Beware of this advancement on his part.  It bodes no good to you.  He has an eye to business.  If not the pale-horse, he is its rider.  Take another direction quickly, and give him a cold shoulder, but see that he does not get two.

CHAPTER X.

WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO SEE AND EXPECT.

The best localities for invalids and others.—­The city of Minneapolis.—­Its drives and objects of interest—­Cascade and Bridal Tails.—­Fort Snelling.—­Minnehaha Falls.—­The city and Falls of St. Anthony.—­Anoka and St. Cloud.—­Fishing and hunting.—­Wilmar and Litchfield.—­Lake Minnetonka.—­Experience in fishing.—­Some “big fish.”—­White Bear Lake.—­The Minnesota Valley.—­Le Sueur.—­St. Peter’s and Mankato.—­Minneopa Falls.—­Southwestern Minnesota.—­Its agricultural wealth and capabilities.—­Northern Pacific Railroad and its branches.—­The Red River country.—­Trade with Manitoba.—­Western life and habits.

It is essential for the invalid, before undertaking a journey to Minnesota, to know the best points, both as regards matters of accommodation and of location.  For there is, even in this State, considerable choice for patients; while for tourists, any point offering attractions is the place for them.  We shall briefly consider the whole subject, but first with regard to the former class.

The city of St. Paul, an account of which has been previously given, is the most natural place to make the first stop; and it is a bright, cheerful, busy city in which to while away the time.  Its location is healthful, as well as beautiful, and invalids may remain there with perhaps as great advantage as at any point in the State, especially in the winter season.

MINNEAPOLIS,

situated on the west bank of the Mississippi River, opposite the Falls of St. Anthony, and less than an hour’s ride by rail from St. Paul,—­with a direct line to Milwaukee,—­enjoys, at present, the widest celebrity among invalids as a place of resort.  This town is on a nearly level plain adjoining the Mississippi River at the Falls of St. Anthony, and possesses a population of thirteen thousand.  It is perhaps, par excellence, the most wide-awake and flourishing city in the State; and, while not over a dozen years of age, exhibits, in the elegance and cost of its private dwellings, its spacious stores, its first-class and well-kept hotel, the Nicollet House, its huge factories and thundering machinery—­driven by that more than Titanic power of the great and wondrous Falls,—­evidence of a solid prosperity.

Scores of invalids may be found in this town at the hotels and various private boarding-houses, of which there are quite a number.

Many visiting the State for health, leave without that improvement they should have obtained, owing to irregular habits and indulgences, which are directly traceable to their associations, rather than to any objectionable habits they may possess.  The temptation, when time hangs heavy on their hands, to join in billiards, euchre, and tea-parties, keeping the mind unduly excited and leading to late hours, is fatal to every benefit derived from the climate.  If friends can accompany the invalid, giving society and controlling their life and habits, they thereby insure against these liabilities to a very great extent.