Iron County register., 1882-12-21
KANSAS CITY, Dec. Is.

KANSAS CITY, Dec. Is.
Ed. Thinking perhaps your read.
ers may be interested in hearing from this
extreme western part part of the State, and
Kansas City in particular, I avail myself o1
the privilege Of writing to your most excel
lent paper, and to me o welcome visitor in
this land Of strangers.
Kansas City may be truly called the city
on hills. Although the principal streets are
on level, yet great many of them are be-
ing cut through the hills, leaving the houses
towering mountain high, rendering one diz-
Zy to look at them. Sometime, I suppose,
the whole city will be on a level, and beauty
and symmetry be brought out Of this confu
sion; but think it will be many years before
the vast piles of rock and earth which loom
up before one on almost every corner, even
in the densest part Of the city, will disappear.
Some of the streets have been filed up
through ravines, leaving the roofs of the
houses on level with them.
But, I assure you, Mr.. Editor, the people
here are wide awake; always on the alert
after the almighty dollar-and it takes a
great many of them to enable one to live
here. St. Louis, whose population numbers
not compare with it in exorbitant prices,
for almost everything that it takes to make \
human being comfortable.
took trip to Independence last week,
and really the contrast between the two
places is remarkable. My friend whom
went to visit, after cordially inviting me to
visit them again, made the remark: "When
you get tired in Kansas City, come down here
and rest; this is Il good place for that" 1t
is beautiful place: streets broad and clean;
an air Of Quaker neatness and precision per-
vading the entire city-but Oh, so quiet! 1
think / should become very tired of such
everlasting stiffness; although for q short
time it is quite enjoyable.
On Sunday l visited the outlaw, Frank
James, and presume it will be interesting
to your readers to hear what he has to say
for himself. Being ushered into the prison
by a friend, l was introduced to the noted
brigand. There is nothing repulsive in his
appearance. Heis Of nervous temperament;
rather tall and slender, with a care-worn,
hsrrassed expression, which betokens mind
Ill at ease. At first he was rather reserved
in his conversation, but soon became very
affabie and conversed freely. Mrs. James,
his wife, and son, child about four years of
age, stay with him, 1 think, most of the time.
The cell is carpeted, and a few cheap pictures
on the walls constitute the most of the lux !
uries, and a common prison bed, with the
exception of some pillows which his wife
furnished, Is the rest of the furniture. On
being asked how he felt about his condition, |
he replied: "I don't allow myself to feel un- |
easy. have the best counsel In the State, |
and simple justice Is all want. feel that |
] am entitled to better treatment than other |
prisoners, inasmuch as I surrendered my
self; tried to do so fifteen years ago, and not
until Crittenden wonh any Governor listen
to my appeal. 1 don't like to be an outlaw;
there never should have been such word.
No man can put himself out side of the pale
of the law. / consider Governor Crittenden
q gentleman; he is willing to give man
chance for his life; he never intended Bob
Ford should assassinate my brother. A
great many people think am being made
hero Of In Missouri; that is q great mistake.
NV callers are fifty Esstern people to one
lIissourian, and all come from curiosity.
have had but one meal outside of prison fare
since / came here. i can clearly illustrate
NV case by a cow which starts through
town: one dog barks at her, and before she
gets through town all the dogs Of the neigh
borhood are at her heels. 1 have few ene-
mics and they cry thief" and all the raSble
cry thief also. I can conscientiously say I
have never harmed a human being; all my
are my personal friends. +
have little bird which sings almost con-
SANITY; and the day was taken to Kansas {
ity, the prisoners here told me tneyer sang
. note; proving that even animals love me-"
On being asked what his religious faith Z
vas. Frank james very earnestly replied:
81 believe the Bible: believe it 10 be the