The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-03

Washington. Then the Builder tries few
courses of Kentucky "hvely stones;" but
before they have time TO set, they have
skipped away to Dixie. The Builder essays
to run up an important corner, ana de Sc
lects pure Kansas material from the west
ern part of the state, true and tried. But
soon these ''livley stones" are being
broken up for the pavement of some town
back in Missouri. And so the Builder lays
into His structure stones quarried at the
east and at the west, at the north ana ~
the SOUTH But not one stone in hall
dozen stays long enough to become thor
oughly and permanently set. And occa-
siOnally. to the great detriment of the
whole work, the very foundation stones
sometimes creep out in the night, and the
unstable structure has to be rebuilt from
the bare earth.
Thus il is that the magnificently design
ed temple OF our Kansas civilization rises
from the earth uns leadily, and, at times,
we feel uncertainty. This moving-about
character of our population does not con-
sist in people coming into the state and
leaving the state any more than 1t does IN
people moving about from place to place
within the state, or in making round-trlp
excursions with their families and house
hold furniture to points outside the state.
IL is no uncommon thing To meet people
who have lived in half dozen different
places in the state within as many years,
besides taking round trip to Southern
California. Of course much OF this mgra-
toriness is accounted for and made neces-
sary by the conditions of new country.
As the birds come flocking back from
the south in the spring, they perch on
many a branch before tney find the little
inches and sheltering bOugbs, where they
will build their nests; and so people
tiOcking to a new country may allght sew
eral times before they find place whlch
meets the requirements of settled homes.
And then, TOO, the uncertainties OIL ousl.
ness ventures, the transient character ot
certain occupations, the overcrowding Of
cities and villages. the widespread dis
turbance Of scourge and drought, have had
much to do with the unsettled character
OF our population. But, on the other hand,
some Of these things that have just men,
toned are the effect of the migratory habit
rather than the cause. Many short-lved
many brief business careers,
many bOomS and many homeless and des-
titute families, are the result OF the gypsy
habit.
After giving due weight to the necessary
of new country, and due
weight 10 the unsettling caused by failure
OF crops, we must still seek an explanation
elsewhere for much of the moving about
witnessed daily in almost every part OF the
state. That explanation is, that with vast
numbers of people, the rowing instinct IS
stronger than the home instinct. Their
TO home and occupation and
and town, is SO feeble that
the vague hope of easier circumstances
the illusive fascination OF
achieving sudden wealth in some remOter
land, lures them on from place TO place.
Some are moving from necessity Mlsfor-
.une has overtaken them. Their little all
IS packed into a covered wagon, and, In
great want and abject despair, they are
seeking some new resting place for the
,oles of their feet May God pity them,
and men help to feed and shelter them.
others. with intelligent foresight and am
Die preparation, are going to some new
ield; there to establish themselves in per-
lament possessions. May God prosper
hem.
But the great mass of movers belong to
neither of these classes. They are not by
Intelligent foresight and planning moving
IN to better fortune; neither are they from
necessity the victims of misfortune; but
hey are victims of an unfortunate
rame of mind and habit; they are people
ured on by the delusions of hope. Dissat-
SIZED with present surroundings, they inn
,rove the first opportunity To move, and
hen the first opportunity to move again,
md so on to the dismal end. The course
hey pursue is not determined by their in
but by their hopes. They are
lways looking for better day for them
elves in the future; but the better day, 1t
s sad t3 relate, for the most of them is
lot in the future, but in the past-before
hey moved the second time.
And these people seldom move to new
)lace with the fixed determination of set
ling there. but with the intention of try
ngit' there. And having tried it TO their
Usual dissatisfaction, they move on to try
t again. And so it is hoping, moving, !
rying and becoming dissatisfied, over and |
ver again al infnitum, and, OF course, /
eldom If ever succeeding.
The extent TO which our Kansas people !
ave taken on this Gypsy disposition is
,reater than most Of us imagine. ven /
ure the assertion that of the 1000 people !
Who dwelt in this city two years ago, more |
han one-half have moved away. And of /
he present population. | presume one /
bird have come here within the past two |
ears. What Is true of our town Is true OF /
nosU towns in this part of the state, and /
rue only in a less degree of the towns In /
he eastern part of the state.
This rapid shifting of the population |
ives instability to the growth of our in /
titutions. Whole towns assume the char |
cter of depOtS and hotels Landlords are 1
urned into inn-keepers. It makes prog |
eSs in churches unsteady. Preaching to |
he average Western Kansas congregation |
, like preaching to a procession. The |
lost appropriate hymn for constant use
would be:
I'm pilgrim and I'm a stranger.
can tarry, can tarry, but night
DO not detain me. for am going
To where the sJreamlets are ever flowing"
This evil makes the organization of our
chools difficult and unsatisfactory it
Of lOCs 10 I
and often brings disaster BY
his rapid change of population, reform
tory laws, enacted at the cost of great
fort, are rendered insecure. And in
lany other ways too obvious to need
nention, does this migratory habit Of our
eople harmfully affect the general well
are. lt is fitting therefore. that effort be
lade TO stem the tide against this per-
icious craze. This part of our state is
ertainly Old enough to get over this ttful
abit of youth. IL is now fully time TO
SIX Kansas people to lay off their things
nd stay awhile. 1t is high time TO urge
Kansas to get down off from wheels and
)cate ] would most emphatically urge
bat Gods children in Kansas have a place
D live; that they locate themselves in
ONE spot, and call that spot home. and
lake IL home; that they engage in occu-
ations that are permanently useful. and
ence honorable and lasting: that they
lake tor themselves friendships and fel
)wships too strong TO be easily broken,
nd hearthstones too sacred 70 be aban-
oned for the villaiIous Illusions of news
aper boomers This country may not be
he very best on the face of all the earth:
ut it Is good enough for the att inment
{ the chief blessing vouchsafed to man on
arth. And it is too good land aud sky
nd air and people TO be exchanged for un-
ertaintieS or the chances of vague expect
tions. And any land. however dry. is a
etter abiding place than Il freight car or a
rairie schooner.
Do you fully realize how much people
lse 10y becoming Kansas CypSiesf The