The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-02-28
Kansas Correspondence.

hanSaS correspondence.
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo-, Feb. 10, 1884.
The selection of location and place
Of settlement in new country, must,
in the nature of things, be largely ac-
and at random, even with the
shrewdest of men yet when town is
located, or railroad run to strike the
pioneer just right, he would like to
have you think that his foresight had
something to do with his selection of
place. This harms no one, and is en-
tirely excusable. When men and
women have bettered their condition
and enlarged their opportunities for
happiness and usefulness, by change of
place, when future prosperity is only
promised on condition of present pri-
vation, and friends are left for scatter
ed strangers; when farewell to society
is an introduction to comparative soli-
tude, and all for blessings hidden in
the future, we must credit pluck, per-
severance and industry, and honor the
men and women who, by their appli.
cation have borne down trials and
overcome difficulties, conquered failure
and won success. This country of
Kansas is full of heroes and heroines
who have blessed the country of their
adoption, and prepared blessings for
posterity by thus blessing themselves.
We feel blessed by visit with them,
and we like to draw from them the
story and travel with them the weary
road again, to eat with them the frugal
meal by the roadside, while evening
shadows gather round, and listen to
the strange forests echo to the lul la by
the tired mother sings, partly to her
child and partly to her God. We like
to arrive with them again upon this
ocean waste, and share with them the
years of toll, and feel the inspiration
of their faith ard hope, as they plow
and plant, and SOW and reap, until the
years have brought the reward and
crowned their labors. They camped
upon the spot in solitude, an outdoor
fire cooked the repast; the covered
wagon was the house by night and
refuge from the storm by day. In il
was all of home they had-a box ot
necessities, a book or two, to be read
and read, and re-read, a few dim pic
lures, to be looked at through binding
tears. But they moved out of the ole
wagon into the narrow box house, anG
so on through the years, until you see
what time and patience and industry
with faith and hope have wrought
The trackless waste is dotted Ger.
And neighbors speak from neghbor's door
Children play pioneer under the moldy
cover of the old wagon. In the boz
house are stored the relics of the past
with the kettle and pan that cooke,
) the rations by the roadside, and in re
sponse to the faithful mothers camp
fire song, we hear the grown up daugh
ter's voice resound throughout tn
spacious dwelling-and this is home
The, children walk the hedge-linet
highway to the school house on tn
hill. Yonder is the growing tow
and here runs the railload that bring
The daily mail, and we exclaim, wha
change in circumstances-what
transformation of scene. So we tax
train at Kansas City and ride hun
,ired miles through this waste that wa
, and note what is. We go out througl
the southern halfofWyandotte county
through Johnson, Miami, Linn an
, Bourbon, to Fort Scott. 1t would al
be called a fine country by anybody
Sufficiently rolling for drainage and t
be pleasant to the eye. The hedges
groves of timber, and large orchard
are pictures in the scene, and we leav
off the idea of new country and con
y clude that our notions of Kansas wer
rather vague. We see the old grass
hopper pioneer leave his door in hi
fine carriage, drive past his hundre
- acre wheat field, and he has forgotte
that this is new country. Johnso
is called the richest agricultural count
j. in the State, and next to Wyandott
is probably the oldest. Olanthe, th
county seat, is about the size of RI
' VIENNA; Paoli, of Miami county, abou
Lhe same. Mound City, of Linn Co
u is off the road, and is but small vi
- lage, but Lacygne and Pleasanton al
u thriving towns. In the latter place
found the Kincaids, relatives of Alex
ander, of Shalersville, and as the
names are on the Bank door, and o
several of the business signs, conclud
they are what they appear to b.
ataunch business men.
Fort Scott was the terminus of NJ
trip, and was for many years the te
minus of this Kansas City, FIT, SEQ
. and Gulf R. r. The country here!
& bouts is rough and rocky, and hel
they get the coal for Kansas. 1t hs
good people, and is devoid of speci,
interest unless we except the ruins ,
the old fort, and the buildings for tn
:, soldiers, which are still in good repair
u but when we walk past, and see BOAR
Ii anu w hSulnS, duScitISeu all IuC ioof
N outs, where soldiers used to stand, W
ID 10 se the romance in the common real
,e ty-especially as Guests without bal
,, gage must pay in advance" Youn
4 man, look at that sentence for M
d ment. Think of it! See how muc
d you can get out of it, and think of
l. NOW! and not wait, till past midd
r. life and shivering in the Winter storl
N the recollection of having forgotten
A. will rack your soul with remorse.
E. Kansas is like other States, and
he some respects it is little more s
Good could not be without evil. W
l. would not know light without II
darkness; a picture must have a bac
ground. And so our little knowled.
is by comparison. The box house al
"a the hOvel must stand between ii
-, mansions-one on the hill, the 9th
IL L