Without Lifting A Finger



Good ride. The time flew. Dining car fare: Don't bother. Not much to see (a few deer, green and green, glimpses of the stations). A nice sunset but it was on the other side of the train. The only decent pic I got was of the Niles station. It should've had another sign hanging: Birthplace of Ring Lardner. *       

What did I find in Niles re Ring? A middle school in his name (the janitor knew Ring was big but didn't know how big); the house he was born in. Other than that: a lazy river, a typical Main Street, and a second version of the olive burger (pretty good).                             

Ring Lardner Home , a photo by Clyde Bentley on Flickr. A little crooked but it'll have to do. I've been looking for a "postable" version of this sign commemorating Lardner in Niles, MI.

The Google Map below is an attempt at explaining why a Southern Michigander might not ever go through Niles, MI. Certainly I've traveled the 94 corridor from Jackson to Lake Michigan to Chicago many times, but I can't remember ever needing to go south on Highway 31 toward Niles. Nor have I ever needed to take the 12 that far west. 

Football in Niles, Michigan about 1900 , a photo by Laxlon on Flickr. I'll have to take his (i.e., Laxlon's) word for it, i.e., that's Lardner on the left and Uncle Bounce on the right. A friend gave me a book of Lardner's short stories and I was impressed by the fact that he hails from Niles (I'm originally from Jackson). Never been to Niles, but I've seen the sign--how many times--and now maybe I'll have a reason to go.