The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-11-11
EMPORIA NEWS.
Friday. November II, 1870
LETTER FROM WINFIELD.
WINFIELD, KAN, Oct. 25, 1870.

WINFIELD, KAN, Oct. %, 1870.
EDITORS NEWS:
thinking that some of your readers.
and my friends, may be interested in a
reliable description of a portion of
southern Kansas, propose to lay be-
fore you and them my impressions. un-
biased and unprejudiced, as 1 travelled
thither.
had hoped to perform the journey
IN the comfortable manner 1 had seen
otners do, and the last of great variety
lett TO my imaginative mind, viz: a
covered wagon without springs, con-
tanning the few necessaries for a new
country, pet kitten, coop of chick
ems, q cow and her calf, and provender
Tor the whole. For that purpose 1 had
procured the stock, when to my dismav.
1t was thought most prudent at this time
ofyear, by my liege lord, for me to'pro-
eeed in light wagon, send the goods
by teamster, and the COW in a drove.
in his wisdom no doubt thinking 10
save me trouble.
Being detained two days by power
ful rain, of which we have too MANY
nowadays, our train left after dinner
on Monday, 18th Oct, per Cottonwood
bottoms, which they were supposed to
have, but concluded they had fallen
out; one wheel up, the other down, on
we plunged for what seemed to me ike
the long road that never turned" until
at nightfall we had reached retreat on
Eagle creek. 1 had prepared myself for
roughing it, but to sit down to the SUBJ
stantials and delicacies which had pre-
pared, spread upon a snowy table cloth,
failed to correspond with nv novel
ideas of camping and eating off from
chips.
Next day was dull dark came early,
and in attempting to find habitation a
little Off the main road, we lost our way.
a drilling rain came on, the wind was |
terrifc,and yet no sign of shelter. 1 was |
fast loosing courage, and feared the ex-
posure of night, with naught but the
thick, black sky for a covering. when |
suddenly light burst through the mist. |
and our hearts leaped for Joy. Itproved |
to be log house with but one room, |
but the inmates had kind hearts and
made US as comfortable as their means
allowed.
The dwellings were far apart, and we |
now found it necessary to measure dis
tances closely, in order to secure a shell
ter before night, for the recent rains had
so swollen the streams, that in many
cases they rushed angrily down, and ap-
peared almost too deep to ford. The
sight of timber was as grateful to us as
is beacon to a sea-tossed mariner, for
here we expected to find human habita-
tons.
was not little surprised to find the
country settled by very intelligent
class ofpeople. Ladies appeared refined
and educated, having organs in the cor
ner ofthe room, and silk dresses, trim
med with point applique lace, packed
away in trunks, while the men are well
informed, and thrifty farmers. I can
not fail to speak in particular of our
third nights quarters, about half way
between Emporia and Eureka, and the
residence of Mr.. James Kenner. Aside
from his hospitality, his air and de-
meanor was that of a public man, and a
gentleman, while Mrs. X. laid aside all
her .prudish reserve, giving us hearty
welcome, and but for the unfortunate
circumstance of their dog nearly killing
my little boys pet kitten (Which by the
way has recovered) our sojourn would
ever been attended with pleasant re-
membrance.
Eureka, meaning zoe haze found at, is
a thriving little town, and bids fair to
be of some Importance. Below, the
land begins to be more rolling, and
vegetation looked brighter than we left
1t farther north. AS soon as we struck
the old Grouse with her brood, the
country, In its aspect, was materially
changed. Thick, heavy timber sprink-
led the streams, and the broad, rich bot
toms, spontaneous with fine feed for
herds charmed the eye, and the heart
beat to the music of the "promised
land"
AS we proceeded, the grandure of the
scenery was enhanced by the handsome
bluffs, parting here and there, as if by
magic, to admit of passage, while as
lar as the eye could reach, until earth
and sky met, the tall grass waved like
fields of ripening grain, or gentle I'M
at sea.
Lost in admiration we were in plain
sight of our destination, before l was
aware of the nearness of our dear little
Winfield, the place over which 1 had
woven so many fancies, and drawn so
many pictures of Imagination upon the
futures canvass, while hope was my
talisman, and cheered me with her
bright, flattering prospects.
1t more than answered my expecta-
tons, for the campers wagons, looking
more like soldiers tents than anything
have seen since the war, gave unmis-
taxable evidence of emigration. What
beautiful location, tool Three fourths
surrounded by timber, with q bottom 7
Of full three miles, Winfield certainly
comes nearer being the land of ''poetry c
md of song" than any place 1 have seen
N Kansas. The people have not yet
earned to be wholly selfish, but are
generous and more than ordinarily in
clligent; respectable and creditable
news paper plenty of good water, and
ertile lands, make it a desirable loca-
ion for the tradesman and the farmer.
While am writing, the surveyors
AVE struck the first stake for the Ere
lonia, humboldt u Winfield Railroad. II
Yours truly, r,
Mrs. MANSFIELD.