Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-10-17
Written fol the SoRTuwEsT.
Life on a Claim.
[coNrrNUED FROM LAST wKEK.l ]

ciety and are above suspicion. As said above,
such things excite no comment where all
realize that everybody is living in primi-
tive way, and so learn to expect just what
they get and to be surprised at nothing. But
Kansas is a land of surprises to those unac-
customed 10 the ways of the people and used
to the narrow and contracted ways of think
ing in which they have spent their lives.
Newcomers are astonished at everything
they see, (they we'll may be at some things
they hear,) and the greater portion of their
vocabulary is made up of ordinations for
some time after their arrival. The thriving
towns, the orchards of fruit, the fields of
the streams in the eastern part of the State,
the boundless expanse of prairie, unbroken
by tree as far as the eye can reach, in the
western part, and above all, the energy and
self-reliance of the people, are constant
wonder and furnish food for continued re-
Election.
! Where in the east one finds men working
with no thought beyond to-morrow's food
and clothing, he comes in contact with bright,
quick witted, energetic, well read, fully-in-
formed, educated men, who keep themselves
posted on the questions of the day and who
can talk intelligently on all subjects, from
the latest discovery Of Bro n-Sequard to the
merits Of Robcli Elsmere or the psychology
of Herbert Spencer.
| Let one beware how he attempts to assume
any superiority over Kansas men, whether he
finds them following the plow, harvesting or
on the cars, for ten to one he will find him
self bitten instead of the bitter. The Kansas
man is quick to detect fraud and sham of
every kind. He is also quick to resent any
real or implied doubt as to his intelligence,
not by drawing his ''gun" and persuading
the offender to retract, as is the popular idea
among many, but by a quiet, keen, cutting
retort, which gives to his astonished listeners
a new estimate of his brain supply.
Whenever you meet Kansas man take off
your hat to him, mentally, for in all proba-
bility he knows more than you do and is
twice as sharp-as you may find out to your
cost before you are through with him.
This shrewd intelligence is not confined to
any particular locality, but is characteristic
of the west, and as may be supposed the
claim has its full share. few examples
taken from life may not prove uninteresting.
Mr.. d. who joins me on the south, and who
is southerner, lives alone in a half dug-out
and is as hard worker as can be found. He
has attended college, and though not gradu-
ate, is we'll posted in English and American
literature, and last winter made a study of
Shakspere, Milton and Dante. He is true
gentleman and has the easy, courteous bear
ing of the typical southern gentleman. Mr..
T., who lives three -fourths of a mile south
west, is a photographer by profession. He
used to live in Defiance, so is Buckeye, like
myself. He is owner of the above named
books and is as shrewd man as you will
find any where. Mr.. NJ, who lives two or
three miles southeast, is by profession a
teacher, and has been superintendent OF
schools in several large towns. Of course he
is a well educated and we'll read man; but to
see any or all of these men at their daily
work, few would think them above the aver
age or estimate them at their real value, SO
much do clothes make the man in the opin-
ion of many.
Another case in point is as follows: One
morning saw man coming along driving
a, well not too good team, and as I wished
to go to town I asked to ride. Permission
was readily given by the owner of the team,
IN ;,,5 mil tofO lokb
an old hat drawn down over his eyes, and his
face covered with rough, yellowish beard.
He was smoking short, black pipe, and
from his appearance judged him to be just
such man as one would be apt to meet
anywhere, plain, everyday man, who, find
ing it too crowded for him back east, had
come west and taken up a claim-as hun
dreds of others have done.
After riding mile or two, I, in the course
of our conversation, CHANGED to make a re-
mark containing reference, which to under
stand would imply quite knowledge of
general literature. I at once took myself to
task, mentally, fortunately for such a mis-
take, when to my surprise he answered in
kind, and continued the conversation in the |
same line of thought. In short, found him |
to be one of the best read men I ever met
He had all the best authors at his tongues |
end," and could quote reams of poetry from
the best English and American authors.
found him an author of no small ability, and
also found that it put me at my best to keep
up my share of the conversation; in fact,
when it came to mental philosophy found
that he had read much further and deeper
than myself. Also, he had in his possession
a letter from Lord Tennyson, one from
Grady, of the Atlanta Constitution, and sew
eral from newspaper and magazine editors,
acknowledging contributions from him and
soliciting more, and also speaking in praise
of his literary ability. have lived nine
years in Kansas and think know something
of what to expect from 'all sorts and condi-
tions of men," but will frankly confess that
in this instance I was as badly sold as the
tenderest of "tender-fee could have been.
Another characteristic of the people out
here is their spirit of accommodation. Mu-
tually dependent, they are not to be surpassed
in their kindness and courtesy toward each
other, and especially toward newcomers who
have but little around them by which to help
themselves. They actually seem to enjoy do
ing all they can to aid one who does not wish
to impose on his neighbors, and will put