Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-01-18
LETTER FROM KANSAS.
lola, ALLEN Co., KANSAS,
Dec. 3lst. 1878.

Kansas winter and the ladies of Kansas.
These topics were suggested to Inc
some time ago.
Our winter began here about two
weeks ago, with quite a snow storm tor
this country it showed for day aud
half without stopping, SO you nee we
had quite sleighing snow-a very rare
thug for Kansas-and, unfortunately,
nobody had sleigh. But in Il few days
nearly everybody had one; the way they
were made is rs follows: Simply take
the wheels off of your wagon aud have
two sleds-onc to put under the front
wheels and one under the hind wheels
making, you see, very substantial
sleigh; but this is the first snow they
have had in this country for years.
which accounts for nobody having
sleighs; but it will not lay much l"nger;
when the sun once comes out 1t will not
tarry long; then we will have high
creeks and rivers, for season.
Our river is frozen over about SIX
inches thick, and our creeks about a
foot. When you see printed on those
cil culars that it never gets cold III Kan
sas, you can safely ask what makes the
ice get so thick in Kansas? From the
18th to the 25th we have had some as
cold weather as we had in Virginia. so
this need not surprise you. We had
excellent weather up until about the
10Th of December, and we had hardly
thought of cold weather when this little
| cold snap came. have thought (bc-
tore this cold weather came) how cold
it is back in Virginia under the cold
breezrs of the Alleghaueys, but | guess
| will have to take il back but proba-
bly, it will not last very long.
/ will now give you an idea what has
happened since my last letter First
was iay-making, which lasted from the
middle of July until the first of Oclo-
bpr; everybody was putting up hay to
last all winter Some men in this VI
cinity had as high as one hundred tons
put up-.we have about eighty tons.
Next in order is corn cutting; we cut
off about 20 acres; there is but little
corn cut off in this country, it all beng
husked on the stalk. Next in order Is
husking corn, which is not through
with yet, bnt very near it--but from lie
looks of the weather now it will be
some time before it will be agreeable
huSking corn.
Christmas was quite dull day for
lola. /, for one of IFS inhabitants, was
not ont of the house but twice all day,
but on Christmas Eve we had two Sun
day School demonstrations, which were
very agreeable to their hearers. Que
consisted in tableaux of Bible scenes,
AID the other in declamations, &c, by
the children, which were very appro-
pirate for the occasion. The singing
was excellent-this is something for
which Kansas is noted; | have heard,
since | have been in Kansas, music
which cannot be excelled by any State.
We have very good music here in this
town-a great deal better than i'll the
town l just left in Virginia. Music is
something that Kansas can hardly be
eAcelleu ln ny any c'dle'
There is n rumor that Kansas City,
Missouri. is to be Kansas City, of Kan
sas, or the City Of Kansas. 1t is a thing
that should have been done long ago.
The people of Kansas get their goods
from Kansas City, and their people are
daily focking its streets; their merchants
have all their dealings with the people
of Kansas; the people of Kansas are
daily reading their papers; why, there
fore, should not Kansas City be the
city Of Kansas, instead of Kansas City,
Mo. Missouri has one of the largest
cities in the United States, while Kan
sas has no large city of any importance.
Kansas City may boast of her number
less resources for its coming wealth. 1t
has population of 10000, and is daily
increasing in population and wealth,
and will soon be, if not now, one OF the
great cities of the Union. This change
can be made by the concurrent action
of the Legislatures of the States Of Mis-
souri, and Kansas, and by action of Con
gress, which should be done at once, as
it ncccssitates immediate action, as the
people of Kansas City are almost uDani-
mously in favor of it.
| have been requested 10 write some
thing concerning the ladies of Kansas,
which | will do to my best ability. |
will say this is a subject that | know
very little about, and it has been said
never write about something that you
know nothing about, which / think is
true maxim, If you might call it such.
| say in the beginning that the most OF
the ladies of Kansas are industrious
this is so far as have seen; TO give you
examples, if you should by chance hap
pen to call upon lady to go sicigh-rid-
ing, You would be very apt 10 find her
at the table washing dishes or at the
barn milking. This would appear to
me to be a good sign of industry. 1t is
an example which our Virginia ladies
could do well to pattern after. When
anything like an oyster supper or festi-
val is TO take place for the benefit Of
some good cause, the ladies do not
think that probably if do 20 and
help will get grease spot on my silk
dress or stain my white hands )" but in
stead, they come prepared 10 do their
part if their services are needed-if they
are not needed they will render services
to the young gents, and make some of
these sober Kansas boys blush by means
of some unknown power relative to all
young ladies. We have quite an inter
estiny Literary Society i'm our town. the