Watertown Republican

From Lake Mills.

Editor Republican:

Seeing items in your paper from other towns in the county, I propose to remind your readers that there is such a place as Lake Mills. We are somewhat isolated, the railroads passing through this section having by some mistake "gone by on the other side;" yet we are "coming into note." Chicago has heard of us as one of those places where the weary of the cities may find rest and recreation, renewing life with a vigor that only the pure air of the country and the abandonment of the cares of business and absence of the conventionalities of city life can give. Some of Milwaukee's ablest ministers, Rev. J. L. Dudley and Rev. Myron W. Reed, came last summer and were conquered, the former fixing upon it as a summer residence, and buying a lot of woodland at the north end of the lake. He has already improved it and we hear his no less noted wife is now here to perfect arrangements for the summer residence. No cosier place can be found for a month's residence and the daily communication by stage with Jefferson as well as Watertown make it easier of access than heretofore. Our citizens seem to be moved by a common impulse towards improvements, in the way of new fences, and setting out ornamental trees, etc. Foster & Sanborn have set 300 arbor vitaes in their grounds. C. C. Smith has greatly improved the ground above the mill and says he is going to do more yet. Mine host of the Lake Side is making needed improvements, getting ready for his guests. He says he has a number already engaged and will make it pleasant for them if they will only find the stamps. E. N. Harvey has gone east to purchase carriages for his livery stable. Healy is repairing and repainting his boats and adding some of Tommy's best models to his flotilla. He has no ironclads yet, but says he will furnish them to all from Milwaukee and Chicago if the same war spirit continues as seems to be raging between the two cities. Real estate moves livelier than for years and we are in hopes that the improvement has sure foundation. Spelling schools are the order of the day here as elsewhere, and from the attendance and improvement in spelling we have great hopes for our orthography. If I have not tired you and your readers too much I will continue to send you some items of news as they come to hand.

REPORTER.