New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-07
LIFE IN WESTERN KANSAS.
TIE PRAIRIE AND IT'S NATIVE PRODUCTS.

INHAbIIANIs.
IRON AZ OCCASIONAL CoREEsroNDENr oPrHFTRnuNE)
VICTORIA. Kansas. May 1.-The point from which
! write is in Ellis County OH the Kansas PacIhc
Railroad some ten miles west of the 9Jth merriam,
on that naked, brown, bulalO-grass prairie. which,
to the quickly passing tourist on his way TO Denver
and the mountains seems the ideal of hopeless desc
lation Yet to onc who has lived here the remem-
b.ance of this land Of unbounded emptiness returns
with a persuasive attraction, whose sources are
hard to disclose. There no soft green fields
bOrlercd with stately trees no calmly flowing.
richly shaded streams sending moist fragrance over
ncighbOring hills. No sheltered hOmcsteads hide
i'm restful groves Dry and wild is the natuIe "t
this prairie and the perpetual wind fills everything
with the spirit of unrest. The small farm houses
thinly scattered the wide field Of view. stand
out bare and white in the sun. The sense OF room
and freedom has taken the place OF repOse. and the
people have almost forgotten the meaning OF shade
and rest II sometimes seemed to me, when trying
TO start shade trees about the house which we had
built that such establishment was against tine
spirit of the country. ard that it was better even
artistically. TO accept the feature of unshetered
opcnness and receive sun and wind IN all their
naked force. The climate is a series Of extremes
and SURPRISES. Nowhere has the thermometer so
rapid range and the oldest settler is poweilcss
rs the new conner 10 predict when the changes will
come. On the hottest day in August, the prudent
ranchman setting out for day, ride will pack an
overcoat behind his saddle: and he may comfort
himself in the fierceSt norther" OF December, Wheh
the searching cold makes light OF his manifold
coats, with the possible prospect OF smoking TO-
mOrrow's MONDAY ripe in cOatless comfort outside
his cabin door, These sudden changes which
would he fatal in other countries, are innocent as
regards health, because of the prevailing dryness
aud purity OF the air. The cold will freeze, but
rarely chill. aud the hot south winds OF summer.
which have the feeling of draft FROM furnace,
though they scorch all tender plants and reduce
men to . wcde-ccatcd rcsiduum of nervous pro-
family. yet bring no sun>trokes or prostration.
remember one day in particular, in the fist week
of June. when the mercury stood at l2- IN the
shade. The wind wa due south fairly smelling of
the searching ccntipcde' Of Texas one constant,
even blast from morning till night. All through
thi, iicIcc heat masOns carpenters and farm hands
worked in the broad sunlight. They could have
left their work at WILL but preferred not to lose the
time. They may have felt discomfort but no
weakening effect of heat. The hot wind unpleas-
ant as it seems. Is really help to the la6orer for
IL carries on the sweat from the brow before the
drops can form. These are extreme days Generally
the heat Of sun mer is moderate and tine nights are
COOL The winter. with few weeks OF bitter freez-
ing winds and The constant liability to sudden
fierce snaps of cold, is LARGELY made MP of mild,
pleasant days, clear ami dry, the perfection Of
weather for out door work and enjoyment.
THE PLAY-GROUND OF TIE WINDS.
The perpetua, wind is the chief uuplcasantncss of
the climate. The cvcr-sammiug doors. the noisy
migration of all loose articles of the kitchen, as the
innocent Kaisan opens his door pat tang in the
tongue of the millest wife. Nor is the aspect al
from tho plough or harrow in one Of the too COM
mon times of drouth His fired red eyes look out
wildly through pair Of goggles which shut of the
even blanket Of prairie soil which covers the rest of
the face II he IS to cheer her with the traditional
rosy smile Of the iocuDd farmer. he mast smile into
several basins OF water first. team with harrow
or roller in such time looks in the distance like a
very smoky locomotive. or a small prairie fire, trav
cling slowly. The cowboy has then the advantage
over the plOughman. Apart. on the clean prairie
he cares little for tho wind. lie knows, as well as
his tough pony, how to lean against the gale, and
what i, il to them that tail and name. bullwhip and
saddle straps stream wildly to leeward The herd
can hardly blow away, and the wiry grass hangs
sight to the tough sod. The yelow-headed black
birds that feed IN thick sNarms about the grazing
cows as they rise from time to time to change their
ground. are swept of their wings and drop hastily
safety.
and he rounds up his cattle rs easily rs ever and
cantcrs home to supper with Lace well seasoLod but
clean His only grief is that there IS one TO care
whether lie be bronze or black. When the high
winds como in having time a spec al skill is needed
for the harvesting. Hardly has the pitcher raised
his fork mi from the winrow, when the quick wind
fakes hold and the struggle for the prize begins.
The wary loader on the wagon ponnces upon it with
fork and feet and tries to make 1t last The r sult
is always compromise, for the wind is sure Of
part at least whichIt sca'terS in airy triumph over
the prairie and is ready 80 fight for the next
When the load is made up, both men plant them
selves firmly on top, spreading out like cnwish and
rlomnu,, ali they can reach. Tho load moves off,
grotesque misshapon, disordery with streaming
remnants to the stack. and all the way the perse-
cutting wind tears oil loose locks Of hay, which fly,
distracted. into inhnty. Peace dWels not IN the
bayfield, Of the Kansan. Yet there are many days
when the breeze is hight ana soft and the thin ar.
always pure, Is then delightful. The bright days
and clear transparent ghts have charm Ike that
Of fair weather at sea- Ii no tall trees or purple
hills enrich and nclose the lanIscape. so much
more full and free is mans fellowship with The sky
40 need to look up to search it's blue. unsounded
drptls-one lives IN the midst OF tine sky the saddle
lifts him clear OF earth, and the wide PLAIN bars not
his liberty.
HOW THE LAND LIS
The surface the country Is not entirely Hat and
unaccerted II is not even and level like the Hi
nos prairie nor las it the monotonous scasck roll
of Iowa. The swells are varied IN height and
shape. and the frequent shallow draws" wind
about with pleasing irreeularity. The teamster
must always have q strong brake on his wagon, for
the road goes through these small rayines with very
reckless plunges. \ day spent among the rugged
limestone blfs winch lie along the Saline River
will show that this prairie country has reserve of
savage scenery These hills cut M in all directions
by deep and twisting rayines displaying their
PERCEPTIONS sides monumental quarries of massive