it originally located itself-on the left bank of the Mississippi, opposite the confluence of the Sauk River with the “Father of Waters.”  It takes its name partly from the Sauk River and partly from the rapids of the Mississippi which lie abreast of the town.  Like many other cities, it had nourished feelings of the most deadly enmity. against its neighbours, and was to “kill creation” on every side; but these ideas of animosity have decreased considerably in lapse of time:  Of course it possessed a newspaper—­I believe it also possessed a church, but I did not see that edifice; the paper, however, I did see, and was much struck by the fact that the greater portion of the first page—­the paper had only two-was taken up with a pictorial delineation of what Sauk Rapids would attain to in the future, when it had sufficiently developed its immense water-power; In the mean time previous to the development of said water-power-Sauk Rapids was not a bad sort of place:  a bath at an hotel in St. Paul was a more expensive luxury than a dinner; but the Mississippi flowing by the door of the hotel at Sauk Rapids permitted free bathing in its waters.  Any traveller in the United States will fully appreciate this condescension on the part of the great river.  If a man wishes to be clean, he has to pay highly for the luxury.  The baths which exist in the hotels are evidently meant for very rare and important occasions.

“I would like,” said an American gentleman to a friend of mine travelling by railway, “I would like to show % you round our city, and I will call for you at the hotel.”

“Thank you,” replied my friend; “I have only to take a bath, and will be ready in half an hour.”

“Take a bath!” answered the American; “why, you ain’t sick, air you?”

There are not many commandments strictly adhered to in the United States; but had there ever existed a “Thou shalt not tub,” the implicit obedience rendered to it would have been delightful, but perhaps, in that case, every American would have been a Diogenes.

The Russell House at Sauk Rapids was presided over by Dr. Chase.  According to his card, Dr. Chase conferred more benefactions upon the human race for the very smallest remuneration than any man living.  His hotel was situated in the loveliest portion of Minnesota, commanding the magnificent rapids of the Mississippi; his board and lodging were of the choicest description; horses and buggies were free, gratis, and medical attendance was also uncharged for.  Finally, the card intimated that, upon turning over, still more astonishing revelations would meet the eye of the reader.  Prepared for some terrible instance of humane abnegation on the part of Dr. Chase, I proceeded to do, as directed, and, turning over the card, read, “Present of a $500 greenback"!!!  The gift of the green back was attended with some little drawback, inasmuch as it was conditional upon paying to Dr. Chase the sum of $20,000 for the goodwill, etc.,