Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-10-04


OOanty 60 An0ther,
One Of the most interesting figures In
everyday life in this section Of the
State, says o New York World corre-
spondent ct Tweed, Ga, II pretty Matte
Hester, who carries Uncle Sans mails
from the village to the point at which
she lives on farm, twenty miles away.
The fair mail-carrier drives little road
cart, In which She has bravely gone over
her route every day, rain or shine, since
she succeeded in obtaining the posi-
tion. II the mails are late one may be
sure the delay did not occur in her ter
ritory, for no stress of weather can deter
this undaunted little public Official
The whole country side knows and re-
Bpeots her, but II any protection Is need
cd ON her lonely journeys her own cour-
age and determination Of character will
SUPPLY it
This year Matte succeeded over all
competitors in securing the mail route
from Condor in Laurens County to Lo-
THAR in Montgomery County, and three
times week she covers q distance Of
about forty miles through Q wild
and sparsely settled section, and her
CHEEKY voice is often heard along
the road in her efforts to drive
dull care away. At her side in small
pocket, fully exposed to view, is .
handsomely polished No. SO Smith &
Wesson Of the most approved model,
and as she Is o crack shot woe be to the
highwayman or tramp who tries to bar
the way to that part Of the United
States mails under the immediate care
Of Matte Hester. She has perfect con-
fldence in her own ability to defend
herself, and looks with contempt upon
those timid members Of her own sex
who fear to 60 anywhere without IN
escort Independence Of spirit is 20
striking characteristic Of this unique
young person that the narration Of
some Of her remarkable undertakings
would convey an impression Of mascul-
unity. In her own home or under
ordinary circumstances Miss Hester
Is the embodiment Of womanltness.
She lives with her widowed mother, two.
sisters and young brother, but Is the
real head and director Of the family.
Her beauty is Of the true Southern
type-wavy black hair, deep blue eyes,
beautiful figure and complexion and
the whitest set of teeth imaginable.
Her jaunty air and pretty face never
fail to attract the attention Of strangers
as she rattles swiftly by in her cart,
looking neither to tho right nor to the
left, but attending strictly to business.
Attention to business, indeed, Is the
chief distinguishing feature Of .
character whose strength has made
Miss Hester remarkable in many ways.
Still in her twentieth year and full
Of life and energy, she is determined to
make her way to fortune. She has al
ready shown business qualifications
that would do credit to any man. Last
year she superintendent all the work on
the farm. She helped to plant and
harvest the crop and took 1t to market,
where her tact enabled her to secure
the highest prices.
Thinking that she saw chance to
make some money last winter, she went
into the woods and got q quantity Of
timber, which she RATED and placed in
the hands of her brother, to be disposed
Of in the Darien lumber market This
venture Melted the enterprising little
''cracker" handsome profit Later on,
with her own hands, she cut down and
split enough fence rails to inclose one
section Of the farm. So 1t seems hard
work has no terrors for Miss Matte, nor
Is she at all squeamish about the kind
of work she undertakes, provided only
that 1t offers promise Of lettering her
condition. With all her various duties
she still finds some leisure and she en-
ploys it in teaching writing.
Miss Matte in her relations with the
opposite sex preserves the same marked
individuality which characterizes her in
other things. She doesn't care rush
about men; in fact, she has no time to
think about other mails than those 1t Is
her duty to distribute.
The little mail-carrier is very poorly
paid, and the forty-mile journeys are
rapidly taking the flesh Of the sturdy
broncho that draws her cart.
81 don't think shall carry the mails
three times week much longer" said
she to the World correspondent. .'It is
telling on my horse Besides, the small
pay receive does not warrant It II /
can get my petition signed, ] viii per
haps get of with twice week, which ]
think will suit the public quite IS we'll"