_ SISA SGI REL GRR ET 8 NA RI TU CAR MY AR A ANA NS ABT BA AA I SR AE NB RI RR Lines of Welcome to the Boston Excursionists. From the Citizens and Press of North Platte. Hail Boston ‘‘ Nabobs!” gallant men, We greet you warmly to this “ plain,” Where, on each side are gliding forth The rivers Platte, both South and North. A hearty welcome from the “ Press” Salute you all; we wish success To your auspicious journey through; O’er mountains high and rivers blue. That pleasing town of busy trade; With ports superb, where ships do lade For foreign shore, filled with the grain Which grows far west upon the plain, That town you left, for a long ride While Summer opens in its pride, To see the boundless landscape bloom And still have comforts of a hame. And as this train speeds swiftly on, May harmless mirth flow freely from Lips ever true, yet sentimental, And ably fillthe Trans- Continental. In all this noble Pullman load, We hope none brought one care on board, So let good cheer now freely flow, To gladden hearts and banish woe. We hail with joy extraordinary, Our traveling “ contemporary,” And trust a copy will be sent To Platte Valley Independent. Speed on, then, “ Hubs,’ and pleasure chase, And when returning to this place, Leave us a sketch of all you see, Which by our Press shall published be. ————$— 49>. PRAIRIE DOG CITY. From Potter Station, which is 433 miles west of Omaha, and which our train will pass to-day, and half way to Antelope, a distance of about ten miles, the valley is full of Prairie Dogs. The Trans-Continental Guide has the following in relation to the dog town: “Tt occupies several hundred acres on each side of the road, where these saga- cious littleanimals have taken land and erected their dwellings, without buying lots of the company. (Wedo not know whether the company intend to eject them.) Their dwellings consist of a little mound (with a hole in the top), from a foot to a foot and a half high, raised by the dirt excavated from their burrows. On the approach ofa train, these animals can be seen scampering for their houses; and stand on their hind feet, barking at the train as it passes. Should any one venture too near, down they go into their holes, and their city is silent as the eity of the dead. “Theanimal is of aSandy brown-color, and about the size of a large fox squirrel. In their nests, livingin perfect harmony with the dog, may be found the owl and rattlesnake, though whether they are welcome visitors, is quite uncertain. The prairie dog lives on grasses and roots, and is generally fat; and by many, especially the Mexicans, considered good eating, the meat being sweet and tender, according to their report. Wolves prey on the little fellows, and they may often be seen sneaking and crawling near a town, where they may, by chance, pick up an unwary straggler. But the dogs are not easily caught, for some one is always looking out for danger, and on the first intimation of trouble, the alarm is given, and away they all scamper for their holes.” _— tO —As we advance farther and farther into the heart of the Continent, ex- changing civilization for the broad and luxuriant prairies, a greater realization of thepower and mystery of the tele- graph is impressed upon us. That this wonderful agent should be so strong a channel of communication between our train and friends at home, as to transmit information from each to the other in the twinkling of an eye,is well calcu- lated to suggest the thought whether the principle may not be expanded and ap- plied to locomotion as our necessities may require, annihilating distance and almost outrunning time. An equal ad- vance in science to that of the past cen- tury would render this possible in a few years. Our Pullman train certainly an- nihilates the discomforts of traveling if it does not quite annihilate space. The facilities of the Western Union Tele- graph Company, enable us to do this even at the lonely station on the Plains. It was a cheering incident in our smokingcar last evening when one of our party who had telegraphed to Bos- ton to learn if his wife was well, receiv- ed, after we had run forty-seven miles farther west, the answer: “ All well at home,” which fact was announced, and loud applause followed from all in the ear. ————_——e-—--—- —A staid and hitherto undemonstra- tive gentleman of our party exclaimed, in the full enthusiasm of his heart, “This is indeed the happiest party I ever saw; it beats the Peace Jubilee!” It is indeed true; we all feel that the attentions and enjoyments we are now receiving will remain indellibly engraved on our hearts. We certainly aim to appreciate our blessings. _ Oop Why is a madman like two men ? He is a man beside himself. GRAND IMPROVEMENT IN PIANOS. HALLET, DAVIS «& CO.. Manufacturers of GRAND AND SQUARE PIANOS, Have great satisfaction in announcing to the musical public that the United States Government has granted to Geo. H. Davis, of this house, LETTERS PATENT on their new and already famous ORCHESTRAL GRAND PIANO. This invention in the first placeso mod- ifies the construction of Grand Pianos that a greater and a better quality of tone is produced thereby than by the construction usually adopted; in the second place, it gives the instrument a much more beautiful and convenient form than that usually given to Grand Pianos; and, in the third place, it ren- ders either side of the instrument equal- ly desirable for a front side in a room of whatever shape—that is, the case of this grand piano, instead of being hollowed out on one side, is made so that both sides are alike. This brings the bridges into the centre of the board, securing nearly one-third move of the sounding board than has been heretofore attained. Its action is light and delicate, while its power ismarvelous, Its tone is remark- able for sweetness, clearness and bril- liancy. Its singing qualities very close- ly resemble the richness of the human voice, and its tenor is unexampled in any instrument yet produced, The Orchestral Grand Piano is an entirely new invention, differing at once in arrangement of case and scale from anything hitherto attempted. It has commanded the admiration of all artists and critics who have examined it. and testimonials in its favor are abundant and enthusiastic. By a unanimous vote of the Executive Commiittee of the National Peace Jubilee, this was the only piano used in the Great Coliseum, Its distinguishing characteristics are immense power, sweetness, brilliancy. and perfect equality of tone, elasticity of touch snd durability—not being inju- riously affected by change of climate. Every instrument warranted for five years. Confident of the unprecedented merits of our new invention, justified by a common consent and authorized by let- ters patent at Washington, we unhesita- tingly announce our Orchestral Grand Piano as without an equal in America, and without a superior in the worldt And we cordially invite most careful in- spection by all who are interested in the advancement of musical manufactures and who have at heart the best interests of musical science. These instruments are offered at very low prices, in order that the musical public of the United States and Canada may become thor- oughly familiar with theircharacter and capacity. Illustrated Catalogues of our Pianos sent free to any address. HALLETT, DAVIS & Co., WAREROOMS, No. 272 Washington St., MANUFACTORY, No. 700 Harrison Avenue, BOSTON. Ww. WwW. KIMBALL, 63 Washington St., Chicago, Sole West-— ern Agent.