i884-] Toivn and City Histories. 31 1
attention led by Captain Location to and, like the dwellings we saw at the hero of the piece as a suitable Cincinnati and other towns of Ohio, mate for her wajnvard daughter, Miss all evincing more taste, love of flowers. Prosperity, — all this is usually writ- and attention to order and adornment ten up from hearsay. For the third than in most of the States of the act, wherein the twin brothers Steam- Union." Mrs. Pulzky, who accom- boat Navigation and Railroad Com- panied Kossuth in his journey through munication help the hero to press his America, in 1852, wrote in her diary: suit, the imagination often suffices. " Cleveland is a neat, clean, and agree- The grand finale, however, brings able city, on Lake Erie. Americans back some of the old set of critics, call it the ' Forest City,' though the together with a host of new ones, who original forests have disappeared, describe in glowing language the Cleveland has a most lovely aspect: setting of the act, the costumes, the with the exception of the business music, etc., and tell minutely how streets, every house is surrounded by a young Miss Prosperity blushingly yet garden. It was for the first time that boldly promises to be forever true to I found love of nature in an American the gallant hero, now known under his population. On the journey, until rightful name of Mr. Metropolis. Ac- here, I had always missed pleasure- cording to the critic, this grand drama grounds and trees around the cot- always ends happily for all concerned ; tages."
the acting is always perfect, — the best The growth of Cleveland was steady
ever seen on the stage ; the scenery has and healthy. Although foreigners came
seldom been equaled, never excelled, to it in large numbers, it has been and
And this is the way the public hears is a representative American city. The
about every " greatest drama ever pro- spirit of public improvement early made
duced on any stage." itself felt here, as has been intimated
Do you think the critic too harshly by the above quotations ; wide avenues,
criticized? Lock for yourself. Take beautiful dweUings, pleasure-grounds,
Cleveland, if you want a good city both public and private, — all the at-
with which to begin your explorations tractions that a lavish expenditure of
among the histories of Western cities, money can secure were bestowed upon
Here is one of the loveliest places in it. The oil discoveries of a quarter of
all the basin of the Great Lakes — a century ago made many of its citizens
rich, prosperous, beautiful. It was the wealthy, and their city was so pleasant
one city which all the travelers through to live in, that, unlike most Western
the West in the second quarter of this people who have gained sudden wealth,
century united in declaring to be they stayed at home to spend their
attractive. For instance, J. S. Bucking- money.
ham, who visited America forty-three From the history of the rise of such
years ago, complimented Cleveland as a community, much might be learned,
follows, in a book called The Eastern Yet in the large libraries of the East
and Western States of America: "The we find only one book on the subject,
buildings of Cleveland are all re- and Poole's mammoth Index — that
markably clean and neat, many of " Open, sesame," of the literary man —
them in excellent architectural style, refers us to not a single magazine article
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