The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-02-21
LETTER FROM KANSAS.
FT. SCOTT, Kan, Feb. 10, 1874.

FT. SCOTT, Kan, Feb. 10, 1874.
| Mr. EDIToR:-You may talk about the
sunny climes in Italy, and the soft sunshine
that gitters upon the sands of Lake Como,
where the strolling Yankee shoddy makes
love to Swiss girls by moonlight alone"
or the bright soft skies of the tropics,
where we may see the sun standing amid
roses in the Western sky, into which he
has thrown his ray-brush wherewith he has
been painting the earth all the live long
day; where the Isles are all lovely, set with
an emerald sea, and there are dyes in the
rich heavens, such as spalkled in the grand
and gorgeous plume of Juno's favorite
bird-every varying hue of every beautiful
thing on earth-the tint of heavens own
iris ALI Nature-but we began this
paragraph to remark upon the weather
here in Southern Kansas and in the Indian
| Territory. Well, it is equal to the above,
if not better, while pork is only three cents
per pound, coal two dollars per ton, land
five dollars per acre, rabbits ten cents per
y
| am not happy
| But we crave your pardon for this digres-
| sion, as we started out to illustrated to you
an everyday scene in the streets of Fort
Scott, Kansas.
| First, drove of lean, halffed COWS,
among them a few yearlngs; an old brood
mare; two rakish, lazy, lank colts; and
behind them, bringing up the rear, a girl
and boy, each mounted upon a scrubby
pony, and attired in costumes anything but
fashionable. They were as oblivious to
the outside world as they passed drought
the streets on Sunday afternoon, as if they
were already far out upon the plains, to
which they were bound But it was not of
this part of the "gwne West party that
special mention was intended. 1t was of
the :: outfit which followed close behind.
First, came "spike team or, in other
words, three horses hitched up, one in the
lead and two to the wagon tongue. The
wagon was the most peculiar portion of
the ''outfit.' 1t was real original tout
fit" prepared at considerable cost express
ly for the occasion. 1t was an ordinary
"prairie schooner or OK wagon elongat-
ed to the length, and of the ordinary width
of narrow guage railroad passenger car.
| 1t was of the height of one of the common
shantes we see sticking over the plains,
and instead of the usual canvas for cover
ing, was ceiled overhead with pine lumber,
| tastefully painted On each side were five
small glass windows, and in the center a
stove-pipe, out CT which smoke poured
forth, indicating culinary preparations for
supper. But the most attractive feature of
all was nine little Juvenile noses lattened
against nine of the windows eighteen
| bright eyes staring forth at the panoramic
| Ito them scene passing before them. We
hailed the old man seated in the fore part
of this gunboat on wheels, where he proud
! ly sat alongside stout, buxum girl of six
teen or seventeen, who, as we approached,
retreated back into the seclusion of mon
strous calico sun bonnet. The following
| brief conversation ensued:
"Hello stranger?''
Hello yourself. Howdy?"
"Where are you from ~
I" From Highland keownty, Ohier."
Where are you bound?'
"Gwine furder West to better my for
tune. Amt this Keansars ~
You are now in Kansas. Good day,
SIR
"Good day, mister. Git up, Sal. Yew
Bally, what We dewin9 Go lang there"
And the "outfft :" drove on, the observed
of all observers. Fourteen more hard
working citizens for the fertile prairies of
| Kansas. c. L. W.