The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-01-17
SauchO Psnaa Heard From.
DOpGR CITY, Kansas, Jan. 8.

Editors FREE TRADER A"trip to Kan
SIS has become quite the fashion, and when
Madame p took herself and our quartette to
Oshkosh to abide there permanently, fell
fee to:follow the fashion for time and then
Settle down in the bosom of my tamily,.:as any
dignified poterfamitias ought to do,
With your kindly permission Ia like &c
mention some of the points OF interest IN Kan
sas which have been overlooked By the TRIP
pors who have been writing up their travels
& is unnecessary for me to give any details o.
railroads, stations, &c, or to tell Just no"
many hotels had the honor OF registering my
name Nor will | take up valuable space IN
telling of the states and territories which
took IN on my "tower." After rambling
around all summer, | found myself one fine
morning in early September IN Wakeeny'
rirLt smart town on the Kansas Pacific. II
had been surprised at sight Of the rullianlsm
Of western towns, was simply amazed at the
different state of affairs and people in Wakee
nv The streets were clean and perfectly free
of gania. street Arabs or whatever they may
he called. Not one yellow dog did see, and
the few CANNES that passed me we're handsome
and extremely amiable. All the men whom !
me, had such fair, honest countenances as to
inspire one with respect and confidence. The
women and girls--why bless their hearts 1t
you'd be impossible to describe them Suf'
Gee it to say, never saw so much sanctified
serenity in all my life. put up at the Cakes
House, and when spoke to the landlord OF
the difference between citizens of Wakecny
and other places, he gave me comlcal look
and said Stranger, if you had been here
.hsee years ago you would not have formed so
good an opinion of our town, There's rea.
ron tor the healthy state of morals you find
here. The discovery of soap-mine up in
Sheridan county, on the North Fork, has much
10 do with it. You must be sure to go and see
1t before leaving these parts"
walked out, Eliminating on the remarks of
The worthy gentleman and Of things in gener-
al. One thing that had struck me rs odd was
re absence Of bolts or locks on the doors and
The careless manner IN which pocketbooks
and valuables were left around and always re
stored when called for.
Mine host informed me that a line Of cames
hsd been put on the road from Little Rock,
Arr, to Fargo d. T., by Wells, Fargo & Co.,
sud the mine lay on their route was de.
lighted with the novel idea Of travelling cam.
elback, but had some doubts about beng able
70 stick" Next morning, gracefully mount
ed on one Of those hump backed animals, set
cut, and managed to keep my seat three-iourths
q! the time About noon arrived at the farm
whereon was the wonderful mine. found it
the centre Of thriving village, and the people
living there were employed in getting out the
soap After refreshing the inner man with a
wholesome dinner, proceeded to the Office of
tfe proprietor, a clerical looking gentleman,
vho in the course of conversation, remarked
uat he was from Kendall county Illinois, and
bad brother who was a popular auctioncer
IN Ottawa in a very friendly way he gave
ne history of his place. He had bought it
five years ago from j. o. Harris, Of Ottawa,
and Immediately built upon 1t and commenced
breaking But the northeast quarter appeared
Of peculiar color and more like u fatty sub
stance than like soil and 1t never grew any
thing Some two years ago, Eli Perkins was
,ecturing in the vicinity and made short
stay on this particular farm He walked
around over the place several times, and not
long afterwards difference was noticed in
,hat northeast quarter, 1t presented such a
beautiful, mottled appearance, reminding one
OF CASTLE soap, that q committee was at once
formed to test its saponaceous qualities, 1t
sas wonder then and has been ever since, for
40 better soap was ever used. The little vii
iage of which have spoken, sprang up al
most like mushroom. 1t was only necessary
10 Dig up the soap, press into bars and it be
Game hard Immediately.
The proprietor told me the peculiar quality
Of this soap was its efficacy in removing stains
Of all kinds especially stains on character, and
when 1t became generally known, he predicted
che dlsuse of jalls, penitcntiaries, &c. He said
the Wakeeny people had taken kindly to 1t.
All! then here was the secret of that towns en-.
ylable morals.
| am informed that MIR. Alex. Naughey,
while on a flying visit some time ago, obtained
several bars to take home as a present for the
editor of the Seacca Record. Just before leav-
ing the village, which is called Soaptown,
said TO the owner, "why don't you send some
Of it to your brother in Ottawa" Shaking
his head sadly, he replied; 81 hare tried to
get him TO use ii, but he knows its nature and
Is afraid i would unfit him for his present
business"
At Soaptown procured guide to take me
INTO Thomas county TO see the most prodigious
OF all wonders the tarmine and feather-quar.
ny The beautiful plumes and "tps" of all
eolors and varieties used IN crnamenting bellies