Bent County register., 1886-11-06
BENT co. REGISTER.
Issued Every Saturday
BY THE REGISTER PUBLISHING co.
RETROSPECTIVE.

'
"Old Town" ''Las Animas,n "Ca-
hill," the last designation is the fiat
of the county commissioners at their
last session. But oh! what host of
memories the sold town" brings up,
as we look back over its eventful
past. Memories that bring back the
friendships of our youthful days,
memories of straight-headed pioneers
and their help-mates, memories OF
girls that are now mothers of the
rising business men of the state,
memories of companions that are
now scattered throughout the state
and helping to shape its destinies, :,
memories of its inhabitants. some
crossed the river Jordan, some pass
ed to foreign lands, some carrying
out their lots in following border
towns, some rich, some poor, some
nothing, but all scattered, aud work
ing out their destiny. The subject
did not come to our minds before in
as direct manner as it did yester-
day when we had occasion to visit
the sold town" and the memories of
the past thronged through our
thoughts as we stood in the old de-
serted main street, and saw the ruins
of buildings on all sides, the mem
ories of its ancient grandeur, of
which we were witness, brought
up thoughts of the past, thoughts of
the early days of Bent county,
thoughts of its pioneers, thoughts of
the Indian incursions, when every
man was brother and every woman
a sister, thoughts of the time that
friendship was at par and politicians
and spectators were unknown,
thoughts that remembered when a
man stood upon his manhood and
was respected, aud as we wandered
over familiar but deserted scenes,
the days of our youth came back
with all its hallowed memories. We
remember when the Leader was es-
tablished and how proud we all were
as it was the first paper started in
the county. W e remember the old
bond question, and the fierce rail
road war of those days, and we re-
member the county seat fight that
broke up the sold town" and scatter
- -..habitants to every points of
the compass. All those things we
remembered rs we stood stranger.
where we were an honored guest,
III hundred hospitable houses, and
as we dreamed over the days when
Craig run the town, and owned the
bridge, when Mother Gilman ran
the hotel and the Stranger was wei
come no matter from where he came
we thought the halcyon days of the
past had come again, but we were
rudely aroused by our little boy
who very practically remarked that
he accompanied us to visit the
schools, and wanted to do so. His
wishes were complied with, but we
stood upon ground that had a thou
sand memories, every corner, and
every deserted ruin, every spot re-
called something of the past and we
are afraid that our duty that day
was done mechanically, Who can
visit the scenes of their early man
hood, and not be thrilled with mem
ories that in those days of rapid
transit and speculative immigration,
seem far off in the distant past but
memories, that whether peaceful or
turbulent, are an oasis in the life of
the participant. The old town at
present is cattle ranch, but the old
timers. in the county remember it
when it was the only town, and
when all roads led to it and the en-
tire business of the county was done
there, but new scenes, new interests,
new faces, entirely obliterates the
old.-Las Animas Leader.