Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-01-09
Letter from Kansas.
GENEVA,

| Letter from kansas.
| GENEVA, Kansas, Dec. 3, 1865.
| FRIEND WILLARD :-Perhaps you would like
to get letter iron this fan OF country, ii it
was not very cunning on. Vermont is almost
| al the extreme East, and Kansas Is almost at the
extreme West OF country. Kansas is young,
but Vermont Is old. The primitive times of old
Vermont have long gone by, While here they have
cut Just begun. In Vermont our grandparents
will Tell Of the times when the country was
new, and their privations and pee liar manner
living, We are never weary CT hearing tod ot.r TO
Us. AID We think iorefstheIs must have beer
OF strange generation, their statements seem SO
singular, so almost Incredible. Here
all these things with our own eyes. Years hence.
perhaps, cur posterity will listen and wonder
tell them, what We now and feel, suffer and
enjoy. Did you never hear some old man tell
YOU how, where such and such a town stands,
vast forest, and perhaps ne would point
out to You the spot where the hrst tree was feed,
and the first settlement made. You thought his
strange experience, but come West and you
shall have one Just ike it. Towns, and cities
even, springing up in the forests and on the
waste of unoccupied lands, you shall thriving
settlements and farms of the first rank.
l am not going explain You eastern peo-
PIE how live here il this country. | nave
mortal dread OF being laughed at. 1t always
seemed inc mpreI ensib.e e NJ low large fami
lies could iis- Year after year III log house con-
.aining but slls.r room, u4til saw il /; but now
It Is perfectly r.aM see al. lhls done while
travellers OF b3ln are elterlained and lodged,
without the .easl Inconvenience OF thought OF i'm
propriety. | lad always supposed that bed
rooms and closets, Cellars ana Chambers, were in
dispenebale 10 the housewife, and taat stables and
.ranares, sheds and barns, we're IS essential to
the husbandman a. MS bread anu meat but i
nnd that this is by 10 means ;ne case. Farmers
can keep large stock. and gel Iich, aud their an
imals OF what l-xuIes there is IN
these things. Iidy housekeepeIs can keep their
one room III or1er, aud have no need TO spend
their tine and in dusIilg ind arranging fur
niture which musi nct De Used, and in caring for
things the chiet of which Consists in know
.ug tnat they possess them la Iact, Mr. Editor,
| have come to IN Conclusion reai wants
are D1t few. West=rl HE de non5trates this be
yoad cavii. Comfort aud happiness SORT OF
internal arrangements, tlat are rot 50 mucn af-
cted by exteru ciroull.z.4.ices as We are often
them, IN Kansas that 'uld do honor to any east
era State; and the number is being multiplied
teDtold every year.
Geneva is a small settlement not dozen Years
old, and yet this little town has attained very
respect; able growth. We have a meeting house
aud a schoo house, minister and schoolmaster.
We have our stores and post.ofhce where Uncie
Sam delivers budgets OF mail from our
friends in the East three timesa week. We have
our blacksmith shops, and oaf carpenter shops,
anu almost every Aind OF shop except grog shop,
Of which doubt if you could find one in the
country. Bs'les all this, there is project on
loot to build AdAcsmy hers which promises to
De sLcceSS, tie requisite amount oi money being
nearly subscribed already. \ wonderful stream
Of emigration IS pouring IN here, and other
parts ot the State. and our settlement is increas-
ng ~ marve.o1s rate, both il numbers and
ye4ith.
Oniy ter wsar,ins youE patience, woul Ike
o give you a iuli description of this place and its
There Is something grand 10 these
'ast prairies covered with their luxarant crop of
,rass, tna- love to con empiate. There is wild
ense of l0ne.inese when as far the eye Can
eaca, no forest tree, and no human habtation
eieives ones vision, wnere nothing bat endless
lain c,n be seen. L, may seem dreary and des-
late to some, delightful to others, but impressive
0 ali. GA the North, towards Central City, lies
stretch Of land, some fifteen miles in length,
nd off 10 the East and South, ,re others, some
arseT d 30 M smaller. Here Is a glorious OPP
ortunity foc the stock raiser 10 herd his cattle.
20 matter how many he may have, there is room
noush for all. Eventually, perhaps, these prai-
les Will all be settled, but lack OF timber will
inder it for long time. Just now, however,
le great north prairie has assumed a garb OF
A fire swept over the plain and left
black as charcoal, aud destroyed the s' range"
,r cattle for this winter, and it will be all the
etter in the spring.
The summer has been very wet, bu. this fall it
quite dry, and now travelling is excellent. If
Gu will pardon this rambling letter, l will let
ou hear from me again. WILBUR.