284 OCEAN TO OCEAN ON HORSEBACK. 



noted for its iron industries. Farm implements, iron 

 ships, iron rails, and in fact everything that can be 

 made out of iron, is produced here. After dinner I 

 rode on to Ecorse, which is three miles beyond, 

 and there found letters and papers telling me that I 

 was expected at the Russell House, Detroit, on the 

 evening of the coming Monday. Once within my 

 hotel, I found the heat almost unbearable, but follow- 

 ing a certain method which I had found by experience 

 to be a successful one, I was enabled in a measure to 

 improve my surroundings. To those who might 

 think my modus operandi somewdiat unbecoming, I 

 would only suggest that they try my mode of travel 

 through the same region of country, and at the same 

 season of the year. Personal experience might change 

 their opinion. 



Having been shown to my apartment by the land- 

 lord or one of his assistants, I quietly entered and se- 

 cured the door, betraying no surprise upon seeing the 

 inevitable "feather bed." Taking off mycoj4, I be- 

 gan by removing the layers of mattresses^ which 

 had in them a wonderful reserve force of Ju^y heat. 

 I then took my lamp and held it so that its lambent 

 flame could warm the cockles of every mosquito's 

 heart clinging to the ceiling. The mosquitoes, quite 

 averse to the intense heat, quietly dropped into the 

 little purgatory which I had prepared for them, and 

 troubled me no more. 



So did I secure my repose at the Farmers' Hotel, 

 and in the morning was in the humor to give the good- 

 natured proprietor, Louis Cicotte — a typical French 

 Canadian — a very hearty greeting, and an assurance 

 of my refreshment. 



