Part 2

From our past observation, it is not so very strange to us, that individuals often pass along over important sections of earth with out noticing its beauty and its glory. Not that its flowers and its fruits are altogether hidden, but that they have become common place, or for lack of attention, on account of preoccupancy of the mind, are not noticed. Nor is it much wonder that individuals should reside right in the midst of the garden of Eden and not be aware of it; see many of its peculiar characteristics, and yet not recognize them; simply because they seem natural; were indeed natural; just as God made it; or, the results of natural growth and changes. It is perfectly plain from the Bible account, and _that_ is our guide in this matter, that Eden was a country, and that a very important river crossed or ran through and watered that country, and because of its importance was named Euphrates.—the great river, a very common ancient method of naming things.—And that, “Eastward,” or on the eastward bank of that river, central in this Eden, at a certain point,—where three rivers joined the great river, the four entering, and crossing the garden, and only the great river running out of it,—was located the garden of Eden; _One_ of the most desirable places for a human being to dwell. Conducive of human happiness: First, where there was a plenty of _good water,_ for human uses, and to fertilize the land, also for fishes and fowls, and yet exempt from malarial diseases. And we ask, where can there be found another plat of earth, of the same size and surroundings, so abundantly watered, and with all the requisites for a garden, and yet so free from malaria, as is our garden of Eden. Second, far enough north to catch the dry, balmy, health inspiring atmosphere, and the pure water, the native home of the speckled trout, and yet the summer temperature of the mild temperate zone, a medium from which to send its inhabitants north and south. Third, exemption from the great terrors of mankind, earthquake and cyclone. While the mountains are far away “round about” our Eden, and the minerals in great abundance and variety are within and about it, yet so far removed are they from the garden, as entirely to exempt it from earthquakes; as these are confined to sea coasts, and gas producing regions. And as cyclones are supposed to be produced by the sun’s rays,—as they never occur in the night,—and peculiar electric concentration, which requires uniformity of land, or region, and heat, and as our garden is sunk down into the earth to the depth of 500 feet, and in a line or direction, requiring a cyclone to cross it at right angles,—as their course is from the south of west, toward the north of east—and thus would have to leap the chasm, or loose its force in tumbling into it,—and such is the uneveness of the country around it as to lessen liability—for a cyclone is simply an electric wind storm, and not a thunder storm, and moves in a single cloud, and not spread abroad, and would be broken by an uneven country; find also on account of the evaporation arising from the “much water” of our garden, such an electric heated current could not well be formed across it; so we are naturally exempt from cyclone, as well as earthquakes, which must be a great relief of mind, and source of enjoyment to our residents. Yet from its size, and shallowness, we must still be subject to high and purifying winds, and rain storms. And as evaporation and consequently the conducting of electricity from the earth to the cloud regions, must go on more rapidly in our garden, on a hot day, because of its “much water,” so, doubtless, we shall always have our full quota of thunder storms. The rains, however, being generally, of the more steady and general character.

To the language of Bishop Foss in his article on Minnesota, just published in the _Christian Advocate:_“From my vantage ground of observation, near the center of the continent, I greet you and many of your readers on its distant rim;” we just wish to add, that our garden of Eden is bounded on the west by southern Minnesota, therefore central. Again, “My point of observation is lofty as well as central. Minnesota occupies the most elevated plateau between the Gulf of Mexico and Hudson Bay, and forms the watershed of three great river systems of the central part of North America—the Mississippi, the St. Lawrence, and the Red River of the North—its average elevation being just about 1,000 feet, the highest point 1,600 feet.” Again, “Concerning the climate, I condense the statement of the _Encylopedia Britanica:_ Its elevation above sea-level gives an agreeable rarefaction to the atmosphere, and makes the prevalence of fogs and damp weather unknown. The comparative dryness of the atmosphere neutralizes the severest effect of excessive cold. The Smithsonian Chart assigns to Minnesota an average temperature for the hottest week in summer of from 85° to 90° and for the coldest week in winter from 10° to 20° below zero. The average annual rainfall is about 25½ inches. It is evident that the causes which mitigate the actual severity of the climate as felt, and so many clear days * * are those which render a climate healthful in the highest degree.” What is thus true of Minnesota, is pre-eminently so of our Garden.

While there is in our garden nearly every grade of soil, from the sand blow-out, to the richest black muck, yet it is principally sandy loam, just the foundation, for a garden. Still it produces fairly all kinds of grain.

In our early settlement, over thirty years ago, Deacon Gilbert, raised, near Galesville, fifty-two bushels of wheat to the acre; and it was reported of some one raising 60. On a farm, located midway between the hanging garden and the opposite wall, purchased by D. O. VanSlyke from the government—as “Hopkins choice,” or the refuse vacant land, and last to be entered on the prairie, or entire upper end of the garden,—when, at its best, produced forty bushels of wheat to the acre. And as one forty was devoted to wheat, several crops were taken, averaging over 35 bushels to the acre; then gradually decreasing to the fifteenth crop, one having been of corn, and fourteen of wheat, without the application of any fertilizers whatever, when it produced only 18 bushels of No. 1 wheat to the acre. These facts came within my own observation, and are probably, above the average of the entire garden; as the assessors assessed this farm, for a number of years at nineteen dollars per acre, when it was offered for sale at fifteen dollars per acre. But Trempealeau Prairie has been notable for many years as the “Egypt” for corn producing. And we have no way of estimating what could be done in the line of gardening, for lack of a market, or capitalists to successfully enter competition. But as to the apple-tree, that appears to have been driven out with fallen man; and whether redeemed man can restore it, is a question, as it is not designed at present, for man to live on the spontaneous productions of the earth.

Of the scenery we have never tired. It is always fresh and enchanting. And such an inspiring feeling, of “this is my home!” “O what a delightful home!”

If any, who pass along at the base of Chappel Peak, on a clear day will take the foot path and ascend it to its top, its altitude probably not 200 feet above them, they will have within easy range of the eye such a landscape scene, as but few upon earth ever have the privilege of looking; and one that will greatly enthuse an admirer of nature. And they will be apt to feel as well as to see the appropriateness of its name. If they can sing, or preach, they will want to join with those preachers, and sing, or preach to an assembled world, seated within the incircling walls.

If you are at Galesville, ask some one to point out “Heuston’s Bluff,” you need no guide, only good walking muscles, pick your way, and tug on until you reach the top. Then, after taking a general look all around you, sit down and rest you. Now, take another general sweeping birds-eye view, all around, seeing everything in the aggregate; then rest awhile, and contemplate it.

Now you are, or ought to be, prepared to itemize, or to look attentively at particular objects; and if you have our description, it will greatly assist, as well as interest you. We believe that no grander garden valley scene exists on this beautiful earth. Therefore patiently wait, don’t cease your viewing, or think of leaving the place in less than two hours; or until you fully realize the “inspiration” of this masterly scene; and we have no fears, if you are anything of an admirer of the magnificent in nature, but that you will thank us a thousand times for calling your attention to it.

That heavy bold front in the garden wall beyond the mouth of Black River is “King bluff” which is now easily distinguished as the central highest point in the eastern wall, and which is just opposite of “Queen bluff,” the central highest point in the western wall of our garden, and said to be the highest land on the Mississippi river. Here, from Heuston’s bluff, we have a better view of Black river, and its tributaries, than from our former place of observation. Now we stand as it were right over them, and can see to the “Northward and Eastward.” “Alps on Alps arise;” Decora’s Peak and Mound so plainly and beautifully near; then those most beautiful cone mountains, and Chapel Peak, up Beaver creek, points for beacon lights, and charmingly beautiful scenes looming up most conspicuously. We do say that you can find many grand valley and landscape scenes on the Mississippi, and its tributaries, and we do not wonder that good writers extol them,—should wonder if they did not,—but we further say that we have the Garden; and everything considered, not only the greatest, and grandest, and best, but the only spot on earth that answers the Bible description of that notable spot, or Garden of Eden.

Moritz Engel of Dresden-Newstadt, Germany, has written a book, an octavo of 207 pages, dated Adam’s and Eve’s day, December 1884, entitled: “The Solution of the Paradise Question.” To a review of this book, President W. J. Warren of the Boston University, has devoted over a column in the Christian Advocate of Aug. 20, 1885. Engel claims to demolish, and doubtless does, the preceding “eighty nugatory attempts at a solution.” And as anyone can see, Dr. Warren demolishes Engel’s attempt to foist his riverless “Tartarian swale in the heart of the North Syrian desert,” as the veritable Eden; in the lower end of which was his Garden, alternating between a pool or lake, caused by the rains, and filled by the torrents during the rainy season, and a dried up, parched, barren spot, drying up, “towards the end of May, or first of June; without a green thing,”—utterly uninhabitable,—and which Engel admits, “has always been so.”

The chief value of Engel’s production, as well as Dr. Warren’s North Pole Garden, is to show, (in Dr. Warren’s own language.) “The imperishable interest of the Eden problem;” and to leave the subject entirely clear for me, and a calm consideration of the facts of the case as we find them. Dr. Warren, naturally, (as anyone who undertakes to do a thing and fails,) scouts the idea of anyone else doing it, or of a litteral four rivered; Garden of Eden. So have others who have failed to find it.

Engel puts in a claim of Divine inspiration directing him to the spot; and he writes with the positiveness and unreasonableness of a crank. All the inspiration we claim, is the beauty and grandeur of the scenery, and the adaptation and facsimile, or actual description of the spot, to the description given in the Bible, a Divinely inspired book, as our guide to it.

We are aware that we are living in an age of scientific speculation, of counterfeits, and humbugs. After misguided explorers have given up the search, in the Eastern Continent, a scientest, to show his skill, must throw a cloud on the possibility of finding a literal “four rivered spot,” on earth, and gives us an ingenious unaproachable North Pole Garden. A crank gives us a volcanic “Tartarian,” riverless desert as the _spot,_ under a profession of Divine inspiration, A land speculator, must dress up a Florida malarial swamp as the place, to entice purchasers to his lands. Now, providentially, we are clear of all these objections. We do not have an unapproachable, frozen sea; or Tartarian volcanic region; or malarial swamp; or government, or company, lands to sell. Our Garden is principally owned by actual settlers. All the land I own, is a burial lot in the Galesville cemetery, and not for sale; and not many have money enough to purchase it.

_But we have an Eden that challenges your attention; and a Garden that will awaken your admiration. Come and see!_ Please notice the natural youuthfulness of the region immediately around our Garden. Take about a hundred miles square,—of which our Garden is the centre,—and you will have some of the most charming mountain and valley scenery in the world, minus the mountains, or all in miniature, just such hills and valleys in which the youth most delight. A more appropriate region to surround the Garden we cannot conceive. While immediately outside of this region you enter upon a broad level country, principally prairie, of rich farming lands, indicating the next step in developed humanity, and the very beau ideal of an Eden; and as you go outward, the earth abounds in minerals, and in unlimited sources of wealth. Take a map of Palestine giving a birds-eye view of the hills and valleys, of which Jerusalem is somewhat central, and you will have a fair representation or view of the region around our Garden, and see the force of the expression, “as the hills are round about Jerusalem, so is the Lord round about his people,” and so are the hills round about our Garden.

Did you say as you looked down over our Garden valley, that this is too large a plat of ground for the Garden of Eden? Bless you! have you not considered that the Garden should be proportionate to the Land of Eden? Why, did you think that the Garden of Eden was only a half-acre garden patch, or small orchard? Read again your Bible on that subject. How could you get four rivers into it then, to water it, and one of them a “Euphrates” a wonderful great river? And is not the usual idea of a garden, a beautiful rich flat, or valley, like Lot’s plain of Jordan? Please just think again, how God had created the whole earth for the habitation of the human family, and would he stint the allotment of the first pair? Did you think how long they lived, how many children they probably had, what a numerous family before the first pair died, numbering into the ten thousands? Did you ever give thought to the plan of settlement, of these children? Of the necessity of water thoroughfares, and the wisdom of God in locating them in some grand centre, as is this garden, in this central, wonderful water-shed in this Eden as already shown, comprising the great centre of this continent; and that when this garden should be well filled with inhabitants, by means of boats, and easy water conveyance, they could easily branch out and make settlements along the rivers? Can you grasp the mightiness of Jehovah’s plan, in locating the first pair at the junction of so many rivers into one so great a river, and central to this Eden; thus naturally and easily to extend the settlements over so vast a region of excellent country, as this Eden—the greatest half of a continent,—and all this before the invention of wagon roads and railroads. Please give it wise thought, before deciding it so quickly.

Did you pugh! pugh! at the idea of the garden, and antdieluvian settlements, being so far away from Mt. Ararat? An ingenious Yankee, F. H. Kribs, has figured that out long ago; that the ark would naturally go eastward, and would just about reach that mountain in the time it was floating; and that the current ran eastward is proven by the eastward direction of submerged antediluvian trees. Then, how natural that God should remove the redeemed ones far away from the scenes and remembrances of human corruption and abominations before the flood; and let him develop “up anew,” in the midst of new scenes and surroundings, and, as it were, in a “new world,” until the sufficient development of his being, to allow, by slow stages, to return him to the place of commencement. Did you ask what mean these mounds, or earthly representations of such a variety of living objects, so plentiful in and around this garden, and scattered throughout the country of Eden, on one of which we are now standing? There was science and durability in their construction. Did he say they were built by the mound-builders? Evidently; but who are the mound-builders? That is not in history or tradition. The first who came here after the flood, found the mounds here, and asked the question: who are the mound-builders? The mound-builders were silent. And every new comer and every generation have asked that question, but no one could answer. Naturally enough, “There was not one left to tell the tale.” They had unwisely, and laboriously used their time, strength, and ingenuity, for unworthy objects and purposes, and not for the comfort, education, and moral development of humanity. They had added to their folly wickedness; “they had changed the truth of God into a lie;” had “served and worshiped the creature, (and dirt images) and not their Creator;” and God had blotted them out, while some of their earthworks remain.

Did a lawyer from this place, make a point in his plea before court at Whitehall, by declaring that I must be mistaken in my locality of the Garden of Eden, for lack of the presence of a personal devil? In retort, I am compelled to say, that I was sent a missioniary to this region, over thirty years ago, and that I found the devil, or his tools, then predominating in the M. E. society here; and when we tried to “turn the rascals out,” we found that he, or they, outnumbered us in influence and facilities, and turned the scale against us; and we have abundant facts to show that he has held his grip in that society “unto this day.”

Did that Witty Editor say that we could prove our proposition by Josh Billings’ method; _viz.:_ “that no one could prove that it was not the Garden of Eden?” Very good. But we can do better. We _can and have_ proved it, on scientific principles. We give a law: “An hypothesis that explains all the phenomena, and contradicts every opposing hypothesis, is considered proof.” Now, our hypothesis, and exact description of the plat, explains the phenomena, answers perfectly the requirements; and, as it is admitted that no other known plat on earth does so, we claim the proof, and shall hold the ground until driven from it by a more successful discoverer. And we do not fear Dr. Warren as competitor, though he has also written a book; as he must first go, or get some one to go to the North pole and survey his garden before he can bring in his proof, (and that, doubtless, will let us out during the present generation) and without which proof we will laugh down his theory, and his book, the editor of the Christian Advocate to the contrary notwithstanding.

We have necessarily, given a very condensed statement, and discription, to meet, developed modern, as well as original modes of thinking, and to give the less developed ones an opportunity to study.

In giving the description of the Garden of Eden, does the Bible, there, or anywhere, say so, or is there any grounds to believe, or suppose that it was written or printed in legible imperishable characters, on the walls around, on the sky above, or on conspicuous places within the garden, “This is the Garden of Eden?” If not, what is our guide? Evidently not a Lo here, or a Lo there, but the plain description, fairly interpreted, and the place that answers that description; and we have it. Now, the public press of La Crosse, and Winona, within the borders of our garden and who might be supposed to know the merit, or demerit of my claim, have not deigned to notice my articles on the Garden of Eden; so they cannot be accused of conspiring with me to mislead the public, to attract to their cities; or of having any faith in my discovery; and yet, I challenge any of them to show any material incorrectness of my description and statements.

Once, when on a steamboat, coming up the Mississippi, through our garden, and standing forward, on the upper deck, near a well dressed gentleman, who was intently looking at and admiring scenery which had also attracted my attention, he turned suddenly, and excitedly said, “See! (pointing) O see, that most enchantingly lovely scene, there!” (as if he had never before seen its equal.) “There, if an artist should paint that, they would say, ‘That is purely imaginary; the result of fancy’; but _there_ is the foundation and excitement to his art; and no known artist can measure up to the reality.” Perhaps neither of us will ever again see so enraptureing a scene of clouds, shades, lights and shadows, of bluff scenery,—and that means something here—of beautiful islands and forest trees, as was just then around us, and mirrored to us in that grand old looking-glass, on whose placid waters we were then floating. Being of like sympathy, I entered into conversation with him, when he kindly informed me, that, to gratify his passion for scenery, he had traveled extensively in the old world, or foreign countries, that he was now taking in the Mississippi River, and that this was the most beautiful and attractive river scenery he had ever seen in his life; and that it far surpassed anything they had seen in the old world. I have had several similar statements of noted travelers, enough, with what I have seen myself, to satisfy me of the truthfulness of my claim. I have taken several acknowledged eminent travelers to my first point of observation, (Healds Bluff) who invariably, like myself, evidently, labored, and failed for language adequately to express the overwhelming beauty and grandeur of this valley scene. Now, if ours is not the veritable original Garden of Eden, it is certainly easy of access, of increasing reputation and importance as a summer resort, and open to investigation, and we challenge the strictest inspection. Come and see! Come and see!

I am glad to learn from the Editor of the Independent that I am not the first one who has “located the old Bible ground in the Northwest;” would like very much to see the volume alluded to, “written fifty years ago,” treating that subject. Perhaps we might gain some information from one who had given it close intelligent thought, as well as some very desirable information on this somewhat mysterious subject. Mine was an entire new thought to me, suggested by the actual sight, viewing the garden from a point on the hanging garden, and studying it over and over during my residence here of over thirty years. And despite of my natural skepticism, I have become so impressed with the striking resemblance or exact likeness of this, to the Bible garden, as therein, described, and the immediate surroundings of this, to Palestine, (the type of the surrounding or original habitation of man) as to force me to admit the possibility, and to write out my convictions for the benefit of some one better informed, and to enable such a one to draw better conclusions.