Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-07-22
FROM KENT TO KANSAS.
AN ENGLISH LABoRER ON WESTERN PLAINS
A SKETCH OF A FAITHFUL WORKER.

Correspondence OF the New York Tribune.
VICTORIA, Kan. "A brand new coun-
try can have no fixed type of inhabi-
tants. 1t is a collection of specimens
from all parts. Time will bring fusion
and establish local character by which
the West Kansan may be ticketed and
recognized. Nor are many years needed
for snch a stamp of locality. The East
Kansan is already well marked species,
and between the residents of Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, the dis
tinguishing favors are unmistakable
But the people of the newest West are
still unmixed and unstamped. The in
dividuals are interesting either as the
ingredients of the future amalgam or as
representatives of the older communities
from which they come-as materials or
as specimens. From either point of
view the subject Of this sketch merits a
more adequate portrait than l can give.
John Bunting came to Kansas, in a
wagon, from Illinois. To Illinois, some
dozen years ago, he had come from
Kent, England. He is at the same time
a notable specimen of the English farm
laborer and a stout member in the
framework of the industrial society OF
his new home. My acquaintance with
Bunting began in September, 1879, when
L engaged him to help, as masons ten
der, in the building of stone farm
house, some twelve miles from his
shanty. Camped for the winter in
temporary box of boards, near the side
of the building, We lived in close quar-
ters during the progress of the work,
and both then and after, when our ac-
commodations were more ample, my
relations with the workmen were per.
haps more familiar and intimate than
strict discipline demanded. We shared
in easy equality the hardships and the
solaces of our rough bachelor life, and
thus gained a near view of the lives
and thoughts Of the men who were at
once my helpers and companions.
SOUND MIND IN SOUND BODY.
The chief essence 0f Buntlng's per.
sonality was strength, a quality which
appeared alike in his effective, untlinch-
ing body, in his mind, quick to seize
/ facts and ready with needful expedients,
and in his moral pluck, that met diff
cnlty with quiet contempt, and con-
quered it by intelligent stubbornness
The life that filed him was as that of
the oak, spirit that runs through
trunk and branch and twig, and even in
the vigorous grace of leaf and acorn is
still only strength in decoration.
He was about forty-five years old, a
few gray hairs beginning to show on his
round head; in height not above the
medium; heavy and solid. Quick in all
movements of work, he used with effect
every ounce of his compact strength.
No days work could tire out his iron
toughness, and he smiled at younger
men who succumbed to far lighter toll
than his. Gray eyes, whose steady OBJ
servation missed nothing that came
within their range, looked out quietly
from face, full enough in flesh, but
marked with deep lines that could look
very grim on occasion, and that told of
hard fighting with tough times.
Yet the sturdy face had store of sun
shine, ready for any merriment that
came to Tighten our toilsome life, and
We were always glad to listen to the Gu
rlous Kentish accent, in old stories of
laborers life IN England. His work
| for the first four or five months was of
the heaviest kind. Mixing and carrying
all the mortar for two stone-lavers. it.
self hard task for common man, he
still found time to carry the stone to
the top of the growing walls. Up the
steep ladders all day the stout legs
strained under mighty loads, and the
hard shoulders bore many tons between
morning and night. The hoe in the
mortar box awoke to frequent spells OF
most effective motion, and the sound ol
sitting sand occasionally told of 9
change III Bunting's unceasing activity
No word of direction was needed, 70,
Quick sense attended the willing heart,
and the strong hand was full of rougf
skill. Ever seeking the thing that most
needed to be done and the best anG
speediest way of doing it, he cheered
his heavy days with the inspiration o
a faithful purpose effectively accom-
plished.
AT the supper table, when our Russian
Katharine had called us to her plain bu
plentiful preparations, Bunting, will