Baraboo, Dells, and Devil's Lake Region Part 14

* Mother of Priests *

* Born *

* Feb. 7, 1821 *

* Died *

* April 22, 1907 *

The inscription for the priest reads:

* Beloved *

* Father John *

* Born *

* March 7, 1847 *

* Died *

* Sept. 9, 1918 *

* He Wrought in Words *

* and Builded of Stone *

* and by Grace in the *

* Hearts of Men. *

A stone for the artist stands at one side, a portion of the inscription reading:

* Charles Dorward *

* Born *

* Sept. 27, 1844 *

* Died *

* Nov. 12, 1875 *

Freshet Is Disturbing

When the family first came to the Glen, a little cabin that stood between the bridge, near the spring, and the cliff, was their home.

One night a storm arose and the flood of ice, snow and water came pouring through the family shelter. The sleepers were aroused by the onrush and there was much commotion within. As related in "The Annals,"

one of the urchins, when the lightning flashed, caught sight of the flood from the top of the stair and cried out with pessimistic instinct that afterwards distinguished him:

"O we're all killed, we're all killed."

[Ill.u.s.tration: GUARDIAN ANGEL AT DURWARD'S GLEN]

The trap door of the cellar floated open on its hinges, and a confused medley of carrots, beets, onions, and turnips were vomited out, while the rats clung to the grain bags and had to be knocked off into the water.

In this cottage the only daughter, Mary Thecla, was born and in his venerable years the father kept a rose bush growing there to mark the spot.

The family garden was then between the brook and the wooded slope.

The Fountain

Ceaselessly flows the fountain by the path across the bridge. This was erected by the poet in memory of his friends and literary heroes. The Christian and Jewish years will be noticed at the base.

The star at the top of the keystone is for Miss Anna Eliza Star, a friend of the family. She resided in Chicago for many years and gave parlor lectures on art.

A de V is for Aubrey Thomas de Vere (1814-1902), the Irish poet and miscellaneous writer. He was a son of Sir Aubrey de Vere, also an Irish poet.

The Greek delta is the nom de plume under which the poet wrote.

On the right, B is for James Booth, a carver and gilder. He was a friend of Mr. Durward in Manchester, England, and later came to New York.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIRST HOME OF THE DURWARD FAMILY AT THE GLEN]

P is for Coventry Kersey Dighton Patmore (1823-1896), the English Catholic poet. He is best known as the author of "The Angel in the House."

Val Zimmerman, represented by the Z, was a merchant friend of the poet in Milwaukee. The sign for his store was the blue flag.

Captain John Nader, Madison, was a civil engineer and under his direction the wingdams along the Wisconsin River were built. He often made trips up and down the stream while supervising the work, frequently visiting the Glen.

[Ill.u.s.tration: VIEW OF THE GLEN]

The letter H on the left is for Joshua Hathaway, another civil engineer, who resided in Milwaukee.

He it was who sent the artist-poet to make a portrait of Archbishop Henni.

The stone marked R was placed in memory of John Ruskin.

The remaining stone is for W. J. Onahan, politician and welfare worker of Chicago.

The four ba.s.swood trees at the mouth of the Glen, near the Maltese Cross, are often mentioned as the Melzl Quartette, musical friends of the family.

A view of the Potsdam sandstone and basal conglomerate is best obtained by crossing the stepping stones, moving adroitly, if one would not baptise his soles. The rounded pebbles are of quartzite, broken pieces from the Baraboo Mountains of ancient times. Hewing down this wall has been the work of the little trout stream, which has exposed to view the formation left by the waves and action of the Potsdam Sea.

The trout at play in the winding brook and the trees clinging to the fern-clad cliff are interesting sights in this niche of the great outdoors.

The path from the fountain leads to the gallery and low-eaved cottage, the home for many years of the talented family. In the cottage, studio, and gallery the father and sons wrote and painted while the mother made beautiful lace for albs, treasured in many a Catholic church. General Sherman's wife obtained one for her reverend son, Jesuit priest.

Guarding the forest on the crest of the hill to the right is a row of cedars planted in memory of the sons and daughter. Perhaps the Glenman or Glenwoman will tell you about the great Norway spruces of unusual height, about the studio, about "Auld Geordie," the ancient bachelor who gave the disappointing party for the girls of the neighborhood, about the moosewood and other native plants, as well as a word about the feathered visitors that come to the Glen.

CHAPTER XV

Spring Green, Helena Shot Tower, and Taliesin--Ableman and Reedsburg--Other Interesting Trips

The journey to Spring Green, Helena, and Taliesin makes a full day's program. From Baraboo the road leads over highway No. 12 to Prairie du Sac then follows the route through Witwen, Black Hawk, over the big hill and down past the Robson farm where there are a number of Indian mounds on the ridge. There is also a road from Sauk City, known as the river road, which pa.s.ses Lodde's Mill and Ca.s.sell Prairie on the way.