Is it not a little strange that the Holy Land should be the counterpart of the regions around our garden, only ours, geologically, a little older, and at present, at least, vastly superior in productiveness and desirability as a home; and that so many things, in connection with and in addition to, the exact Bible description of the garden of Eden, and of the Holy Land, point to this place as the original garden; oldest, and best adapted place on earth for the commencement of human existence, and from which naturally to branch out, filling the Palestine around it; then, over the entire Eden as already described. Let me once more call your attention to the region immediately around our garden, of a section of which we have such a good [pg 35] view from this Heuston's Muff, of beautiful hills and valleys, similar in appearance and extent, to the land of Palestine; which was selected by the Creator as a representation of the habitation of man on earth, in its pristine glory; a beau ideal of a country, a paradise; a region of supreme felicity and delight; “A land flowing with milk and honey;” which means susceptibility of the highest earthly enjoyments, and figure of the world to come. Such a rough, youthful country, is not naturally subject to cyclones, and disastrous storms, “but of rains,” and “green pastures;” not a land of malaria, but a land of health and happiness. Palestine was central to the habitable part of the eastern continent, and was thus, in connection wilh its other good qualities, selected for the residence of God's chosen people, and contained many of the mountains on which God appeared to man, a very interesting chapter in the history of that country. Then, the central location of Jerusalem, “the city of the great King;” “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion;” in which was built the Holy Temple—of which God himself was architect—with its Holy of Holies, where God met the High priest, and kept up, though somewhat broken, yet, for long periods, special communication with man, thus making it a holy and God honored spot. There the Jews used to point to a stone, set as they claimed, by some miraculous power, in the precise centre of the world. But whether this was so or not, the city was for a long time the centre of attraction of the world's commerce, and of the best form of religion.
“A land flowing with milk and honey.” Yes, and that we have the place we hope to make appear by a few extracts from a speech delivered by T. D. Lewis, before the Wisconsin Dairymen's Association, at Arcadia, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, February, 1885, published by the Dairymen's Association. Mr. Lewis, not knowing of our garden and Palestine, spoke only in reference to what is beginning to be recognized, and well known facts in relation to the dairying interests of this region. Commencing on page 76: “As good, natural grasses and plenty of the right kind of water are the material requisites necessary to successful dairying or stock-growing generally, I propose to discuss in a brief manner, and for the first time, call the attention of the public to the peculiar quality of the soil in this section, and its adaptability for successful grass growing, especially clover, and of its action, through the grasses and water, in producing a superior quality of butter. * * * * It is now, I believe, generally conceded by all stock growers that there is no known plant grown that requires so small an outlay of labor and expense generally, and furnishes so great an amount of plant food of just the right kind for producing the best butter, cheese, and good, quickly fattened beef, as clover, where it can be grown with anything near success. * * * * * * My attention was first attracted to this subject some eight or ten years ago, by noticing spots along the roads where clover had sprung up in small patches, in soil either wild, or but, at the most, partially subdued. I observed that it [pg 37] grew in the most luxuriant manner, and spread rapidly, did not winter kill; in fact, looked just as if it had come to stay. I then began a thorough examination of the soil that I have not yet entirely completed, but have ascertained enough to warrant me in saying, that through the agency of the decomposition of an ancient stratum of rock, of which the most of our argillaceous clays are composed in this vicinity, I find we have a soil peculiarly adapted to the growth of clover. * * * * * * What were the reasons, do you suppose, why the Arcadia creamery butter took the first, and the Alma creamery the second premium at the fair held at St. Louis last fall? This was from butter made in Arcadia the second, and in Alma the first season of their opperation. You could not believe, for a moment, that the butter makers employed in these two creameries were so much better than all the others that exhibited butter at that time, that this was the cause of obtaining the premiums? I find, also, that the Arcadia butter, when placed upon the Elgin market of Illinois, is considered superior to the other butter, in all the qualities that go to make up a first-class article, and that is the largest butter market, outside of Chicago, in the state. You would most certainly assign this cause to other and more correct reasons, and, by an investigation into the facts, would find it was produced through the effects of this peculiar chemical material, in its action through the grasses and water of this region. * * * *Any one looking on Prof. Owens' geological chart of his government survey of [pg 38] this state and Minnesota, will see a small area, colored and marked metamorphic shades. It is no great extent of territory, includes this and Buffalo county, and a portion of Jackson, and about us much in Minnesota. It has been badly cut up through the agencies of erosion, corrosion, and denudation, and probably one-fourth of this area is now composed of arenaceious valleys, practically inexhaustible.” Clover fields, “flowing with milk and honey,” how appropriate. A Wisconsin Dairyman took the first premium on butter at the Worlds fair, at Philedelphia, in 1876; at the World's Exposition at New Orleans, in 1880, in dairy products, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota stands at the head; and the head centre of which, when once developed, is our palestine. In cheese products, at New Orleans, out of 84 premiums, Wisconsin took 71, amounting to $2,838. On butter, out of 69 premiums, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin took 54, amounting to $3,364, thus leading the world.
Thus who can predict the future greatness of our garden, and the region around it; naturally exempt from cyclone—which is beginning to be one of the great terrors of man-kind—as it would require a miracle to leap a cyclone from the top of our southwestern wall, down 600 feet, on to the broad Mississippi river—and into a decidedly different atmosphere, the reason already given—and keep a whirling. Thirty years of observation has taught me, that small, single storms pass around us, and larger ones, often, divide, and, no matter how portentous they look, as did the one the other day—since the St Cloud [pg 39] cyclone—which, at first sight, approaching from the southwest, at the right time of day, and frightful blue black color, made the timid ones tremble: but on approaching the garden, it naturally divided, and passed around us, as usual; thus confirming our statement.
Not being a believer in the speculative vague theories of modern geologists, I shall leave the discussion of the geological age of our garden to those wiseacres. But simply notice, that according to standard authorities, our hanging garden contains the veritable Potsdam sand stone of the primordial age. And my stone door step, taken from another strata, is a mass of Molusk shells of the tribe of Brachiopods—specimens of the earliest life on earth—the shells “less in size than a finger nail;” (see Dana's geology page 81) related to the modern Lingula; thus composing a Lingula flag, or Lingula sandstone, of which mine is a slab over 5 feet long, 2 feet wide and six inches thick, the finest specimen I have ever seen, and lies at my front door, free for inspection.
Thus, on the oldest continent, with an overwhelmingly rich, great, grand Eden; watered by the “Uphrates,” (long river) which, in itself, is superlative; and which, with its tributaries, waters a superlatively grand portion of the earth; and with its central garden, and surpassingly grand hanging gardens, which overtop, and as immeasurably transcend the hanging gardens of Babylon—which tourists travel thousands of miles to see—as does the Niagra Falls, a common creek mill pond, or as the works of nature transcend [pg 40] the works of art. And did not God know which was the longest river on earth, and which, with its tributaries, watered the grandest region of country on earth, Eden, when he said the garden was on it?
When all these things shall be properly understood by the public, who will not wish to come and see? Yes come and see!! “Be not faithless, but believing,” come and see!! And now may the King Eternal, banish the evil one from this place forever, and build his promised “New Jerusalem” here, or to have an extensive one within our Palestine.
ERRATA.
In preface, line 11, for antediluvians read postdiluvians.
On page 11, line 16, for 35 miles long etc., read 27 miles long and 9 miles through the centre; and the hanging garden in a similar form and geometrical proportions, 3 miles long and 1 mile through the centre.
On page 16, line 20, for is read and.