Jerauld County, SD News.....On the Wing, On Board Train August 17, 1888 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/sd/sdfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 1, 2005, 7:24 pm Wessington Springs Herald August 17, 1888 On The Wing, On Board Train Dear Herald:- I found Alexandria a lovely little town with one blot upon the surface viz-a "muder-mill" which by some hook or crook is running in opposition to the wishes of the majority of the people. Whiskey dies hard but it is undoubtedly in its death throes. I hear some of the doubting ones saying "no use to have a law you can't enforce". Enforce against whom? The criminal classes. According to that theory it is necessary to enact laws to suit the criminal classes. I was met at ht etrain by the wife of Rev. Lyman whom many will remember as a Sabbath School worker who was with us during our temperance camp-meeting a couple of years ago. The next day found us domiciled in the pleasant home of one of the old veterans of the late war, now living in Scotland. A packed house-a hot Sabbath evening-an enthusiastic audience were some of the features of our stay in Scotland. The W. C. T. U. is in a flourishing condition notwithstanding the opposition from Russians and Bohemians which constitute a large proportion of the population. It is customary for the American Scotlanders to speak of going to the United States when contemplating a trip elsewhere. Scientific temperance instruction is not taught in the schools now. It was, and a little daughter of one of the saloon-keepers went home and asked her father if he "knew beer was a poison?" He asked her "where she heard that?" She told him her teacher said so, and that it was in their books. The saloon-keeper grew furious investigated the matter, discarded the books and stopped all such instruction. The school-board contains one saloon-keeper, A Bohemian and a Russian who have come to this country with no idea of American principles-no concept of true liberty-no education, and these men are allowed to dictate what shall be taught our American born children while the American born mother, with all her culture, refinement, patriotism, love of freedom and sense of justice an innate principle born in her and incorporated into every fibre of being with every breath, stands aside with hands tied, not allowed to so much as breathe upon the laws of her land which affect the weal or woe of her children. No wonder our women are uprising in a general rebellion. A pleasant drive of nine miles brought us to the house of a devoted Christian woman, a leading member of the F. M. church, who presided with dignity and grace at the meeting at Olivet, where the church was full to overflowing and every window crowded with faces outside, notwithstanding the men were in the harvest field through the day. The country around Scotland and Olivet is enchanting because of the beauty of scenery and many beautiful groves. If our farmers could see the result of tree-planting as it beautifies this country they would all put out trees. Catalpas do well here but I notice that they are planted alternately with the other trees, which affords a protection so necessary in this windy country to a broad leaved tree. I saw many groves eight years old with fine large looking trees, some of them grand, and the catalpa held its own with them, and the blossom is lovely. No better fencing posts can be found as they are even more durable than cedar. They have found here by experience that trees die out if planted too thick. They have also had cotton-wood trees killed by the worm that is peculiar to them. I made inquiry as to the kind of tree most successfully grown, and the answer was box-elder, catalpa and ash. Cotton-wood is the quicker growth but short lived. I give it as told me, and consider that people who have grown such magnificent groves must know whereof they speak. Armour white ribbons almost took me by storm. They have one of the most lively Union's I have met. The Y's are quite a force by themselves and stand ready with their youth, grace and beauty to aid the mother Union. Their rendering of the song "Fling out the temperance banner" was well worth the trip. A full house greeted me, besides the royal welcome given me. Centreville next needed my attention where the Y's had full charge of the evening meeting and lifted a burden of anxiety from my shoulders as they engineered things so successfully and held up my hands while I reasoned with the people of health and home. Next day the mother Union, which is large, held a "health class" giving a personal invitation to every woman in the town, and I was installed as teacher where we all became so interested that I came near missing my train. Mrs. Davis the Territorial Supt. Of social purity is a leading spirit in this place and when I saw her energy and devotion to the cause, I no longer wondered that it prospered. 6 p. m. found me on board train hurrying to Beresford where after a couple of hours rest I was escorted to the hall where a large crowd again greeted me. At this place I was met at the train by another G. A. R. and it gladdened my heart to find so many of these old weather beaten veterans wheeling into line in this battle. I noticed in their hall the mottoes, "The loyal, the true and the brave" "The died the nation to save." But I find that some are still living who are loyal and true to home and brave enough to show their colors to-day. I find also that there is no fun in speaking twice a day and traveling right along all the time. Hay is short and then in this part of the country grain is light on account of the extreme heat and the whole country needs rain. Complaint of hard times everywhere so I am of the opinion that Jerauld county is as good as anywhere, and am fully convinced that we have an extraordinary class of people.- There's the whistle for Hawarden where I change cars for Elk Point. Au Revoir for this time. Nettie C. Hall File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/sd/jerauld/newspapers/onthewin164gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/sdfiles/ File size: 6.4 Kb