The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-01-08
our ArIrnrca1a r.rrrrR.
AllEaIcUs, January 4th,


QUE AMER1CUs LETTEB.
AlnRIcus, January zth, 1859. |
The holidays are over. Old Santa Claus, |
with his store Of precious toys ana keepsskes, |
was 50 delayed by bad roads that he did not |
make his rounds till 'sthe night after Chris |
mas;' but the confusion OF bugles, whistles
and horns, bells, rattles and squawkers, that |
ushered in the following dawn Of day, was |
satisfactory evidence that "st Nick. had been |
there. !" Jubiiant voices invited us into the
hotel. A beautiful s17O organ met our gaze on |
sztering-a Christmas present TO Mrs. Goddard
while rubber football, inflated whistIing |
globes, sectional map blocks, house blocks, |
snap-draggons and game-sets, and doll half
as big as its owner, were undergoing examin- |
alton The stove door was open, candy seat
tered all about the rooms, and Georgia dis
covered the old fellows tracks in the ashesi
Half the holiday week we had wet, stormy
weather and bad grounds for getting about, rs
was also New Year day. But through the
drizzling rain Of that morning procession Of
wagons drew up at the house Of Mr.. Samuel
10y, and six Of the families Of his sons and
daughters entered and took possession Of his
house. The family Of the old gentleman had
not the least intimation Of their coming, so
the rich and bountiful dinner which was set
upon the table by the visiting party, rs well as
the pleasant family reunion were complete
and agreeable surprise.
At O'Clock in the afternoon, in response to
invitations from Misses Carrie and Annie, lit
tie daughters Of "mine host'' Of the Goddard
House, q company Of thirty-two little children
Of the village assembled ut the hotel to enjoy
the pleasures Of New Years party. A
sumptuous supper was -erved in the evening,
n ILL
doubt, that ever came OF in Americas, was
brought to a close by the appearance of the
teams at the door, when threefull wagon-loads
Of merry children were borne to their homes,
with the joys OF the occasion stamped upon
their memories for life.
A few days since three elegant stop organs,
manufactured by Pleubet and Pelton, New
York, arrived in town on order Of Prof. Nj. j.
Stimson. They were for Messrs T. q. Hill, E.
Goddard and p. b. Campbell of this place. /
am told orders have been sent for two or three
others. The Professor says these instruments
can't be beat in this country. The singing
class Of upwards OF fifty members, in this
place, under the direction Of this gentleman,
Is making satisfactory progress, and in about
two weeks will give q concert, which, 1t is ex-
pected. will be unsurpassed by any other
troupe now travelling" Quite a number OF
individuals are also taking lessons in instru-
mental music.
On next Tuesday evening, January 18th, q
donation supper is to be given at the church in
this place, under the auspices Of the members
of the NJ. E. Church, in behalf Of Rev. j.
McAnulty. A free supper is to be served.
Mr.. Ezekiel White, brother Of Thomas and
John White, of this township, who has lately
come with his family to this country from
Huntington county, Pa, moved into town last
week, where he will Immediately open a shop
for making and repairing boots and shoes, and
also harness, saddles, etc. We have long need
ed q workman Of this kind, and think he
could not have selected a better field.
Another gentleman from the same State,
whose name 1 have not learned, came here a
week since and selected farm near town,
which he expects TO buy As soon as he returns
home, and in that will bring his family
out in the spring. He is a carpenter by trade,
and has now gone back east to make arrange
merits for carrying out the above programme.
A group OF our citizens, the other day, were
discussing the merits Of Kansas as place for
making money, when one of the number said
he would have to give his experience in the
matter. He came to Americas ten years ago,
S75 dollars in debt, and leaving his family in
Illinois till he could accumulate enough to
send for them. During that ten years he had
lost q house by fire, that was worth $500, and
met with some other misfortunes, yet his prop
erty now was assessed at $4,000, and Of course
worth more than that. This is Watson Grin
mel, our ''village blacksmith
Another individual present, who was COM
planning a little Of the low price of grain. and
of its being hard ON farmers, came to Americas
about the same time, in poor health, and with
but hundred or two of dollars. Now he has
a wife and one baby, farm worth $4,000, 40 or
| so head of cattle and horses, and is making
money as fast as anybody need wish to. So
much for Lewis Haver.
"Old Pap Grimsley," over on Allen Creek,
has often told me that during eight or ten
years farming in Iowa he had never raised as
| good crops as he had grown on his farm here.
And then he is a Democrat too, and this is the
worst kind of country on Democrats.
And might go on and mention Sam. 10y,
who has built up property here worth $5 ,000
Or $4,000 in six years. with only $500 to start
on; and his father, who with just $500 capital.
began here u few years ago, and from il
has made his farm on the Neosho worth
| $4,000, besides FORGETTING 5000 on a farm he
| bought when he came here, and was obliged to
release to its former owner; and Charley
| Drake, who has also cleared a farm and stock
amounting in value to some $1,000, within
ten or twelve years. In fact, good many
more cases of this kind could be given in this
neighborhOod. Admitting these to be except
ional cases, where is the country that can furn
ish so many. Industrious, steady men, who
will settle down here and sick to their bust
ness, can find just as good chances now as these
men found when they came here. Improved
land is yet selling at from 80 to S25 per acre
unimproved at from % to 10. Wood is selling
in Americas at 50 cord; wheat is 81 % pei
bushel; pork cents.
Charley Drake got duck-ing in Allen Creek
last Saturday-attempted to ride across OF
horseback, when the lee broke and let him In
When the duck family can't keep above water
what is going to be did? r
The human family is so numerou!