The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1876-06-08
"TRIP TO HIGHLAND.
LEAvENwoRTH, June

ATRIP TO HIGHLAND.
LEAvENwoRrH, June /.
EDITOR TINES: Bidding adieu to the
Otis house, which, by the way, is very
pleasantly kept hotel, at A. NJ, l started
norlhward BY the A. & n train. The mo-
notony of the ride was only varied by the
necessity of attendance upon lady who
was evidently in the last stages OF con-
sumption, aud travelling alone, So ex-
hausted did she appear that one could not
but fear that she might fail 10 reach those
friends, who were now only two hours
away. Arriving 1t Highland station, /
found solitary man with a dimly lighted
lantern, cropping among the baggage and
freight which the rapidly receedins train
had brought, from whom l learned that
there was no coach in waiting, but there
was hotel cover there" the lover there
appearing as underlined in the darkness as
does that other one whose praises We hear
So SUNK dS VIC So SioPihS lhiouSh
the misls of earth. Just then there LOOM
ed up before me tall gentlemanly figure,
and a pleasant voice announced that he
was also bound for Highland. Together
We started in search OF what might be
found "oyer there" We were each necessari-
ly ignorant in regard to the per onal appear
ance of the other. in respect TO age, color,
and SO on, but since the civil rights bill,
the question Of color was of little conse-
quence On We went stumb ing over sticks
of cord wood that were scattered along the
| platform, we stumbled down the steps
| across the railroad and the switches, down
one embankment and up another, through
| a mud hole, on TO dry land. and finally
| brought up against fence.
In vain we looked for a gate, but just as
| we were discussing, which would be the
lesser evil to walk TO town or to camp out
it occurred TO my companion, that one
could climb fence and by such arduou:
proceedings, we reached the hotel. ARGUS
ing the landlord, Il very pleasant man
who was Just recovering from an attack Of
pneumonia and was still too ill to go out
the door was opened and by the light which
he held, We stood revealed each to the
other. My companion proved to be white
and Presbyterian minister. l have nc
means of knowing if his observations re
suited as satisfactorily as did mine.
| Then / was enabled to get a few hour
rest, ere | started for Highland by The
mornings coach. The country here looked
fine >: l think no more beautiful place wa,
ever created, the rich black soil affording
a most luxuriant vegetation. The undu'
laung prairie with ciumps Of trees here snc
there, with an occasional elm whose fail
proportions remind one of New England
| Timber also sklrted the banks of The
Bluffs upon the other side of the river
abrupt and almost mountainous. Farmer
are complaining Of dry weather, but the
crops, wheat especially, seem very promis
ing. Most of the fruit in this region wa
killed by the extreme cold OF the earl,
spring. There will be some apples, and
saw cherries upon the trees, but no peaches
nor pears; OF grapes / did not learn. High
land is a smart little town, with its univer
sity, its churches, shops and stores, III
comfortable dwellings and pleasant
inhabitants, and had it less barbarous
means of approach, would be quite
desirable place to visit. As it l., one car
go TO the Centennial with less fatigue anc
without greatly added expense. There Il
much sickness here at present although The
town is generally considered healthy. Thu
little sufferer to whom i had b-en sum
moned, was at rest, the bright little lie
which had been a ray Of sunshine wherever
she went, was ended; the closing OF all thu
business for the funeral obsequies proved
| TO us how our little two year old darling
was mourned. The next day young lad,
was buried, her widowed mother leaning
upon the arm Of her betrothed at the grave
The day after mother of four children
was reported dying leaving babe weel
old and three children down with scarle
| fever.
Here | found also ore of those singular
cases, which are sometimes the wonder o.
country towns. An elderly lady whose at
tendants declare that she has partaken Of
no food in thirty-one days, and neither tea
nor water for the last five days.
The social standing OF the parties makes
it difficult to charge any Of them with de
cep;ion, so the physiologically wise can on
ly smile, while the rest wonder. y very
hattering rel ort was given me OF W. )
Burke's lecture upon the Descent Of Wom'
an" which was delivered here some time
last spring, and many of Its fine points were
rehearsed for my benefit. The faculty Of
rhe university and such OF the clergy as
CHANGED to be present Liked 1t Immensely
Sunday evening started upon my return
rip, pleasant ride OF five miles through
| the moonlight to the station, where l wa;
ttowait until ore O'Clock for the down train
| A little after ten | babe adieu TO friend:
who were wearied out with watching
There We're two quite young men at the sta
4 ton, who were to go on the same train
| The ticket agent furnished US with tickets,
| deliberately blew out the light, and retired
to his room. This man was ticket agent
and baggage master, freight agent and tel
egraph operator, and had the sgue, all for
| forty dollars per month, and could not
| reasonably expect any great amount OF gra-
ciousness to be thrown in. 1t has long been
mooied question with political and social
economists, whether any real gain accrued
to capitalists through this grinding down
the wages OF the laborer, but the A. 4 \.
railroad company did certainly save a
quantity of kerosene that night. The young
men went out and sat upon the platform,
resting against pile of wood, where they
| talked with low voices. The moon was
eiOWiy uerScuuiuk, TIC soiSSS eouA Ahso -
lence, and l watched alone. "Clut, clut,'
came a noise along the track; somebody
clambered up on the platform and came
with hating step toward the door, when,
catching ght of me, he commenced giving
succession of peculiar sounds, which
were neither growls nor howls, but some
thing akin to both, mingled With an ele-
ment belonging to neither. Starting to my
feet, found the noiae had awakened the
gentlemen, who came and took him away,
telling me he was deaf and dumb, sort Of
ainnocent" But his curiosity had evident
ly been excited, for just as soon as the young
men would drop asleep he would creep
cautiously away from them and peer
through the door at me. The moon went
down-an hours vigil in the darkness
when the train came which bore me into q
more civilized region for travellers
S. F. \.
FROM TIE INDIAN THRRIroRY.