The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-08-07
For the EAGLE.
WICHITA.
QUEEN OF THE VALE OF THE ARKANSAS

QUEEN or THE VALE OF THE ARKANSAS
Yes: SO they say. IT'S hut short decade
Since the foundation Of = town was laid
After an Indian tribe named wichita
Where meet the Great and Little A-kansaw
Far out on the uncuitiyated plain.
Where yet no fields Of waving grain,
Or farmers lone abode, or harvest sheen,
Hadmar'd the seeming boundless ocean greer
Rob'd in emerald cloak, the prairie's swell
Far t'wards the sunset rose and fell.
| While yet along the stream the bison fed
The infant city raised her modest head.
Her early days were marked by deeds of strife
When desperadoes sought each others life :;
When spurred and beltcd rangers rode along
Her streets atnight. with Bscchanalian song
Or wrangled in some noted gambling den
In mortal combat with their fellow-mcn;
Or, with fierce ..Red' and ..Rowdy Joe''
Caroused till morning in bagnio.
When the great Triangle rang out alarms
Her citizens rushed, in haste, to arms.
| To put the doughty Texan ranger down.
To quell tine riot. and 10 save the town.
nut W Hiu betteT Gays IN
Those scenes departed TO return no more.
From every cline the hardy sons Of toll,
Attracted hitber by the fertile soil,
| With cheerful heart and ever willing hand
They come in trains to occupy the land.
Now fleecy tiocks along the prairies bleat,
Cladin finest wool they crop the pasture sweet;
And lowing herds, Of many a choice breed,
ON rich. green plains iuxurianily feed.
As if just harness'd for Olympic race
Three chatting chargers, hitched with yoke
and trace.
See y0ndcr plowman drive TO his sulky plow;
The morning breezes fan his honest brow.
IDdustriously he tilis the furrow field
| Till vale and plain their richest treasures
yield:
And liberal Ceres fills the briming horn
OF plenty. in the sunny autumn morn.
With corn. and oats. and amber wheat,
And pours the golden deluge at her feet.
Though new born cities have sprung up amain
As if they issued from the fertile plain,
AS shines the moon amid the lesser fires
Wichita a-booming rcars her glittering spires.
Commerce chose her as Il favored pet.
-hh' l'iaNtb opoN bti al tViObCts
Each modest building disappears from sight
And costlier structures rise to towering hight.
Where splendid stores display tempt'g wares.
And laden wagons throrg her thoroughfares,
Her spacious blocks loom up IN every side.
Her merchants rich, in palaces abide.
Where round each pleasant home the trees
ascend.
A,,I Ca. ~ .l,..
While along the river in the evening cool.
Fishing parties angle in each limpid pool.
With various notes. meiodious and long,
The mocking bird chants his evening song.
And among the clms in the shady grove,
Hear the soft cooling OF the amorOus dove
And bark TO the din in the noisy street.
Where express wagon and omnibus meet.
The sound of hammer. and saw. and plane,
The whirr Of the mills that are grinding grain.
While Vulcan the slcdgc with vigor swings.
With hammer and tongs the anvil rings.
Amid soul-stirring music from string and reed
And the screaming neigh OF the iron steed,
The loud-mouthed bray of the auctioneer
Discordant falls upon the rustic ear.
Her.pross, with talent. pluck and enterprise.
Ne'er fail the favored burg to advertise.
The EAGLE screams and scars to lofty hight:
The Bedc0a sheds afar reftilgcnt light:
The Noaitor to principle holds fast;
The HeTatd blows its brazen trumpet blast.
The legal corps. whose fame has spread afar,
Pour forth their eloquence at the bar.
The learned judge, with dignity presides,
Impar,ially the course of justice guides.
See yonder churches in graceful structures
rise.
And each ascending spire salute the skies;
The solemn bells announce the Sabbath day:
Devoted families to the altar wend their way.
In sacred hymn on high the anthems raise,
With melody divine they sing their Makers
praise,
And humbly kneeling at the shrine of grace
Invoke sayior's mercy on a fallen race.
The opera house towers up with stately mien.
The pride and glory of the Turnvericn,
Alike for banquet gay, and social ball,
When music sounds and dancers shake tn hall.
The dramatic play. the operate song,
Appreeiatiyc audiences the houses throng.
And fingers def the instruments persuade.
Till soothing, melting airs the soul invade.
Then tune the Tyre. and her praises sing.
Let the si;indies turn, and the anyils ring.
And her business rush with its usual vim.
For far in the vista osthc future dim,
Can be seen the fair city of Wichita.
Reign Queen of the Vale of the Arkansaw.
Riverside Farm. August |, 1879.
Sun STROKE.
l.. Nathan Jacobs, living on his farm three