Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1884-03-06
Storm and Sunshine.

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The big storm of Saturday and Sunday
last was the most severe tiiat has ever
visited this section, and the snow was
piled in huge drifts in every direction.
OF course all travel on the railroad was
stopped for the time baingsome Of the
cuts being flled in almost the tineit
takes to tell it. The west bound passenger
train reached this point, where it was
compelled tostopa and wait until the storm
subsidized. There were about sixty pas
sengers on the train-men, women and
children, and as Jolly a crew as eyer
boarded ne. A large number Of the
passengers, including the ladies and chill
dren, were accommodated at our hotels
anu made as comfortable as circumstances
would admit, while others remained in
the cars, organized messes and made
themselves comfortable.
On Monday evening We visited the go
Journers in the cars and were made an
honorary member of the "Great Western.
Humming Bird, through Route Snow
Bound Passenger Club" and were enter
tatned with lively songs, dances, gags and
wittlcisms for two hours; We don'tknow
when we have enjoyed an evening as we
did this one. There were two ''messes"
and each an organized club for the gen
eral amusement and encouragement of
the passengers.
We must not omit to mention here our
qualification at an introduction to the
Elder" and the deacon" and "Mr.
Spoopendyke," who greeted us on our
entrance to the car with a grand, soul in
spring chorus entitled There's a hole in
the Bottom of the Sea-" nor the courtly
dignity of our reception by the President
of the club. Mr.. Salisbury, Of Glendale.
Dakota.
Their hllarity was no forced matter
it was the genuine article; and we felt
that a body Of men who could thus make
the most of a bad bargain, are just the
ones to make live, wide-awake, indie
pendent and useful citizens-the kind of
men who would snap their fingers in the
face of danger, and overcome every OBJ
stacle in their way to independence and
wealth. The men who sit down and
whine when the hand of misfortune is
laid upon them, are not the ores to aght
the sturdy battles of pioneer life. not the
men 10 give birth to empires, nor yet the
ones who carve out from the bosom of
the wilderness homes and Independence
for themselves; it requires the pluck, tile
energy, the vin-the brain wenterprise
that suggests the iieaof making the most
of everything, as did the passengers on
this train, to open up the way for tile
westward march of empire and of ciyili-
~ization. These are the kind Of men who
comprise the citizens of this wonder
land"-the cream from the States. Can
any IN wonder atthe rapid strides or
Dakota in the march Of improvement
and development? Is it at all strange
that their achievements should have be-
come the wonder OF the age and the
theme of the Nations? Shall such men
be compelled to remain simply "vassais
of the Republic?" Shall they not be
clothed with the full stature of citizen
ship by the admission Of their newly
created empire to the sisterhood Of States
III our National Union? 1t seems impos-
sible th.t such sturdy manhood ard
worth could longer 90 ~unrequited, its pc
tition treated with Indifference; because,
forsooth, politicians would retain it as a
field of reward for political bummers,
would prevent it from having a part in
giving direction to National politics.