The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-07-24
NOTES or TRAVEL BY A KANSAS
GIRI,

NOTES Or TRAVEL BY a KANSAS
6TRG,
Letter From AGiSs Hsstiei Homer. the
3s NOImsI ROatss. ff$ff
Written for Tue NEWS.
CHICAGO, Monday, July II
The boarding Of the early cannon ball
at Peabody on the morning of the
18th, with a ticket for Madison,
Wisconsin, via. Chicago. marked 6
red-letter day for me- So it would for
most any one whose "going east had
terminated at Emporia and west, at
Newton, SO the first thing did was to
mark it, like the Saint days of old-with
red letters.
This done sank back to the gloomy
reflection, that when the top of the State
Normal school building should disap-
pear, should have to surrender myself
and valise to the tender mercies of steam
for the remainder of my untried jour-
ney.
What = relief then. when the train
halted at EmporIa TO see my coach
door opened TO Miss Spencer. Miss
Plumb, Miss Bartlett and others, the first
two bound for Madison also Thus
gave me most agreeable company as far
as Kansas City, where our paths diverg.
ed. The summer afternoon had lost it's
elf in its endeavor to keep pace with us,
and it was amer 5 O'Clock when the
Union depot was reached.
Here once more reflected. Kansas
City, night and Ia very pleasing trio
viewed separately and by day light, but
it was from q near inspection that my
conclusions were drawn. Therefore,
bidding adieu to my friends (now Joined
by Miss Price. of Wellington,) 1 took
the 6:40 p. m. Rock Island train, thus
breaking the trio by leaving Kansas
City and taking the night, myI share of
1t, with me.
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific
line TO ChicagO-What a pleasant route
1t is; accommodating officers, reclining
chair cars, comfoI table and elegant;
fine scenery and fast time; in fact all
things CONDUCIVE TO comfort, cleanliness,
and convenience-words applicable for
their perfect fitness as we'll as alliiera-
tIon.
"NeVer more alone than when alone"
What throng of fancies came to aid in
Willing the hours which the novelty of
my position would not permit to be slept
away. What name and local habitatIon"
did Imagination give to the eyer chang
ing cloud-shapes, how the tinV sparks
of fire streaming past the window be
came as living things
''RisinR thrO' the mellow shade,
GhtteriDg like = swarm of fire. flies,
Tangled in q silver braid.''
And later, suggested by the cloud
hindered moon, there came to mind q
quaint little poetic simile, once read and
nearly forgotten:
''That night the sky was heaped: with clouds;
Thro' one blue gulf profound,
Begirt with many windy Crag,
The moon came rushing, like q stag,
And one star-likc y hound"
By O'Clock q. II. we had gained Mus
catine, one of the prettiest places
through which we passed. Here the
Mississippi bursts on your sight. You
see for the first time to remember (if
you are putting yourself in my place. q
steamboat, the ada May" The logs
lying side by side on the water are Gu
rIosity. and you see more lumber here
than you have ever seen. Skiffs are nu-
nerous and the tiny sail boat recalls, In
spite of the diversity. the idler's noon
day excursion on the Campanian sea, in
the last of Lytton's works you have read.
We follow the river closely now, and
glimpses of 1t may be seen at intervals
through the trees.
Fairport, the next station, heard
styled "Jugtown," because of its many
pOtteries, 1 presume. We we're soon
crossing the river by the long bridge
and viewing with admiration the beau
ties OF the tri-cities: Davenport, Rock
| Island and Moline.
The chief attractions of these cities
(and the moral may be applied to other
things besides citles) lies in the fact that
they do not present themselves at once
to the travellers eye; but, situated as
they are in the graceful curves of the
river, they continue TO give pleasant lit
tie surprises at every turn. The island,
too, is an object of interest, with its
United States arsenal buildings, the
towers and flags of which may be seen
even from east Moline.
At La Sale we encountered the canal
with its queer boats and locks.
For the attractions of the remainder
of the journey, must look, returning.
Concerning them just then was too
sleepy 10 know, and too tired to care.
Arrived here at 2 80 and put up at the
Atlantic hotel, which is headquarters tor
the Kansas delegation. President Tsy-
lor took the boat this morning tor Mil
waukee, while the first detachment of
our teachers have gone on TO Madison.
l shall most probably join the last dele
CATION, which left Kansas City this a. m.
morning.
Seven teachers got on at Washington,
Iowa, tor Madison, and three at Daven-
port.
l am looking eagerly forward 10 our
arrival at the educational Mecca, from
whence will write again.
l hear a great deal about the political
outlook, aud also many amusing stories
regarding Kansas. But my notes are too
lengthy already. HATTIE.
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