234 OCEAN TO OCEAN ON HORSEBACK 



which had previously been little more than a grazing- 

 place for cows, was seriously considered as a possible 

 ornament, and was graded and made more attractive, 

 until now it bears little resemblance to the common 

 on which the irrepressible Indian, "Omic," breathed 

 his last. It has changed its name since then, and has 

 become " Monumental Square," from the marble statue 

 of Commodore Perry, which adorns its southeastern 

 corner. A good view of the liveliest part of the city 

 can be had from here, and from early morning until 

 late at night there is a continuous stream of people 

 passing through it. 



Superior street, which forms its southern boundary, 

 is lined with retail stores, and its fine buildings and 

 neat pavements hardly suggest the indifferent houses 

 and plank road of forty years ago. Ontario is 

 another busy thoroughfare runnin^i; north and south, 

 and bisecting the square. Where it begins, at Lakeside 

 Park, it is lined with private residences, but beyond 

 the square it develops into a genuine work-a-day 

 business street. In 1813 there was a small stock- 

 ade on the lake shore just below it, for Cleveland 

 was a depot for supplies, and was waiting to give a 

 warm reception to the English. Most of the public 

 buildings ar^ on or near the square — the Post Of- 

 fice, Custom House, City Hall, and several of the 

 churches. Not far away is the library of the Young 

 Men's Literary Association, which has had a sin- 

 gularly favored career. Established in 1845 upon a 

 very unpretentious basis in the Case Building, it was 

 soon given a perpetual lease by the owner, and later 

 received a large sum of money for its extension and 

 support from a son of Mr. Case. The Public Library 



