A Good Comic Actor It Did Not Lack, And I Never Laughed
More Heartily In My Life.
There was something wrong, too, just at
that time - I could not make out what - in the Constitution of
Illinois, and the present moment had been selected for voting a new
Constitution.
To us in England such a necessity would be
considered a matter of importance, but it did not seem to be much
thought of here, "Some slight alteration probably," I suggested.
"No," said my informant, one of the judges of their courts, "it is
to be a thorough, radical change of the whole Constitution. They
are voting the delegates to-day." I went to see them vote the
delegates, but, unfortunately, got into a wrong place - by
invitation - and was turned out, not without some slight tumult. I
trust that the new Constitution was carried through successfully.
From these little details it may, perhaps, be understood how a town
like Chicago goes on and prospers in spite of all the drawbacks
which are incident to newness. Men in those regions do not mind
failures, and, when they have failed, instantly begin again. They
make their plans on a large scale, and they who come after them
fill up what has been wanting at first. Those taps of hot and cold
water will be made to run by the next owner of the hotel, if not by
the present owner. In another ten years the letters, I do not
doubt, will all be delivered. Long before that time the theater
will probably be full. The new Constitution is no doubt already at
work, and, if found deficient, another will succeed to it without
any trouble to the State or any talk on the subject through the
Union. Chicago was intended as a town of export for corn, and
therefore the corn stores have received the first attention. When
I was there they were in perfect working order.
From Chicago we went on to Cleveland, a town in the State of Ohio,
on Lake Erie, again traveling by the sleeping-cars. I found that
these cars were universally mentioned with great horror and disgust
by Americans of the upper class. They always declared that they
would not travel in them on any account. Noise and dirt were the
two objections. They are very noisy, but to us belonged the happy
power of sleeping down noise. I invariably slept all through the
night, and knew nothing about the noise. They are also very dirty -
extremely dirty - dirty so as to cause much annoyance. But then
they are not quite so dirty as the day cars. If dirt is to be a
bar against traveling in America, men and women must stay at home.
For myself, I don't much care for dirt, having a strong reliance on
soap and water and scrubbing-brushes. No one regards poisons who
carries antidotes in which he has perfect faith.
Cleveland is another pleasant town - pleasant as Milwaukee and
Portland.
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