The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-04-16

PAwNEE City, NED. March Goth, 1915.
MIR. EDITOR: | write again, hoping to i'm
part information of interest to your numerous
readers. With little exception the weather here
has been delightful during the present month
occasionally ''high wind but usually cleuI
and bright, sometimes quite warm; roads cx
cellent; no mud, no rain or snow TO make any
The snow and wind storm referred to in my
last communication, January Sth, was about the
only snow that has fallen since December. Oul
farmers are now quite hurried with their spring
work, sowing wheat, oats, barley, planting po-
tatocs etc, etc. The people, as rule, are talk.
ing courage, and seem determined to "work OFF,
their troubles occasioned by their failures OF
last year. few are leaving, "going out
west. "(D To be sure they "go out west" there
Is much more going west from here than from
Maryland. Ho for California, Oregon, Colora-
do, Washington Territory, and other places
"beyond the plains" These western people do
things generally with dispatch.
Since writing last have observed, by careful
notice and inquiry, many things of interest TO
the reader; but to properly select and present
these observations requires even more skill and
tact than the observation itself | have been
asked by some of your readers who have never
travelled through the western States, GLOW do
the prairies looky' In answer would say they
do not always look the same. In the months OF
May, June and July, they are truly grand, Du-
ring this delightful season, to drive out,on the
prairie, away from the settlements, where the
pillow has never disturbed the sod, is treat to
the eye of any one who has taste for the bcauti-
full. About five miles north of this city there is
Il body of "wild land" about three miles square,
where the beautiful handiwork of nature has
never been molestcd BY going to the centre of
it, to imagine yourself ION the plains" is an easy
task. Bounded on the north, south, and west,
by "high divides elevated lands) thus shutting
out from view the snug farm houses beyind, you
can revel in the enjoyments of wild, yet love
ly scenes. Nothing visible, neither house, tree,
bush, shrub, nor road, save an old trail former
ly used by the Indians, except an occasional
traveller; the surface gently rolling, but very
smooth. 1t was my privilege TO cross it on
horseback alone several times during last sum.
mcr and autumn. 1t was pleasure every time;
the smooth wavy grass, so green, the prairie
fowl, the swift winged quail here and yonder n
herd of cattle grazing, generally made up the
scene below; the clear blue sky and bright sun
above, and there was enough to fill ones mind
with awe and alteration. During seven mont his
of the year, commencing with May or June, the
prairies are fair to look upon, but during the
winter their charm is lost, for in riding on horse.
back, or driving in q carriage the prominent
thought is TO keep warm, and hurry is the or.
der of the day until the journeys end is reached.
1t seems like pity that so many thousand tons
of prairie grass is left to bleach and decay hero
annually, when it makes such excellent hay, fol
both horses and cattle eat it readily alike. In
my judgment it is much better for stock than
timothy or clover. MORE ANON.