The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-07-15

After our house is completed, and we get to
housekeeping we would be pleased to have
our friends get up little surprise party" and
call on u.s.
There is vast difference IN the corn and
whea, crop of Illinois and Kansas. All the
way from Ottawa to the Mississippi, and
especially in southern Illinois, the corn looked
very poor, IN many places having just made
its appearance above the ground though on
the higher and more rolling ground 1t was in
pretty fair condition, considering the back
ward spring and excessive rams of the later
months. Through Iowa and Missouri, how.
ever, the corn and small grain looked much
better and all the way from Kansas City to
our place OF destination we looked upon as
fine q harvest as ever grew in the state. We
thought we had seen some pretty fair sized
wheat fields in Illinois, but they were not
more than mere garden patches when COM
pared to the immense fields that met our gaze
on either side of the road. And such corn! 1t
would make La Sale county farmer grow
green with envy to look upon the prospective
corn crop OF Kansas. We saw few farmers
IN the fields plowing-or rather thought there
mnst be some one plowing, as all one could
see was the horses ears above the top of the
corn. 1t was very pleasant pastlme, while
riding through Kansas on the Union Pacific,
to watch the changing and blending of the
green and gold-the deep, dark green OF the
growing corn, and the golden hue Of the rip.
ened harvest, standing in sheavcs in the field
or put up IN great stacks, reminding one Of
huge loaves of bread.
| At Abilene we met and shook hands
with Mr.. p. r. Hopkins, a former popular
salesman of the firm of Scott Bros, but now a
fourishlng dry goods merchant of the above
city We also discovered the familiar face of
Jesse Eells, an old Ottawa boy, in the L. p.
ticket Office of the same place.
Hays City, our stopping place, is qutea
neat little town OF about 800 population.
The principal buildings are built OF the mag
nesium lime stone, which is found IN great
abundance in this part of the state, and makes
a very fine building stone, as 1t is found In
several different colors. There are several
hotels here-the Summit and New York
houses being the principal Ones-one news.
paper, very fine school building, and fine
county court house. On the south side of the
town, about mile distant, Is Fort Hays. We
George and y went over land Major-come
PRETTY near forgetting the dorg) to witness the
dress parade yesterday evening. There are
one company of white and two companies of
buffalo soldiers" (colored) stationed here.
But what attracted our attention most was
Ulyssess nephew, Lieutenant Dent He's an
imposing looking cuss, and has voice that
you can hear as we'll half a mile off as you
can twenty yards distant.
We took trip into the country last Satur.
day. In our wanderings we drove into Kath-
crime Stadt, a German settlement some twelve
miles distant. The houses were mostly built
of stone with iron shutters, which were closed
and barred, as we're also the doors of most of
the buildings. The place seemed deserted
and deathllke stiffness hung over all. Att
last We discovered three little urchins lookingl
at US around the corner Of one Of the houses.
We hailed them to inquire our way, when
they scampered away for dear life. Then we
hslloed to maiden who was going up the
steps of one of the houses. She almost broke
her neck IN her haste to get into the house.
At last, however, we captured an old lady,
who knew just about enough English to mix
everything up 80 we couldn't understand any
thing she said. We left the settlement IN dis.
gust, and started on our return. About mile
from the settlement we struck prairie dog
town. 1t looked odd to see so many owls, for
at almost every prairie dog hole sat an owl, as
though doing guard duty There seemed to
be more attention paid to us IN this town than
in the one we had lett, for the owls would
screech at US as they flew away, bewildered
by the bright sunlight, and the dogs would
give us two or three parting barks before
whisking in their holes.
Well as | am afraid too long a letter will
tire the patience of the many readers of the
TRADER and as we must go down and look at
a drove of Indian ponies and see if we can
purchase team, will close for this time.
TIMOTHY HAY.