DETROIT TO CHICAGO. 353 



wretched condition, and the distance was considerably 

 lengthened as it was necessary to avoid pools and wash- 

 outs, so that it took two hours of slow riding to reach 

 my destination. Darby, who had gone forward with 

 my advance agents, was the first to greet me at this 

 place and to inform me of the arrangements made for 

 my lecture in the evening. 



As my day's journey had been undertaken leisurely, 

 I started out on a tour of inspection, after having first 

 made comfortable provision for Paul. I found a 

 flourishing village, having a population of something 

 over 2,000, and prettily situated on the St. Joseph 

 River. As I walked in and out through its streets 

 and looked for the last time upon the stream, which 

 for its romantic history and natural charm had forced 

 itself upon my notice so often, I could not avoid a 

 certain feeling of regret that this was to be my last 

 halt in the great State through which I had made such 

 a pleasant and profitable journey. Pictures of orchard 

 and meadow, of wheat field and river, passed in review 

 once more, and with them the recollection of the 

 splendid part the patriots of Michigan bore in the 

 War for the Union, than whom was none more loyal 

 than the heroic Custer, for whose memory I had spoken 

 and received such warm response. 



# 



Private House, 

 Rolling Prairie, Indiana, 

 September Eighth. 



Called for my horse at Buchanan at nine o'clock iu 

 the morning, intending to stop at New Buffalo, but 



