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Copyright IQ14 
 
 By 
 
 MINNIE JEWELL 
 
 r^ 
 
 0)CIA3T1;9;8 9 
 
■) 
 
 Views of Decorah 
 
 and 
 
 Happy Remembrances 
 
 of 
 
 ...1913,.. 
 

 MAY 20 1914 , 
 
Milwaukee Depot 
 
MARY was languishing with the heat, want of sleep, and disappoint- 
 ment. I could not afford to send her away to a rest cure, even 
 if she had been willing to go. 
 
 We were city born and bred, and our homes had always been in 
 Chicago, and when I would urge her to go to some of our lovely parks, 
 she only answered : 
 
 "What's the use. I should only be more lonely, and the smell of 
 the city is only just over the fence." 
 
 She was right too, for tho ihe pdrk.'> arc lovel}- and the air much 
 cooler and fresher than on the streets you do not get away from the 
 smell or the echo of the cit\-, so 1 could not hut agree with her. 
 
 I have often stootl at the edge of the lake in Jackson I'ark, and 
 fancied I was on the sea shore till I'd look around and sec Field's 
 
Winnesheik Hotel 
 
Museum, then, my fancy would flee, for I could not feel I was very far 
 from the city m spite of the stretch of water at my feet. 
 
 Night after night when I would return from business, her tired 
 white face would urge me to do something for her, but what I did not 
 know. She looked so sad, tired, and lonesome, and no wonder. Just two 
 weeks before I had fetched her back from a short sojourn in the Mater- 
 nity Hospital with empty arms ; the tiny soul sent to us had just fluttered 
 its wings on this earth and then flown back to its Maker, but not before 
 it had left a mark on our hearts, which will never be efifaced. 
 
 All the months of waiting, sleepless nights and ])ain had residted 
 in nothing but a sense of loneliness. 
 
 Particidarly that morning had I sensed her des])ondency as I 
 wished her goodby. telling her I would try to get ofi^ in time to take a 
 jaimt out to the Lake Front, for the heat was intense. 
 
"business street lighted by electroliers" 
 
I little knew events were ?o shaping" themselves that 1 could ex- 
 perience the pleasure of seeing ni\- wile restored to health with lillle 
 expense. 
 
 Miles, our Iowa man, had been stricken with heat in his home the 
 other side of Chicago, his western route still uncanvassed. No one 
 seemed anxious to iinish his territory for most of the towns left were 
 beyond the railroad, that is to say after reaching a certain town, the 
 limit of that particular railway branch, one had to make the surrounding 
 towns by team or auto, that being the only way they could be reached. 
 
 I idly rememljered him speak of one such town named Decorah 
 at the end of a Milvaukee Ihanch. which town he said had more points 
 of interest to the mile than many another to ten, also that he intended 
 to spend a week's vacation there some time. 
 
 , Quick as a flash the thought came to try to get the job of finish- 
 
"damming the waters of the Oneota River' 
 
ing Miles' western route, and if I got it, to take jMarv to Dccorah, 
 leaving her there while I made the surrounding towns, figuring that 
 if the roads were good I could get back every evening. So that noon 
 I hustled home with the plan. 
 
 I explained the deal to her, asking her if she cared to go to the 
 backwoods with me if I could get a chance at Miles' job. 
 
 I had figured it would cost only a little more than a five spot to 
 get her there, so if the tri|) did not do her any good 1 should not be 
 oiU nuich. 
 
 ( )n her answering that she did not care, I hurried back again, and 
 when the boss came in, I bearded the lion in the den, with the query: 
 "Could I have a chance at Miles' job?" Receiving a growling reply 
 that "if I thous:ht T could g-et the business," I answered "that I thoua:ht 
 
I could," and was given the lists and samples with directions to start 
 right away, for "Miles was due." 
 
 I felt unduly elated as I walked hcime, and it seemed to affect Mary 
 to a certain degree, for she showed (|uite a little interest as she packed 
 the two suitcases, and |;ut the few things of value we owned awa}' ; but 
 bv the time she had gi\en a\\a\ the remains of food which would spoil 
 in our absence, she was almost readv to change her mind and stay home. 
 
 Hut I got her started. We cerlainl)- were not very comffjrtable 
 in the day coach, ];ut the sleeper would not have been any more com- 
 fortable, for it was so hot. 
 
 I had taken tickets direct to Decorah, meaning to take in the other 
 towns on my way back. We arrived at Calmar some time in the night, 
 there we took a bed and rested till time to catch the second train to 
 Decorah, so we were rested some ; still it was not till we were nearly 
 
"around Citizens Bank" 
 
there that Mary began to comment on the country we were passing 
 through. 
 
 It was worthy of comment too, field after fiehl of grain in shocks 
 or falhng' vmder the reapers knife. Field after field of green rustling 
 corn we passed, even the grass here was greener than that near Chi- 
 cago. The stock in the pastures, in spite of the heat, looked slick and 
 in good shape. 
 
 Then through woods we went, with shade so thick that the sun 
 barely flickered through the leaves, and anon with a roar we would 
 pass over a little bridge which s])anned one of the many streams which 
 found their wav to the crooked picturesque Oneota river, which we 
 found later encircled more or less this little inland town of Decorah, 
 as it nestled in a green valle}- like a liabe on its mother's lap, seemingly 
 prQtected bv the wooded hills which surrounded tlie town. Almost all 
 
Court House 
 
kinds of trees grew on these hills. Here you could see a nia])le with 
 leaves acjuiver, there a sturd}- oak would spread its branches alar, peep- 
 ing thro' could be seen the white bark of the birch, and anon a stately 
 pine would tower far above the lower trees as if trying to pierce the 
 blue of the sky. 
 
 As we stood on the platform of the Milwaukee Depot, 1 noticed 
 Mary looking around. Then with a gasp she said : 
 
 "How restful it is here, John. \\'e nuist be a thousand miles from 
 a city." 
 
 "Oh my no, we cannot be more than a fourth of that from Chicago."' 
 
 "How lovely the hills are around here." 
 
 Here the driver of a hack put his hand on our suitcases with some 
 remark as to the merits of the "Winnesheik Hotel," arid impelled by 
 his pressure we entered the hack which in less than enough time for us 
 
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to get seated stopped at the door of quite a g-raiul lookino- hotel which 
 we found as imposing inside as out. But ( )h ! such good lioniev things 
 we got to eat. Our room hooked over the oi)en scjuare roof porch, so 
 the wind found its way to our heated bothes as we lay and rested till 
 evening. 
 
 After supper we went onto the street, and a ])rettier sight has never 
 dawned on my eyes, may be, because I did not expect to see a small 
 town lighted as this one was, or else the lack of noise and the clear air, 
 enhanced the beauty of this long main business street lighted by elec- 
 troliers, the ];)Ower for which is supplied by danmiing up the waters of the 
 Oneota (or as it is sometimes called "The Upper Iowa River") a short 
 distance from Decorah. 
 
 Up and down we wandered, taking in the music of the "movies" 
 of which there were three, admiring the massive front of the "Winne- 
 
The Cement Bnagc 
 
sheik Co. Bank", listening to the sweet chiming clock hung from the 
 Portal of the "National Bank", then around the "Citizens Bank", to get 
 a better view of the "Court House" and "Government Post Office." 
 
 Everywhere plenty without ostentation seemed to spread its hands, 
 lovers arm in arm walked slowly along the street, every one seemed to 
 have time to live, different to the crowds on the streets of Chicago. 
 
 After an hour or s(~» of this we re-entered the hotel. Going to our 
 room we turned out the lights and stripped to cooler clothing, then 
 seated by the open window with Mary's head on my shoulder we looked 
 across the porch to the sky studded with stars content to be still, till 
 i\Iary yawned sleepily, and I hoped that this night for once again she 
 might sleep soundly and wake refreshed, something she had not done 
 for months. 
 
"Home of the Flower^ 
 
Awaking- next nidrnino- about five, I found lier sound asleep, then 
 closing the windows and pulling down the blinds, 1 quietly dressetl and 
 descended to the lobl)v, requesting the clerk to give orders not to have 
 my wife disturbed till she rang. He answered: "Here's Tilly. Tell 
 her yourself." 
 
 Turning, I saw a pleasant faced girl in whose hand T placed a trifle 
 repeating my request, then I passed the time till breakfast was ready 
 making inquiries as to the location of the different merchants whose 
 names were on my list for Decorah. 
 
 After a breakfast of ham and eggs I started out to get the business 
 I had thought I could get — and I got it. 1 do not know whether it 
 was on account of my intense admiration of the town and surroundings, 
 or whether the merchants were reallv in need of all the things thev 
 
ordered then, an\\va\", l)y ten o'clock I had doul)led Miles" sales with 
 all the merchants 1 had tackled. 
 
 Thinking I had done a fair day's work, I rettirned to the hotel and 
 up to our room, to find Mary just awakening. Sitting up at my entrance 
 she pawned and asked : 
 
 "Breakfast time?" 
 
 "Lazy girl," 1 retorted, "it is nearly noon." 
 
 "Really." 
 
 "Yes, really. How do you feel?" 
 
 "Fine. How quiet it is here!" 
 
 "Are the natives all dead?" 
 
 "Not on your tintype. They are all up and doing." 
 
 "I have sold enough goods already to last me the rest of this week 
 
"uniiiue stairway cut right in tlio stone of the liill" 
 
in commissions, and I could not have done that unless they were very 
 nuich alive." 
 
 ■'] lurry up old girl, while I go and see about a breakfast for von. 
 I want to show you around some of these places the bovs were telling 
 me of, guess we have struck a bonanza. A regular Free Show." 
 
 Down in the lobl)_\- I was met with smiling countenances when I 
 explained that my wife was just recovering from an illness. And could 
 I bother some one to take up a cup of cofifee and an egg? 
 
 "Sure thing." Then I entered into conversation with the clerk 
 about train service, for the idea came to me to send in this sample of 
 my ability to get the business, and astonish the boss, and at the same 
 time ask for a couple of days for sight seeing. 
 
 1')}' the time Mary was dressed and had breakfasted, I had my orders 
 made out, and obligingly the clerk told me: 
 
"You can get tliciii into Chicago to-night if you can catch that 
 noon train at Cahnar." 
 
 "How?" 
 
 "Get an Auto." 
 
 "Oh, can I?" 
 
 "I should say you could, as good a one as you can get an\\vhere." 
 
 "Alright then, that is what I'll do. Will you go, Mary." 
 
 "Yes, I should like to."" 
 
 The clerk phoned, and in less than ten minutes there came an auto 
 as clean and slick as if just from the factory. 
 
 Marv and I entered, and enjoyed the ride immensely. I'p and 
 down hills, thro" shadv lanes, and by verdant fields. On both sides of 
 the road the farm houses were pretty and substantial; many of them 
 on,e could see had all the modern improvements. Through many an 
 
"Such Views' 
 
open shed door, the auto could be seen ; showing the fanner around 
 here was no backwoods man in regard to rigs. W'c arrived in plenty 
 of time to send the letter, and while JMary rested in the hotel I did a 
 little more business: then we dined and wended our way l)ack. 
 
 Towards evening I hired a rig, and drove the length of "Water 
 Street", thence across the "Cement liridge", along "Maple Avenue", 
 stoi)])ing at the "Home of the Flowers'" where we purchased a huge 
 bouquet of flowers for Mary's folks, and once again we crossed the 
 Oneota river, which here is dammed to turn the "Tavener Mill." In 
 three places less than three miles apart, this enterprising little stream 
 is put to work for the good of man. 
 
 On the "Tavener Bridge" we stoi)i)ed the horse to take in the long 
 vista up and down stream, the water forming a small cataract as it falls 
 
To the Park 
 
ever the dam. C(nnpose(l mostly of liml)s and brush, then we ambled 
 on, following the road regardless of where we w'ere going. 
 
 Snddenly we were arrested by the sight of a natural curiosity in the 
 shape of an inunense high rock isolated from the others, and shaped 
 like a Pulpit. 
 
 "Look," said Mary, just as I hollered "Whoa!" 
 
 "Isn't that grand?" 
 
 "That is where the "(]od of the River" stands to give his orders 
 to the "Sons of Man"." said Mary. She was always visionary, but it did 
 not need nmch stretching of the imagination to visualize that. 
 
 After taking our till we went around what looked to us an impass- 
 able road, but a passing stranger assured us we could get back to De- 
 corah that wav, and as the horse was more than gentle we thought we 
 would trv it. We found oiu'selves more than re])aid, for we came finally 
 
lu the Park 
 
to a made road, lmijt;ing' close to great liigh rocks on one side and 
 shrinking' away from the edge of a stee|) dechne on the other side, 
 which ran down to tliat same ever present ( )neota River. 
 
 With a frisky horse it wonkl have l)een a nerve racking ride. As 
 it was, I was glad to have the inside track, for I did not fancy a ttmihle 
 down that wild rough descent. 
 
 A slu^rt distance from Decorah we came upon a uni([ue stairway 
 cut right in the stone of the hill. Nothing would do but Mar\- must 
 find wheie it led, so out she got, telling me to wait. I was so enchanted 
 with the interest she had shown all day after the legarth}- of the past 
 six months that I would have sat there a week if she had asked me to. 
 I confess I had begun to wonder if she were alright when she came in 
 ^ight down that stairway, her eyes aglow. 
 
 "()h, John! Up there is a veritable gem of a place, and it's free. 
 
"that great Elk head with branching antlers" 
 
You never saw anything- like it. Such views! And such pretty seats. 
 1 asked an old lady who it l)elonc^ed to and slie said: 
 
 "Why this is the City T'ark." 
 
 "Oh, we nnist go up there." 
 
 "Alright, we will ; but not now. I am as hungry as a hawk, I could 
 eat the side of a liouse." 
 
 "I too, I have not been so hungry for a year." 
 
 "Then back we go to the house of good treatment and plenty," 
 I answered, clicking to the horse." 
 
 * * * 
 
 "No peace for the wicked I guess. So, if you are determined to 
 go up to that Park to-night I suppose 1 shall have to take you." 
 
 "Of course vou will, else I will get someone else. Tliere are ])lent\- 
 

 
 ■■ ■ --vV,*^^ 
 
 
 Twin Bridges 
 
of nice young fellows in this town that would be pleased to take me 
 there." 
 
 "(Ill, oh! Is that so!" 1 answered smiling, "i believe we have 
 struck the home of the "I'^lixir of Life", or was all that tired feeling put 
 on "Mrs. JIarrus" to play ujjon my feelings? Let me tell \()U, that vou 
 had me pretty well hipped xoung lad\' no longer ago than vesterday 
 morning." 
 
 "I cannot help it, John; my blood just bounds in my veins here. 
 I am all alive." 
 
 "Alright then, if }ou feel al)le." 
 
 "How far is it?" 
 
 "Have you incjuired?" 
 
 "Yes. You go up to the "Court House," and one block farther, 
 then straight up Broadway." 
 
• 
 
 
 
 ^^^^^1^ Mb It OEConnM, in 
 
 "this energetic Oneota River" 
 
"Nice directions, I'm sure. But lead on, Mary mine, you for patii 
 finder." 
 
 We found it alright and never have we s]:)ent a more enjoyable 
 evening-; it was some of a climb at last, but it was worth it. Here 
 Mary's visualizing came into play, till she had me pretty near spooky, 
 for at one point of view, I was sure I could see that great Elk head with 
 its branching antlers, which turned out to be an old blasted tree way 
 below on level. 
 
 Neither heat, cold, storm, or fire could have kept us awake that 
 night ; we were too sleepy to say good-night. I think I was asleep 
 before I reached the bed, for we were surfeite<l with Ozone. 
 * * * 
 
 "Gee, that's some spiel from meuKiry, but I guess I may as well 
 finish up that trip. What do you say, Mary " 
 
"Sure. It will be grand to read over these trips, when we g'et too 
 old to make them any more ; and be sure you put the jiictnres away 
 with it wlien \-ou get through, so we can look at those i)laces when we 
 reatl about them." 
 
 This was the answer I got from Mary, New Year's morning, after 
 reading over the foregoing story of our trip to Decorah, the hapi)iest 
 time we spent in itji^. 
 
 It has l)een our custom to write our Remembrances at the close of 
 each year since we have been marrietl. as Mary says, to read over when 
 we get old: and for all Mary's ill health, and the loss of our little one 
 I still think this year will show up prett}' well in those old days of ours 
 when we resurrect this spiel. 
 
 So to take U]) the thread of my story again, I awoke the next morn- 
 ing- feeling like a new man and able to coax the bark off a hickory tree. 
 
The Ice Cave Road 
 
Telling Mary to take things easy for the day, I started for some 
 little town out-a-ways thinking thus to sidetrack her sightseeing, for I 
 was afraid she might overdo it. 
 
 I did not succeed tho', I found, when 1 returned that evening. 
 She had wandered down the other end of the town past the Rock Islantl 
 Depot, where she informed me was a nice piece of railroad groimd 
 on which they gave free concerts, then she had found the "Twin P)ri(lges" 
 and the tliird mill wliich this energetic Oneota River supplies ])Ower for. 
 
 Full to the rim and l)ul)l)ling over she was of the l)eauties of a 
 road by a cave in which she was told icicles hung in suiumer and from 
 whose yawning mouth steam issued in winter. She got me all fired 
 up, so if the boss had not felt like giving me the time, I shcjuld have 
 had to steal it. for I just had to see that cave. 
 
Dunning's Spring 
 
That evening we took in the "Movies" under the "Air Dome," and 
 they showed pretty good pictures too, but we both could hardly keep 
 awake. Sleep! I cannot see how it was we were so sleepy, I was ready 
 to turn in by ten; and as for Mary, she could go to sleep now any time 
 she laid down — outdoors or in. it made no difference. 1 found that 
 out Sunday morning, the day we made our trip thro' the "Ice Cave 
 Road," taking in as we went "Dunning's Spring" — another grand 
 freak of nature. 
 
 From a huge hole in the solid rock the clear limpid water flows 
 down and down till it mingles its forces with the river. At one time 
 it came with force enough to turn a mill ; it would not do so now, tho' 
 its beauty is there just the same. 
 
 'Twas here Mary showed her excess tendency to sleep, and 'twas 
 

 "as it fell from one stone to another" 
 
here mv heart went up in thanks to him who made it possible for me 
 to feel assured that my wife's brain would recover its poise. 
 
 We had sat down under the shade of the trees near the side of 
 the flowing water. Not a sound could l)e heard l)ut the murmur of the 
 spring as it fell from one stone to another. 1 was thinking 1k3w nnich 
 Mary had improved these few days, when 1 heard a snore ; she was 
 asleep, her head on my knees. 
 
 No one but those who have worried over a loved one whose ])rain 
 and body had been slow I \' dviug for want of sleep can tell how ihanlsful 
 I was for that sym])tom, and here 1 had paid out o\er five hundred 
 dollars in the last six months to try to get that girl one natural niglit's 
 sleep, when I could have gotten her here for a little more than a five 
 spot, — and she sleeping like this already. 
 
The front entrance to the College. 
 
\Miat is one man's meat is another's poison alright. 
 
 Poor old Miles. 1 wondered how he was. 
 
 If it had not ])een for his injur), I niay])e might have lost Mary. 
 That was what I was thinking when she opened her eyes just like a 
 kid awakening. 
 
 Smiling up at me as I joked her ahout snoring she said: 
 
 "I am going to throw awa}- that dope the doctor gave me. I have 
 not taken a drop since I came here ; and, I declare, if I stop moving, I 
 fall asleep." 
 
 That afternoon we drove up to the 'T^uther College," a large build- 
 ing, with gvmnasium. museum, and large campus, and base ball grounds, 
 where the boys have played some pretty strong games with visiting 
 teams, 
 
3^initll"t»t.tJ«MS AND Do'nMlTORV i>ECO*»*H, iOWA, 
 
 Large Campus 
 
The front entrance to the college is up a slight hill, but at the back 
 the earth drops away in sheer descent in some places. Here across the 
 fields is seen the ever lovely Oneota River. 
 
 The early mail next day brought me a letter from the boss grant- 
 ing my request with the words : "Any day you can send in an order 
 of that size, ynn are entitled to two days ofif. Hope your wife's health 
 is better." 
 
 "Good old fellow! Sav, ]\Iar\', let's go over to the green house 
 and get some flowers to send to the boss's wife." 
 
 "Let's go to the woods and pick some wild ones," she answered. 
 
 We did, and by the letter we got they were a treat. T guess all the 
 wild Mcnvers die }oung in the city like the goml children. 
 
 The day before we left Decorah we made a trip to "God's Acre," 
 
"God's acre! A truly lovely place' 
 
a truly lovely place. Years ago a rich man liy the name of Phelps had 
 been as nmch entranced with the l^eauties of Decorah as Mary and I, 
 for he had left a i;x)odly sum of iiKiney to kee]) up the cemetery, and at 
 his re(jue^t his remains had been brought across the ocean so he could 
 rest at last in that beautiful place of calm lovliness. 
 
 I wish our little one could have rested there tot), but then, it does 
 not make nnich ditTerence where this outer cloak is laid. 
 
 In this place there was none of the dreariness of the usual burial 
 places, instead it seems to keep before your eyes an everlasting im- 
 pression that you oidy rest awhile, and who would not rest in that 
 lovely spot. 
 
 That night, the first time since we came to Decorah, we were 
 touched, but we were only too glad to donate our mite. 
 
"for the erection of a hospital' 
 
A retired farmer, who evidently knows a good thing", had offered 
 to give a large sum of money for the erection of a hospital, if tlie citizens 
 would raise the needed deficiency, and I was glad of a chance to help 
 along a good thing. 
 
 If ever we are in need of a physician again in a hospital, there is 
 where we shall go. It may be that there are better physicians than will 
 l)e found there, but nowhere I know, would IMary'and I feel as assured 
 that we should regain our health as we could in that lovely little inland 
 town of Decorah where we spent the happiest time in our lives last 
 August, 1 91 3. 
 
 MINNIE TEWELL. 
 
 P D 88 
 

 
 
 
 
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