Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-07-10
Southern Kansas-Some More Notes
and Comments.
HARPER, July I'd, 1884.

LAM Iist ~ oiJ -ut Aooi'
In making this second visit to Har-
per realize what four weeks can do in
changing the appearance ofa live town
like this. The Opera House is com.
pleted and has had several entertain
ments therein; the splendid business
block erected by Mr.. Rothwell by the
side of his Opera House is nearing the
completion of the second story and is
a block which would be an ornament to
any town. Other buildings which were
in various stages ofprogress when was
last here are either nearly or quite COM
pleted, and every thing shows what q
little time and money are able to effect.
In nothing however have / noticed
more change than in the appearance of
the crops along the line of the Southern
Kansas Railroad. Wheat is nearly or
quite all harvested and / just wish you
Ohio folks could see how thickly the
shocks stand, it would be surprise to
eastern people. Oats are about ready
to cut, haying has commenced, and the
corn is just magnificent, no other word
will express it. Hundreds of acres of
the finest corn ever saw lies along the
route, and on all parts of the train can
! De iletfu tuc tuiillIilAS cACldIudtloilS VI
the passengers. At the risk of repeat
ing, 1 will say that the crops of eastern
and southern Kansas this year are i'm
mense, larger and finer than ever has
been known in the history of the State.
The carrying accommodations of the
railroads will be taxed to their utter
most this season with passengers and
freight.
The Southern Kansas train on which
I came was packed full, even to the
smoking ear in which many ladies were
glad to find seats. And it was noticea-
Bile that there was no smoking in that
car, the gentlemen who wished to in
dulge went out on the platforms or even
in one case [ saw one with his head out
of the window. The above is but an
exemplification of what is often said
that the Americans are the most cour'
teous people on earth, and that Ameri
can ladies are the best treated.
American gentlemen are also courte
Gus in their treatment of each other.
= will give an instance in point. Quite
early in the forenoon to-day, two gen
: tlemen met in the aisle near where
was sitting. They were evidently
strangers to each other; / soon heart
quite an argument going on as to which
should be seated in the one place which
was vacant. One said the other shoul(
. take the seat as he was the olde
and less able to stand. No. 2 said h
did not think he was the older, and i
he was, he was as able to stand as No
!, l. No. replied by telling his age ant
1 asking the age of No. 2, when it turnet
= out that he was about thirteen year
I, younger than No. 2, so the latter ha'
to take the disputed seat. No soone
had he done SO than young man nea
by sprang to his feet and gave the othe
l old gentleman his seat, rememberin
! ! that he was younger than either an
1 consequently could stand better tha
they, and when his action was objecte'
to by No. l he said he was only going t
I the next station and should STAN
$ whether he took the seat or not, so bot
: No. and No. 2 got seats. l call tn
!, above very fine examples of America
$ courtesy and ones we'll worth recording
IS The weather has been terrible he
here for the last week or two; the thel
mometer has frequently stood from Vt
s to 1929 or even to 1862 in the shade
Here in this part of Kansas the rain
have been plenty, and the crops sho'
II it too. Further north rain is MOI
o needed but the crops are not sufferin
/ as yet.
s The people here seem prosperous an
), energetic and to be fully aware OF tn
\, fact that here, as in all other place
). thew must work in order to succee'
/, Laziness is at a discount, industry at
n premium; loafers are scarce and also
$ a heavy discount, so the prosperity
+; the country is real not the seeming.
G.. L. E.