St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-04-28


idan's Drive"-a charming road cut tc
the summit of hill not far away, from
the several Out-lOOks of which a view
is had of the surrounding country
The wheat fields of the deepest green
and the orchards in leaf and bloom
gave one of the finest landscape views
| have ever seen.
Kansas City is in the state of Mis-
souri,, although on the west side of the
| Missouri river. The Kaw river divides
this city from WyandOtte, Kansas. X.
City is a great railroad centre, and a
''right smart" town of some 10000
people. 1t is built on bold bluff of
the river, and its streets and other i'm
provements are made under great dis
advantages. Some of its fine resi-
dences are from fifty to a hundred feet
above the railroad track as it enters
the city from the East, with only a
perpendicular wall or PERCEPTIONS bank
below. The ride from Kansas City to
Topeka by the Santa Fe road takes
one through the famous towns of Law
renee and LecOmptOn, so noted during
the bloody times of early Kansas.
Topeka, the capital of the state, is a
model Western city. 1t is located on
the swells of the rolling prairie which
so prevails in this section of the state.
Its streets are wide and laid out at
right angles, north and south, and east
and west. Its residences are homes of
comfort, the business blocks cOmmo-
diOus, and the public buildings such as
"A state capital need not be ashamed of.
The capitol building is modelled large
ly after the capitol at Washington, and
when completed will be a great orna-
ment to the city. Here we found our
old tOwnsman, Mr.. Geo. Ropes, as
building architect. The U. S. govern
ment is putting up very fine building
for post office, U. S. courts, etc.
But the institution i'll which the St.
Johnsbury party took the greatest in
terest was the Insane Asylum, for here
ly-Or rather, they found us. DR..
Eastman has been superintendent of
the hospital since it was opened, some
three years ago. In DIR. Eastman the
right man has been found for the right
place. The asylum is finely located on
a large swell of land three miles from
the business centre of the city. The
asylum buildings are three story struct-
ures built of yellowish-gray sandstone,
quarried in that vicinity, and are very
handsome externally, while within they
are models for the purpose required
On the east front is an apple orchard
of 700 thrifty trees now in bloom, while
on the north is a vineyard where more
grapes are raised than can be used in
the institution. On Monday evening
Miss Morgan, reader from Chicago,
who had given readings in the city,
came out and entertained the inmates
of the asylum, and few invited guests,
with some very humorous recitations.
These were much enjoyed by all, and
one of the lunatics who cOnceives him
self millionaire, told his attendant to
draw his check for so and present it
to Miss Morgan
1t was with regret that we found Mr..
Geo. Ely, who is visiting here, not well
enough to join our party for Colorado,
so we started without him on Tuesday
afternoon, with Santa Fe, New Mexico,
the first objective point. While at
Topeka, one of the Raymond excursion
parties to California passed through
the city, stopping for dinner. There
were l47 New Englanders on board,
and the train consisted of six Pullmans
The party were in excellent spirits,
and seemed to be enjoying their trip.
For hundred miles or more west of
Topeka, the country is very fine, but
as one approaches the southwestern
portion of the state, the land seems
sandy and dry, and very fiat. 1t con
sists of sand plains, unfit for human
beings now, and probably always will
be because of the little rainfall. We
are now approaching the desert line
This AtchisOn and Santa Fe road is
well made and well equipped, built and
managed by Boston men. AS a sam
pie of its enterprise l will quote til,
train boy who entered the car soor
after we left Topeka and sung out il
ringing tones: "Here's where you ge
Vermont maple sugar the cOncentra
ted extract of maple sap-a sure cure
for coughs, colds and bronchitis only
five cents a cake ~ C. MS.