News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-08-30
Letter from Kansas.
CLAY CENTER, Kan,
Aug. II. 1888. |

Nc&SrS. Editors -
1t has come to be quite a custom
for people who are onA the tramp, to
write letters for the papers and have
them printed in their old localities. L
suppose the object is to let their
friends and foes alike know that they
have brains enough TO write, ambi-
ton enough to tramp, and fool in the
head enough to ask newspaper man
to correct and publish their Observa-
tons from time to time.
l think you will credit me with be-
ing very modest Yankee-On the
war path for nearly six weeks-re-
Ceiving free passes on the railroads
and visiting friends all through the
west who would never think Of claim
ing any kin if at home, ard yet not
so much as asked for space i'll the pub
lie print. The fact is, we made a
sacred VOW, before starting, to travel
just as quietly as possible, 60 where
inclination seemed to direct, and come
home when we got ready. The lndl-
cations are now, that our money will
soon fail US. Our friends and free
entertainments are all exhausted, and
we shall be forced to 60 home. One
thing only has happened which has
induced me to write a few lines for the
readers of the News AND CITIZEN,
and that is a visit | had, by chance,
with John Carpenter, who is so we'll
known in Lamoille County, and who
has been misrepresented in Vermont.
1t was by the courtesy of George
Fullington, at whose home L am stop
ping, that | was driven out to Mr..
Carpenters section, which is located
on creek in the Republican Valley,
four miles from Clay Center. We
found John at home surrounded with
men, horses, hogs and cattle. His
hearty shake of the hand and genuine
New England welcome is just the
same as when in johnson, and to the
first question, care you a Templar
still?" | received the firm Eyes" His
family of mother and three sons are
with him, and all enthusiastic over
their new home. The girls are all
married and in homes of their own.
Mr.. Carpenter is still active and we'll
satisfied, taking pleasure in showing
friends his farm and crops. He says
he has wished himself back in Yer
mont only once, and that was one
time when the rest of the family had
taken to the cellar and he was caught
by the thumb in the door and couldn't
get away, and the house went dancing
around. This is no imaginary de-
scription, for we saw plenty of signs
of the cyclone. Mr.. Carpenter is Iiv-
ing strictly temperate life, as also
are his boys. Tobacco is not used by
any Of them except the father. And
now allow me, in few words to tell
the readers of your excellent paper
what industry, temperance and enter
prise will do out in Kansas. | think
the present farm was rented the first
year or two and then purchased, and
consists of one full section, except
one eightieth, and is just suited for till
ing and feed yards. Mr.. Carpenter
has three hundred and twenty acres
of corn, which will yield from 40 to
60 bushels TO the acre, twenty acres
of oats and the same in millet, with
fifteen acres of wheat. | went through
his fields and told him that he had
more corn growing than any town in
LamOille county. Besides the crops
he has 100 head of cattle, 230 hogs,
| and 20 horses. | was shown one colt
IA months old that weighed 875 lbs.
How is this for four years? What
will the farmers in Vermont say at
such figures? And now for the esti-
mate. His friends tell me that the
crops tli- year VIII pa all ghr delt-,
and that tile property is worth 100000.
I'm view oG these facts cam you wonder
that john looks lack with pleasure ON
the circumstances which forced him to
leave johnson, or at my inclination to
try money making way off in Kansas
j, q. NJ.