The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-01-24
Western Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, Mo. Jan. IL, 1878.

WASHINGTON, MO. Jan. IL, 1878.
EDITOR PRESS EARLY in the win
ter l promised to give In my next, a
full description of the expected buffalo
hunting excursion, but, alas, when I
was ready the law had run out and /
did not 60, but next spring, when /
return to Kansas again, there will be
q greater slaughter of buffaloes than
has been witnessed for many q year.
l am at present in Washington, Mo-,
"a miles west of st. Louis, on the
Mo. Pacific r. r., also on the Missouri
River. The population of this place
is almost entirely German. Times are
much harder here than in the West.
/ will turn back and relate some
thsngs saw and keard while in Win
field, Cowley county, Kansae. was
there eight weeks, and in that time
the town grew thirty or more houses
and at least 400 inhabitants. Winfield
Of which 1 have given a partial de-
scriptiOn before, is situated at the
junction of the Walnut River and
Timber creek, so miles from the near
est railroad. The Walnut River runs
southwark, empties into the Arkansas
River near the Territory line, and l
think its valley with it's numerous
tributaries is the most fertile land /
ever saw. There is no end to the corn
and wheat, and they are grown with
out much effort on The part of the
farmer.
As soon as town in the West starts
up and is growing rapidly, like Win
field, Chicago and st. Louis gamblers
flock in to catch the surplus money.
Such is the case here. 1t is not un.
common to see the gamblers get into
a dispute and appeal to deadly weapons
to settle it. One says, "Heel your
self and come out" and if he doesn't
he is branded as q coward. The hotel
Office is also an amusing place, as it is
running over full every night when
the stages have all come in. Trsvel-
ing men of every line Of business, doc
tors, lawyers, &c, coming to locate.
was particularly struck with the elO-
quence of an old Granger while con-
versing with = high-toned Kansas City
boot and shoe drummer, who was in
ciined TO make sport of butternut
clothes. The drummer, by the way,
had very small, round, fat eyes. The
r. rop oor Aoofod off tbro cad Ia &c 7
have travelled from the frozen regions
Of Alaska Penipsuls where the golden
rays of the setting sun are reflected
from the icy hills to the tropics where
the tall palm tree rears aloft it's mag
nificent crown.like leaves and the Or
ange is ever in bloom I have travelled
from The broad Atlantic shores to
where the jiDgling of the gold is min
glei with the roar Of the panther On
the mountain eide, but 1 never saw q
man before who had hog eyes," The
drummer's looks can better be imag
ined than described. Young fellows
going west think they are the only
persons who know anything, myself
with the rest, Of course. I drove up
to little hotel in Ninscah, Sumner
county. kept by young widow. The
town has but 5 or 6 houses; drawing
myself up at full length, looked very
wise. and said, Madam, can stay
here all night ?" She answered in the
affirmative. Then, thinking to be
smart, or cunning, or something, said:
Madam, have you any places OF
amusement i'll your city, such as thea
ters, operas, &C." "Well, sir" aaid
she, eve do not have exactly any
theaters or operas. but we can get up
an entertainment fully equal to either,
and We always try to when sports
with square.toed boots and ulsters
come out to rusticate. All the talent
of the city congregate at the school
house for his benefit" Now, my looks
can neither be imagined or described.
In conclusion will say never get
smart on the landladies' hands any
more. From here 1 go to Terre
Haute, Indiana, when will drop you
line about the Hoosiers. G. +. N.