Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1888-09-13
City Hall Dedication.

dcCouut Vi 50 many Oh tnen, anu tot
much to task the mind with in one en-
tertainment, wandered to my lonely
! Office to mediate and reflect.
| 1t is patent to say that it is well dedi
Gated. Now comes the actual service
and the duties to be performed therein
To say anything that would convey &c
the readers mind the beauty of the
structure. is almost an impOssibility.
The city merits lasting praise; the archi
| tect and workmen deserve greatest cred
it; an ornament to any city anywhere.
In looking upon the vast crowd assem-
| bled. the mind was unconsciously called
to feast which was held at very early
period in the history of the worlds do
ings-that feast when Cyrus marched in
| upon the inmates, and kicked up row
and murdered some of the most promi-
| nent participants therein. On the one
| hand joy and happiness were unbroken,
and feast and speaking went as a mar
rage bell, for no sin was here, but there
was there. A more important thought
came uncalled. and one to mediate on.
While the citizens of the city were rejoic-
ing and sweet music rendered by the ia
nous Cowboy band, out in the country
are the yeomanry of the plains from
whose hands whose hands we city resi-
dents must look for our city's future
greatness. Until the people can take in
their great big hearts the meditatiOns
and the sober consideration as to means
and schemes to encourage and retain
these country people and assist them to
that which they need and must have. in
order to farther test the possibilities of a
country's growth, we cannot expect to
fully enjoy the grand things built at an
enormous expense, and ever see the day
that our sanguine hopes are realized No
people can be found who surpass the
people of Dodge City for successful en-
terprises. They fear nothing, and look
upon that which to many places of
greater magnitude would seem an impos-
sibility. as passing dream, and in day
show to the world it is a reality
But there is degree of selfishness that
must give way to the present condition.
There seems to be gulf between the ele
ments of city life and country life, there
seems to be kind of protective tariff
separating the country people from the
city people. The facts are stubborn
things which must be dealt with. I'm
less we are surrounded by an agricultu-
raj and grain producing country, all our
activity and all our city extravaganza
will melt as a tender corn withers before
the simoons which come from the plains
of Texas and Mexico. The attention of
the city should be directed in that course
which will ultimately build up the rural
district. Edifices should first be built
out upon these prairies, from whose gar
ners and cribs are shipped the rich pro-
ducts of rich county. Attention
should be devoted to these problematical
questions in advance of the extravagant
efforts which we have put forth. 1t is
too expensive advertisement upon uncer-
tainties. Too many excellent people may
may fall victims to poverty, and in their
declining years weep over their vast
structures as did the Babylonish people
over their misfOrtunes Too many mag
niffcent edifices become the haunts of
owls and pigeons. and bats: yes. and
rats
But now these things are here. and the
people may well rejoice. There is fac
ulty belonging to the whole Kansas fra
ternity, which beats the whole world,
that is to keep a stiff upperlip. The
hope is that the execution of the affairs
of the municipality will be as neatly
done and with as much manliness as the
temple itself will invite. That the rules
of judicial etiquette will be observed;
that due respect shall be received by ev
cry man, woman or child who may APP
pear; no loud and bOisterous language
ever be heard from within her walls, that
no smoking. chewing or splitting be per-
mitted, and that heels be kept down on
the floor. That men enter those beauti-
full portals with hat in hand. and meet
the officials with that gentility that will
abash lord whose training has been
different. These are the hopes, which,
if carried into execution will make the
city hall an ornament and place noted.
The saloons have taken their departure
forever, the halls of notoriety have been
abandoned; the streets are bright as day
with the finest electric lights, and the
hydrants give forth crystal water. The
citizens are proud spirited and the ladies
beautiful, why cannot all things be pro-
portiOned Then invite our country peo-
pie in and entertain them at our hospit-
able tables and palatial homes. We
would stop many prairie schooner from
that humiliating tour back to the old
home We would make many ''wife's
people smile upon the roaming husband
May these enterprises never prove neces-
sary. May our hopes be more than re-
allied l. S. X.
One Black Drop.
Byron was wise when he wrote. "a
81