LT&B ON THE MISSISSTPPl
CHAPTER LVII.
AN   ARCHANGEL.
from St. Xiouis northward there are all the enlivening signs of the
presence of active, energetic, intelligent, prosperous, practical nine-
teenth-century populations. The people don't dream, they work.
The happy result is manifest all around in the substantial outside
aspect of things, and the suggestions of wholesome life and comfort
that everywhere appear.
Quincy is a notable example—a brisk, handsome, well-ordered
city; and now, as formerly, interested in art, letters, and other high
things.
But Marion City is an exception. Marion City has gone back-
wards in a most unaccountable way. This metropolis promised so
well that the projectors tacked * city' to its name in the very begin-
ning, with full confidence; but it was bad prophecy. When I first
saw Marion City, thirty-five years ago, it contained one street, and
nearly or quite six houses. It contains but one house now, and this
one, in a state of ruin, is getting ready to follow the former five into
the river.
Doubtless Marion City was too near to Quincy. It had anotber
disadvantage: it was situated in a flat mud bottom, below higfe-
wafcer mark, whereas Quincy stands high up on the slope of a hill.
In the beginning Quincy had the aspect and ways of a modal
New England town : and these she has yet: broad, clean streets*
trim, neat dwellings and lawns, fine mansions, stately blocks of com*
mercial buildings. And there are ample fair-grounds, a well kept
park, and many attractive drives; library, reading-rooms, a couple sf
colleges, some handsome and costly churches, and a grand court-house,