The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-04-15
A Voice from Kansas.

SOLOMON CTTY, DICKINSON Co. Mar. "a, 1874.
To Editor Of the Press:
As l was reading your paper this morning.
which comes to me weekly laden with good
things, thought it might be interesting to
some of your readers who may be contem-
plating change of location this spring to
know something of Central Kansas. have
resided here three years, consequently know
whereof speak, and to any doubling the
truth of my statements, would advise a
speedy emigration hither; and be sure and
bring your worldly goods with you, for you
will bid farewell to New England, alter bask-
ing in our genial atmosphere awhile. 1 am
stt ng by an open window, and could be very
comfortable out of doors, with no extra wrap
pings on. We are beginning to maze gar
dens and the farmers have been plowing and
sowing grain for several weeks. The birds
are singing, and we have every indication
tt at summer is drawing nigh. But want to
tell you 'sdown casters" something about our
"City," numbering five hundred souls. Port
land being nv old home, and as many of my
old friends and school mates live there still,
ahd most of them are readers of your excel
lent paper, want to enlghten them little
as to how we live here and what we do.
People who have never been West, and
have few opportunities of knowing much
ABOUT it, especially the far West, as Kansas is
termed by many, have very strange ideas of
the country and its inhabitants. To such l
would say, we are not a God fOrsaken coun-
try, (speakinc after the manner OF the world
and, ''that there is no oasis in the dresry des-
ert of our lives'' is great mistake. We have
something here besides rough men and long
horns to deal with, and our conversation is
not ALWAYS of the state OF the crops we
have churches. and secret societies OF "Odd
Fellows - ssMasons," 'Knights of Pythias,"
lsDaupbters of Rebecca," and we are ABOUT
| 10 orsanize Temperance Society, having In
connection with it a public library, reading
room &c. We shall have weekly lectures
hy home talent, for we have it even in this
little town, though / know you open your
ewes in astonishment at this announcement,
bnt you may be still more surprised before
This letter is closed at what shall tell you.
Our churches are four in number, Methodist,
Presbyterian, Baptist and Catholic, with SER
vice every Sabbath, and fourlshing Sunday
Schools. We have fine two story school
building with graded school, and hrst class
teachers. I have visited the schools here,
and have had an opportunity to make COM
parisons with those in your beautiful city, in
which / received my school education, and
i'm which was teacher for some years. and
/ can say to you who are allowing that to be
a barrier in the way of your coming West,
YOU need have no fear but what your chill
dren will have thorough education, land
have the opportunity to graduate in the
higher mathematics, sciences and classics.
We have good music teachers as well. So
your children need not be deprived of this
accomplishment, We have a good deal of
musical talent here, and few weeks ago we
gave the "Cantata of Esther two evenings
in succession, rendering it in costume, with
no assistance from abroad except the con-
ductor, and with several of our best musicians
away at the time. The social element here
is good. We have church festivals, social
parties frequently, and only last week the
Catholics had supper at which they cleared