Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-01-23
A Kansas Traveller.
BAXTER SPRINGS. KANSAS,

Editor Republican :-Thinking you would
not object to a letter from this part of the
world, Will write you. I was very much
surprised at the demonstration got up at
my departure. | expected, of course,
torchlight procession or something Of that
kind but did not expect quite SO large
blaze, with the whole Fire Department
turned out to see me off. I saw quite num-
Der Of our citizens at the fire, who made
the remark that they bad just got home
when they saw the fire Oime ll:45 p. N.Y.
Prayer meeting was out late
found at the depot two ladies goihg to
Kansas over the same route Not being
much used to travelling and seeing what
appeared to be well filled lunch baskets, |
Immediately placed myself in their care,
and we took our departure for the sunny
South, midst flame and smoke. Arrived in
Chi ago at I AN. and climbed up out OF that
d,rk, dingy, dirty depot. thinking what a
m SIortune to the pnbic that the great fire
did not reach about half a block further
an take in the depot also. When l had
gained the street, found thirteen hacks and
seven express wagons, aud nary a passen-
ger for them. | interviewed one of them
as to business; said he had been there three
days and hadn't had a job yet. gave him
a quarter, and a two cent stamp to bring it
up to par, and passed on; but was soon sur
rounded by crowd OF men yelling like
mad demons, and calling me stranger"
how in thunder did they know | was a
Stranger offering me breakfast all tie way
from 10 cents to 81. | "lit" on so cent
man and went to the Gault House, got
breakfast, and then took view of the city.
Could not see much of it so many large
buildings INSTRUCTED the view; had a better
sight of the city anumber of years ago-the
next day after the great fire; not SO many
buildings in the way then. A little after
Il NJ. they opened the gate to the yard
were we were penned up, and let lis out
one at a time to examine our tickets. We
concluded if they stopped to examine our
tickets the whole length, (being some four
feet long) we would have to stop over until
the next train. But they only examined
the head of the ticket, and we passed
through. The car porter Informed US that
ladies having gentlemen in their care, could
take that car (pointing to the Palace car
with reclining seats, Wasn't glad was in
the care of thuse ladies then? rather en-
joyed it, to see the poor fellows come and
try the door and then hatten their noses
against the window, looking SO wishfully
on the JOY within. l would say here that
these reclining chairs are positive lux ury,
far preferable to the sleepers
We passed through some very fine towns
on this road 1t is sight to see the stone
quarries al Lamont and Joliet, containing
splendid building stone, and in unlimited
quantities. AS we passed the prison at
Joliet, one Of the ladies said she was there
Is years before, Her sister very seri ous!y
enquired if she served her time out? AT
We left the snow behind US at Racine, Wis
cousin, and have seen no more Of it. We
did not see much life and stir until we
reached Kansas City, but there it was just
Paradise itself. Wednesday and Thursday
were bright sunny days, with not a cloud
to be seen. Farmers were at work in
the fields without coats, and children out
doors bare headed. | got to Fontana We'd
nesday, P. NJ, and staid with my daughter
until next day, then came to this place.
At Fort Scott there is a beautiful Soldiers
Cemetery, where the soldiers were buried
that died at the Fort. 1t is very warm
here TO day, no frost in the ground; no frost
last night; little spurts of showers to-day,
then sunshine, like April showers. This
town is almost deserted, used to be 1000;
not 1000 now; principal cause, railroad
, bonds. But am spinning this ont too long
and m ust close. G. B. L.