White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-11-26
The Pachelor home, of Kansas.


Early in the spring, several thousand excel
lent yeuns men, ofenterprise and talent, came
to Kansas from noble motives. This was jok.
ingly called the Carpet Bag emigration. Not
having the encumbrance of families, they NOV.
ed readily TO any part of the Territory, which
suited their fancy, and took claims and settled
down. II troubles came, they were on hand to
suppress them, so that Kansas might no long
erdepend on Missouri for posse 10 keep the
peace ~ -s-,-.-..... .., ....;s--.... -.-
Wehave many pleasant acquaintalces among
these young men, and have frequently metthem
in their Kansas homes. One we met in the
road about 70 miles from Lawrence. He insist
ed on our visiting his cabin and taking dinner.
We gladly accompanied him. He had beau
tifnl elaim-part timber and part prairie, with
creek running through it, and small pole cab
in, without fire place, stove or floor. The bed
was pile fhay in one corner on the ground,
and an Indian blanket, which answered for a
cloak by day, and bed cover by night
On introducing Us to his cabin, he invited Us
to sit down on his trunk, and excuse him while
he "ran over to Jim's, and borrow little -four
for dinner-I am out" said he. He obtained
the -four and commenced making batter cakes,
in the mean time entertaining US with his aew
mode Of life, and the pleasures attending it. In
the first place, the people were all free and
equal, "fat. ragged and saucy," aad cared for
nobody. He had not had his clothes off for two
weeks, and had violated no custom or fashion
of the neighborhood. He had brit two cooking
utensils frying pan and coffee pot. He did
not know what else he wanted, for he was per
fectly happy. 81 should like mails to come once
in while, though" said he, ''fOr we have had
but one paper since we came here, andBhat is
an old N. 7. Tribune, which We boys. have
read through so often that We know it by heart
advertisements and all"
After eating hearty dinner, made sweet by
hunger, we left, wishing our friend health and
prosperity forever. He was PRINTER, a schol-
ar and patriot %
Fifty miles further on we heard of our friend
H. We had formerly known him as tall,
handsome, gentlemanly fell9E, with dark curly
hair, dark eyes, the manners Of a Chesterfield,
the learning of scholar, the skill of an artist
He played the violin to perfection, and was the
centre of attraction and the soul of enjoyment
wherever he went We had directions to his
cabin, aud drove up before the door and called
out his name. He was lyingyet rolled up in his
blanket, on the door, which he had taken from
its hinges and laid upon two chunks, for a bed
stead. He reused up at our call, and on being
joked about his bedstead, he gave as reason
for his economy, tibet it was warm weather now,
and the door was not needed to stop the hole in
the logs 50 he put il to this use, for the sake Of
lying up higher from the ground. We made a
leng andpleasant visithere. Seating Ourself on
the bed, we watched our friend get breakfast
He was a cold water man, so our repast here
was even more simple than the other The only
cooking utensil was frying pan. The only
article of diet was batter cakes, made of flour
and corn meal, with butter and molasses. The
fire place was four or FIVE stones, out Of doors,
where the fire was kept. We took our tin plates
on our laps, and ate very pleasant breakfast.
Soon after this was over, two young gentlemen,
travellers, rode up and enquired for vacant
claims. He replied that he could give them
no satisfactory information, the country being
mostlytaken up. After a little conversation, they
left.
"Did you not tell me-" said we, 'that there
were several good claims near here'"
eyes, did; but am keeping them for fam
lilies. I am sick ofthis kind of society. We old
bachelors go around and visit one another, and
it is perfectly sickenins. We seenO signs Oflife
no chickens, or dogs, or babies creeping
around, and it is too lonesOme-it is not human
to live so, and am going East"
"What. not to leave the country"
80, no. Intend to return. But must go
EaH.
@Ah! YES understand. There is star in
the East, and you are going to worship. Come,
own up!'
81 must 60. You see my nice garden, and
fine spring, and the beautiful farm I shall have
one ofthese days, and what good will it do no if
can have no one to enjoy it WITH / am going
East. and if the girls love me as well as they
use to, shall bring one Of them home-that is
as certain as you live.
"Iam glad to hear that. May success and
happiness attend you. Good bye"
So Harry has gone East. In this manner our
bachelor friends are dropping of one by enc,
and we hope before long to lose them all in the
same way. There are probably 5000 such
homes in Kansas, some better and some worse
than the aboye,-but all equally lonely.-Her-
aid Of Freedom.