New-York tribune., 1884-01-13
WIYSIDE NOTES IN KANSAS.
ROLLING STONES THAT ARE CONTRETEl
NOT TO GATHER MOSS.

|
NOT TO GATHER MOSS.
FROM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRTBrNH |
BURLINGTON, Kan, Dec. 2S.-The farmer him.
self Is the most fascinating adjunct Of Kansas farm
IL is here that the cODented steadfasness OF the popu
tOn OF the far Eastern States has half way tho
disorder turbulence OF the far West and the meet
ng has resulted type Of character which believe has
not its counterpart elsewhere In the world Ills history
has usually been somewhat az follows:
He born and "ralsed" in Ohio. when he reached
mans estatethe estate by tho way, being acking-be
struck for the West and settled perhaps Indiana
Thence when "things got too thick" he migrated 70
Illinois, and after soioum OF few years in that State
he swept by the tide OF emigration into Missouri
where, he VIII tell you the rebels oorank
he tehed up the family schooner embarked the
family goods and gods and crossed into Kansas
On his travels he has somewhere picked mp companion
70 whom certificate, carefully preserved in a frame
shows that he has been married by Justice Of
the Peace, and Of whom lie invariably speaks
as "his woman" He and his woman" have
managed to accumulate family more less numerous,
and hungry in the superlatve degree. The spirit of un
that has controlled him heretofore has yielded the
desire Of middle life for quiet and he feels though he
settled nOw and looks forward only very vaguely to
claim in Colorado farm In Iowa when the tendencies
OF his earlier days have again gathered force 10 stimulate
him 10 push There is such thing, however
tentment among certain class OF the younger men, they
intend preempt" that claim in Colorado before the land
is all took up."
While waiting at little way station the Kansas
Southern Railroad recently noticed the platform
oung farmer, took him TO be. who with "his wo-
man" and family OF three children seemed to be also
waiting the train. "well, said 10 him. are You
Of for Colorado NO" said he "Ioway"" to settle
there inquired. "Yes" he replied; II up there in
September and seed nice little farm that / took
motto SD . to on and sss STsht sSSfSng 'hni ike what
that farm would cost me would 90 and buy. Wall
eighty and that eighty NJ thar in Ioway wasn't but
twelve dollars an acre and so invested. .,
Idunuo as any better he answered " May be the
buildens amt quite good but then and woman
she did, and SO thought that we'd move"
" How long have you been in Kansasp
"Five years going on next April"
"Where did you come from before that" Nebraska
"Whcre were YOU rlisedl" "IllinOis."
are moving out OF the part OF Kansas OF which Mr.
Greeley said that the Garden Of Eden anything like
codng TO your own showing you won't better yourself
any by going; your wife will be likely TO get the cns
farm you have sil the trouble and expense Of
moving tho probability is that 1t will be years before
you well OF again rs YOU are now"
wall" said this specimen OF Western goaaeaats c tS
er no moss: but then tell them that setin hen don't
cit fat" had answer to this. for had neyGrTe-
ecte the drawbacks which the setting hen may haYo
This Is the most characteristic feature OF
elssse. lie is always uneasy never long satisfied any
where He Is always going to settle somewhere but can't
find the place he is willing to admit that he means
TO live and die He helps to develop immense amount
Of country hut can't bring himself 10 stay anywhere long
enough to reap the full rewards OF his Labor was riding
along Kansas country road recently in company with
gentleman who well acquainted with the
community. OF twelve houses which passed nne,
I was told, had been built less than
persons other than the original builders. -Four had
changed owners twice. -
OF course what has been said above docs not apply 10
very large number farmers who either OF foreign
birth or have brought with them from homes in the ar
Eastern States traditions OF perseverance and cOntened
industry The Germans prOvcrhal, everywhere, Tor
taking the unprOmsng upland claims and sticking
TO them till they blossom If not with the rose certainty
yearly crops of Indian cOrn which are the admlr-
ton and OF the pOssesSOrs or the more ferlo
farms on the bottoms and along the creeks "1he Dutch
man is bound 10 get rich" says the Kansas adage f0r
what he can't sell he feeds TO his hogs and what his hogs
won't eat he himself"