Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-01-23
OUR ILLINOIS LETTER.

SENECA, ILL.,, Jan. 10, 1885.
To the Editor of the Eagle
The most severe storm of the season
came last week, making quite a snow
blockade, calling into service shovel
brigade for the ben, fit of pedestrians
The weather is so bitterly cold that il
is safe TO say 40 one is walking out fol
mere pleasure, though this is one oil
the brightest mornings that ever
dawned In the suns raw, the ''frosts
do glitter" beautifully, but practical
prosaic people are apt 20 think more
of the danger to weak eyes than of the
beauty.
The room in which | sit is flooded
with sunshine, but alas for me, if de-
pended on it for warmth, a full sup
ply of "du>ky diamonds" aud glow
ing CRATE are more To bc relied on for
comfort.
AS look out and zee the deHs,. vol
ume of smoke pouring from neighbour
ing chimneys, the thought occors to
me that If my range of vision were so
extend as TO take in all the chimBeys
which fail TO contribute their full
share of smoke through lack OF the
necessary fuel, and here coal j. selling
for $3.50 per ton. Were gifted with
powers OF penetration, might see in
the cherries houses from which these
poor chimneys rise, groups of unhappy
mortals-but am glad am not thus
gifted.
If we, of Seneca, were blessed
with such a newspaper a some
OF the large cities boast, and
whose editors are humanitarians
We might feel more sure that
tbs unfortunate in our midst were
cared for and enjoy with greater zest
the comforts around us.
The Christmas issue of the EAGLE
came to me Is pleasant surprise and
took no little pride in showing il to
friends who-though far ahead of Mr..
Mathewson's correspondent i'll their
degree of advancement to which the
state mas advanced.
While on the subject of ewspapers
the "spirit moves" me To say they are
among the most active forces working
for humanity to-day. The influeni iai
daily papers of our cities are great
power. When hired detectives fail 10
convict a murderer: when philantro-
pic societies are at "A loss how best TO
help some helpless classes, then tn
newspaper steps TO the front, sends lis
reporters TO detect the criminal and
learn the motive for the crime: starts
its fresh-air fund in aid of the sick and
young, or other like philantrophies.
Ii becomes the unpaid almoner OF
all great charities; sends a Stanley in
search of q Livingstone. and equips Al
TIC e"h AHNh-t III" IA la''ah- To-
ties. just year ago the Atlanta Con
stitution gave an illustration of the
active, philamtrhopic spirit OF
the press, which is very well
worthy TO b. held in remembrance.
read Tn account in al caS era paper.
Ii runs thus: lon a SATURDAY. night.
ii was learned that hundreds OF poor
people in Atlanta were burning their
last stick of wood and destitute of the
othe necessaries of life. The Consii-
tuition on Sunday IN ruling made an
appeal for money, provisions and fuei,
to be distributed by lis bu-I"e-s de
parimenI: and ut noon there were
gathered AT IT. off &c abunl sixty wag-
ons. containing. wood aud provisions
Merchants ~ it'll hundred, of thousands
Of dollars turned driver; each with a
wood wagon and provision wagon,
started oil TOUR of the city. All daN
the Constitution office looked more
Tide a military supply depot than a
Office. Ia il were hun
dreds of sacks OF flour, coffee and su-
gar. sides OF meat aud hams, and on |
the sidewalk cords OF wood, while the
streets were full of people clamoring
for relief. BY night the weather was
bitter cold: yet it is safe TO say there
was not a house or a nut in the city |
where there was not cracking fire,
and food TO last week. No dlstinc-
lion was made in tie distribution in
regard 10 color.
Now comes the question about the
editor of that paper. "What was his
creed" 1t matters not. he was hu-
UNA.
z. p Roe's fascinating story. An
Original Belle now in course OF pub
ication in the Current. has proceeded