has also ended, the school bell is heard again, and a new year's work begins.

This too is the season of the State and county agricultural fairs and of conventions and political meetings and the great battle day of the ballots. And the Indian summer, the fifth season of the year and embraced in the autumn period, is not more beautiful and enjoyable anywhei-e, than in this favored land.

The sun, now shorn of his fiercest heats, rises, pursues his apparent journey and sets, like a ruddy globe of fire, a hazy atmosphere filling the sky, and a warm, soft, dreamy, mellow air has displaced the extremes of the former season.

A peculiar, pleasant stillness, silence, reigns for weeks over the land. Hardly a leaf stirs to the soft touch of the light breezes. Objects cannot, because of the dry, foggy atmosphere, be seen, or but dimly, except near by, while distant sounds are easily heard, and what gorgeous sunsets close these pleasant days. The nights and mornings are cool, and fogs envelope the low lands, until dissipated by the rising sun. How agreeable are now the night's healthful rest and slumber, and the early morning rising.

"The fading many-colored woods, Shade deepening over shade, the country, round, Imlirowned; a crowded umbrage dusk and dun Of every hue, from wan declining green To sooty dark."

Slight frosts, growing more frequent, crisp and braceing, appear, and the time has come in this blessed season to ramble through the woods and gather the wild fruits. And now the roadsides and hedges and by-ways are splendid with blooming golden rod and crimson sumach, and many nameless flowers and shrubs, while the foliage of the trees is rich in gold and green and brown and yellow and red. But soon comes the falling leaf, the dying vegetation, "sober autumn fading into age," suggestive and saddening scenes of the closing, dying year, and the day breezes and night winds have a mournful cadence - the period of quiet contemplation, when thoughts come to us of the brevity of human life and of the great lesson, that all things earthly, must, sooner or later, fade and die.

The End Of '75

The year was characterized by the great abundance of wild fruits. Wild grapes and plums were.particularly, plentiful, and there was an abundance of all kinds of berries and nuts. And on a clear, bright day in September, after the first frosts, we hitched up the old family horse in the light spring wagon, and we put in a large basket of provisions for ourselves, and a big feed of oats for the horse, and some bags and baskets, and the whole family, old and young, got in, and we started off in happy spirits for the woodlands, along the streams and about the lakes, to spend a day in gathering grapes and plums and hazelnuts and butternuts and walnuts, to store up for the winter's use. And when the snows are deep, and the winter winds howl around the house, we shall gather around the cheerful hearthstone, in the long winter evenings, and crack nuts and tell stories and read and sing our songs and envy not the rich their jileasures. And we had a grand day as we wandered through the autumn woods and along the streams and by-way. A day free from anxieties and business and domestic cares, for it was so full of health and variety and freedom and pure air and exercise, that dull cares were forgotten. And we felt the beauty of the scenery, and the invigoration fall on us like a blessing.

How kind and merciful is the Father above us and over all, who made all things for us and tinted and colored the skies and the fields and the plumage of the birds and the wings of the insects which sported their short lives in the sunbeams, and the foliage of the trees and the blooming flowers and made the forests vocal with the songs of the airy choristers not yet departed for warmer climes, blending their wild cadences with the music of rippling streams and waterfalls and gentle, whispering breezes. Be still and listen! Reader, go forth often to enjoy and commune with nature. You will be healthier and happier.

And now old Boreas has come down from his home in the far north, and the birds have flown, the trees are stripped of their leaves, and the grass and the flowers of the fields are dead, and the white mantle of the snow king is spi'ead over the earth, and the year is near its end - Ay, ended.

"Where goes the candle when it dies? The leaf, the music, summer sighs'? A finished thought, a world, a death? Where is the home of parted breath? Where goes a year, an age, nay, thine? Where is the end, tlie great sublime? All, all but centre, round that Being, The Great, Omnipotent, All-seeing! Unending, and unchanged forever; In vain the end from Him we sever - All ends are hid in God!"