New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-05
DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE
KANSAS TOWN AND FARM SCENES.

VILLAGE AND PRAIRIE-THE HEROIC PAST.
IFRox SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT or TIE TRIBUsE.l
FLORENCE, Kan, July 10.
Harvesting is now drawing TO a close throughout
the state In the southern tier of counties the
threshing has beea largely completed. In this
section only fractional part has yet been done,
and it is impossible TO drive far from the town
without seeing the column Of smoke which
indicates the work OF the steam threshor. Tie
header" too is TO be encountered, The most curious
Of the harvesting machines of the West-the cutter
bar pushed before four horses, while the heads Of
wheat fall upon an endless canvas belt ana are
drawn MP Ia steady stream INTO the header
box.n Reapers and selt-blnders there are by the
score. their work Lending ANIMATION to a landscape
which some might find monotonous Yet 1t has 2
beauty peculiarly ITS own In ITS oonmingling OF
great squares of vivid colori ripping stretches OF
golden wheat siiyery oats plumed corn, and flower
spanged grass fields ribbed by dense glossy hedges
of the Usage orange.
Nor is it the sinburned farmers alone who give
life TO the Broods Of quail reveal themselves,
supremely indifferent at the sound OF the hor-cs
boof-beats on the turf; prairio-chickens dart away
on either side; plover cry plaintively from mid-ar.
euvIOus OF the meadow larS,s mellow notes; ana an
occasional jack-rabbit flashes by apprehensve OF
even swIfter greyhounds.
On the prarles there is freedom an ininity of air
and space, but the Kansas towns there Is little IN
which TO take delight Lawrence. Topeka and
few others possess some pleasant shady streets
with substantial residences encircled by pleasant
lawns But for the most part the Kansas town 10
mech like it OF indigestion. There are raw streets
like q country road beginning and ending nowhere,
and lined along their sprawllng length by story
anda-half structures OF brick and wood. hopelessly
bare and ugly, and bristling With signs among
winch tnat of Drugstore" IL usually most con-
spicuous. Carelessly dropped about the prairie In
tue general neighb0rhOod OF the main street are
OF, er shantylike frame houses repeating the tale
OF bare necessity and eIpedIency The houses on
the farms, equally humble though they may be.
have OIL least Tho added grace OF grove OF young
cotton woods. The farmer and ranolman nave
usually found contented with his lot so far as Is
possible for weak human nature TO be content. Toe
dweIler in towns 10 apt 70 develop three PHASES 10
the course OF any extended conversation The hrst,
much TO the surprise OF the innocent stranger, ~
rather aggressive upplshness-a perhaps you think
we're all barbarahs, but we're not spir Z, when
some nes suggests that the speaker IS whstlng 10
keep his courage up. This phase of suspicious self
assertion shades gradually oil into CENTER mood,
characterized by an undsgulsed and hyeiy interest
in a things Eastern. and the conversation at this
stage manly OF the speakers "reminiscences
Of Eastern experiences. aud eager inquire. ~ 70
ma tiers and things In the East at present. finaiy
be reaches the third phase lakes you into bis comb
dence aud explains that he Is only out here Tor
time aud thar soon as possible he INTENDS TO re-
turn 10 tine East ana enjoy the nesnpots iOr wnlcp
his soul 80 evidently yearns And there IL not much
In Kansas 10 sa1siy soul-hungrr. IL o wonderful
STATE for growing wheat. corn and fat beef. ou'
prosperity has dwarfed some other growths iev
tangible pernaDS vet more precious
Everybody here is intelligent every one Is fairly
educated. and very few Use above the dead levs
Of commonplace, TOT ComtupuPiHO0 W." SN"'~ 'a''
neople must be acknowledged TO be In these days
They have long outgrown the the romsntic time
when the white-topped wagon fought their wsg
through raldmg Indians down the old Sante FS
trail. The new generation knows little OF Free
sill aud Border Rulian conflicts OF Guam
trelfs fornys aud John Browns deeds be
..re uafpers Ferry brougIl him before the world.
None OF the Western States has a more stirring
nast than Kansas, none more pfosaic presenti YET
A. A. A present of material comfort aud PROSPERITY
Ana the past is well cared for by the Kansas HIS
torrai Sooiety which 10 the State House at topeka
has objected n wealth Of material relative 10 tue
h,sory of thr State. There are three PORTRAITS IN
oll OF John Brown, one that engraved Tor the last
Number of The Century the Others showing nun as
usnaI in his pictures with n long gray beard, III
would De inpoS.iblr for the veries tyro MOTTO nave
ATTAINED some likeness 60 face 80 barshly marked
and necuar but none Of the portraits here possesses
in lis, 4 clam to artistic merL
ga,d one old resident TO me ; John Brvwn spent
tbe frat night he ever passed in Kansas under nv
fafher's roof / saw hun daily. but should never
have known that the 'WoOdman portrait was
meant Tor him. However. that portrait has cert an
interest "a acurostv although it viii hardly after
IN. oopu!ar and correct conception OF John browns
npuearanoe At the dine when he hrst began MAKING
hlsforY."