The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-06-30
Home Correspondence.

Roms Correspondence
LAWRENCE. KANSAS T., June %. '55
/ Mr.. EDIroR Having recently made
acquaintance with your country by actu-
al introduction to its wealth of beauty,
permit me to tell my story. Hwas fine
eyening, few hours before sundown
when cosy little party, in a nice COM
Portable two-horse buggy left Kansas City
for this place. To most of us the route
was an untraveled one, aud though We
were familiar with prairie scenery else
where, we had never seen Kansas prai-
rie before. So you will believe, We were
all eyes, especially as we had listened TO a
great deal of eloquence both North and
South in regard to them, and moreover
had come ill contact with sundry of those
| who were not the Calebs and Joshuas oil
our day.
And fine ride we had, not one of
our cheerful company but was prepared
to appreciate the scenery through which
We passed. Forone, even the frog pond, y
was novelty to me-the depot at the
Missouri terminus of the underground
railroad, according to the reputed agent
of that institution in these parts. West
port is quite town, though-minus
Its rowdy notorieiy. Then We were soon
on the prairies-sardens our eyes had
been for weeks aching to behold. How
joyfully we greeted them. Swell after
swell stretching away into the far distance.
here skirted by woodland, there dotted
by clusters oftrees. yonder sloping away
toward the horizon TO give us peep at
some far Oft mountain that lifts It's vener-
able head against the sky /; "ever chang
ing, ever new" as We drove rapidly for
ward over the smooth hard road. And
such roads-they called forth as many
expressions of admiration as did the
landscape that lay ike dream of bliss
around US. And the flowers too-ah, the
flowers. If it is true that these are the
'talphabet of Angels" what a library
have those heavenly. visitants here. And
how beautiful their mission. Patches up
on patches of wild rose vines bending be-
meath their heavy clusters OF delicate
blossoms, two or three varieties of the
more delicate mimosa, not yet in perfect
bloom, the magnificent fox glove, VERDE
ra, phlox, and more names than / need
enumerate, smiling everywhere as far as
| the eve could detect eolors.
Butl'll not be caught attempting to pic
ture Kansas prairie. Neither the brush
nor the pen could do it justice in abler
hands than mine. Had the twilight
waited little till VIC had taken our tea,
and rested the ehorses, and had our COL"
been proof asaingt rheumatic attacks,
the proposition to ride on to the Wakaru-
I-sa neighborhoodi in thecool evening would
have been unanimously adopted. But
these objections prevailed, and We tarried
for the night some twenty miles the 9th
er side OF that region. If high prices
prove good fare, We lived sumptuously at
the lodgings we found among the Shaw
nees.
An early Start next morning and fee
cy sky made our ride very pleasant. The
prairies had made their toilet. A soft
luster beaned from their dew-spangled
robes. and purer than. pearls were the
gems that ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the morn
ing light. The whole drive was charm
ing. Not moment of the way but had
some fine feature of scenery 70 admire.
One thing that marred the beauty of a
close view in my eye, viii be hailed as
an omen of good by those who dread q
scarcity Of timber here In many places
the open prairie along the road was en-.
tirely covered with a young growth Of
trees, not large enough to stand out dis
tinetly though much higher than the
grass. giving it to the eye of taste merely,
choked appearance, a scrubby look.
Another element of beauty was the.
luxuriant groWth-of corn that often skirt
ed our way. Rich broad fields whose
tall shining blades waved gracefully as We
passed, promised ample harvest. Yon-
der We now and then saw fields Of bright,
golden grain, almost ready forthes sickle.
while yet other wheat fields wore their
garments of pristine green. As we be-
held these many tokens of prosperity and
happiness. aud stretched our unwearied
gaze over the countless acres of untitled
land, that wait bur the bidding Of man To-
leap from their wild beauty into COM
munity of peaceful Weaith-laden homes,
we could but ask ourselyes-afe there
conjurers abroad that viii summon phaa-
toms of starvation from these silent halls
to frigh:en the people witbal Doubt
less there are and perhaps they who
Zee before shadows may as well take
alarm for stern realities, which are nei-|
ther famine or pestilsnce, viii face the
Kansas emigrant.
When we came in sight of Lawrence /
was truly disappointed-most happily
$50. The city made much more show
than had thought Although most Of
the buildings already erected, as well as
those in process of erection, stand upon
the level aud IoweF portion Of the site,
still / was not prepared to see SO much.
4aii grown2up since sast august. It IS