The Iola register., 1886-09-17
A HoosIER IN Hoos1RRDoM.


Editor Register:-Having made up
my mind last week to visit my cid
stamping ground here, boarded the
train at Carlyle Thursday night, and
was glad to find Mr.. Welch, the gro
aboard, for I always like good
company. We arrived at Kansas City
at sunrise next morning in drizzling
rain. and repaired to the lunch stand.
They set out sandwich, butter and cOf-
fee. That butter proved to be oleomar-
is it? 1t was my first taste
of the stuff, and I hope for the sake of
my stomach and morals, it may be the
last.
We were soon aboard the c. B. & @.
R'y, leaving the city of the hills be-
hind US. Kansas City may be BOOM
ing town, but it is not a pretty one.
We crossed the Big Muddy-which is
certainly an appropriate nanao-and
Travelled up the river some Is or 70
miles, The country seems "nO good''
so far. We then struck across the
country toward Cameron, which is a
right "smart'' town; the country is
high and rolling, but the land seems
poor and corn is light. Our train rat
tied on east passing several little towns
that appeared rather dirty and lifeless,
and in time came to Chillicothe, which
assumes to be quite city, but-well
the most prominent features are old
frame houses where painting is one OF
the lost arts. One of the business signs
reads: "Kentucky Whiskey," another
'.Saloon," etc., and from the strawber-
ry-nosed loafers round, business must
have been on the boom. The country
seems to be all alike, high, rolling
thin land, which has produced very
little this year. In few hours VIZ
passed Brookfield, the incest and mos
business appearing town I saw in Mis-
souri,.
Our train slowed up about / p. m
and the porter sang out, "Laclede, q
minutes for dinner. Pass across to da
big white house." Friend Welch anG
I were not long in getting to ''dat big
white house." and found first-bes1
dinner, nice and clean on the table
awaiting us. Welch sat down, shovel
his hat back and with knile and forE
went at that dinner savagely, and
must say did his duty bravely. AS ]
was We correspondent, I had to be dig
nified and eat slowly and thankfully
consequently didn't get quite enough
Laclede is quite nice town and the
people seem prosperous. The conduc
tor yelled, "All aboard" and soon the
car wheels were saying: "Clipity-clip'
and we were off east. The country Is
still high, rolling and dry. Corn is a
failure complete; won't make a wagon
load to the acre, stalk and all. The
pastures are all dried up and burnt
over where there was enough grass to
burn, and the stock was being fed
like it were mid-winter. 1t would
seem that there was not half enough
feed to keep their stock through the
winter.
We crossed the 'Father of Waters
at Quincy at sundown and were soon
off for Peoria, Illinois. Mr.. Welch
left ME at Bushnell. / arrived at Pc
oria at o'clock at night. There the
boss came into the car where I was
and said: indianapolis passengers keep
their soats; all others change cars, I"
and they all went out but me. They
main there till o'clock next morning.
Then I began to c-bless, l mean
the agent at the depot at lola, for he
said when he sold me my ticket that
I would 90 through without delay as
quick as any other route would take
me. I don't understand why agents
will deceive people that way.
I arrived at my old home ten hours
later than some other route would have
taken me and, consequently, missed
the "Old Settlers" meeting / SO much
desired te attend.
Corn in Illinois is about like it is in
Kansas, but in Indiana the crop is
simply enormous. More anon.
II. C.. WINCHESTER.